Sleep is essential to your health! It’s how you recharge your body and mind, and it helps you stay alert and focused throughout the day.
But did you know that there is a surprising connection between medical cannabis and your sleep quality? When used correctly, cannabis is said to help improve your ability to fall asleep more quickly, stay asleep throughout the night, and wake up feeling refreshed—and that’s not all!
Cannabis can also help manage pain without causing side effects like drowsiness or grogginess. This makes cannabis an ideal treatment for chronic pain sufferers who experience sleep disturbance due to their condition.
Understanding Cannabis and Sleep
Medical cannabis effectively makes you sleep faster without waking up too often at night. Marijuana is great at restoring your natural sleep cycle and improving sleep quality. According to studies, cannabis promotes good sleep by creating a hypnotic, calming effect. However, the type of medical cannabis you use significantly affects your sleep, depending on how the cannabinoids react with your body.
Cannabis use for medical conditions is an issue of growing interest and concern. Some Veterans use cannabis to relieve symptoms of PTSD and several states specifically approve the use of medical cannabis for PTSD. For example, medical cannabis for sleep strains with high THC reduces REM sleep. This means fewer and reduced nightmares for people with PTSD.
Cannabinoids interact with your brain’s cannabinoid receptors to promote sleep. They bind the receptors, allowing them to send a message to increase sleep-promoting levels. Hence, the cannabis user will feel sleepy or sedated.
Some studies, however, suggest that chronic use of cannabis may harm your sleep. According to some, people using medical cannabis may sleep less than six hours every night. However, it is still unclear whether medical cannabis makes you undersleep or oversleep.
The belief that cannabis can be used to treat PTSD is primarily based on anecdotal evidence from individuals with PTSD who report that cannabis helps with their symptoms or improves their overall life and functioning. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are a necessary “gold standard” for determining safety and efficacy, are needed to test the use of whole plant cannabis to treat PTSD. There has only been 1 RCT comparing whole plant cannabis and placebo for treating PTSD (23). This trial included 2 phases. The first phase compared effects of 3 active cannabis preparations (high THC, high5 CBD, balanced THC+CBD) and placebo on PTSD symptoms in 80 U.S. military Veterans. Results showed no significant difference in PTSD symptom reduction between placebo and any of the active cannabis preparations. In the second phase, 74 Veterans were re-randomized to receive 1 of 3 active cannabis preparations. Results showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms in the THC+CBD group only; however, because there was no placebo group in this phase, it is not possible to draw conclusions about the efficacy of cannabis to treat PTSD from these results.
Significant Components of Cannabis and How They Influence Sleep
The primary ingredient in cannabis that affects sleep is the cannabinoids. These compounds are vital in treating conditions like seizures and chronic pain.
Here are the three significant cannabinoids and their effects on sleep:
- THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis and is responsible for most of its medicinal benefits. THC promotes relaxation by activating cannabinoid receptors in the brain. This can help relieve pain and stress, two factors that disrupt your sleep cycle. However, too much THC can cause paranoia and anxiety, making it difficult to fall asleep.
- CBD
Cbd helps you relax by activating specific body receptors that promote relaxation and sedation. It is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t produce a “high” like THC.
CBD has a relaxing effect on the body and mind, which can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. In addition, studies show it reduces anxiety and stress, helping you feel more relaxed at bedtime. This can lead to better quality sleep overall.
- CBN
CBN is a highly potent sedative that can cause drowsiness but has some therapeutic potential. CBN has been shown to possess analgesic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant properties. It also has anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce nausea and vomiting.
As a result of its sedative effects, CBN is often used as a supplement for people who have trouble sleeping or dealing with anxiety issues. However, it’s important to note that these effects may be short-lived because these sedative-like effects tend to fade away when compared to other cannabinoids like THC or CBD.
Sativa vs Indica: Which is Better for Sleep?
When choosing which type of cannabis is best for sleep, you have two main options: indica or sativa.
Indica strains are known for their relaxing effects and body-numbing properties. These strains tend to make users sleepy and relaxed, making them ideal for treating insomnia and other sleep disorders. Indica strains can also help reduce pain and inflammation caused by chronic conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Sativa strains also offer many benefits but are typically more energizing than Indica strains. They can help relieve stress and anxiety while boosting mood and motivation in some people. Sativas can also help with depression and migraines, although they might not be as effective as indicas in promoting better sleep.
Ultimately, medical cannabis does seem like a promising treatment for many who suffer from different sleep-related disorders. But, of course, additional studies will likely turn up even more uses for medical cannabis.
That being said, remember that the substance can be addictive and carries the risk of side effects for some individuals. As with many medical practices and medications, it is crucial to talk with your doctor about your circumstances before deciding whether to use medical cannabis for sleep.
The best treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I. This talk therapy is recommended over medication because it is more effective—CBT-I has been shown to work in multiple research studies—and has fewer side effects than medication. CBT-I improves sleep in 7 out of 10 people who complete it. Research also shows that CBT-I reduces how many nightmares people have and the distress related to upsetting dreams.
Start your Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through Alaska Sleep Clinic today.
