Insomnia can have debilitating effects and is one of the most common sleep disorders in the country, with diagnoses in the general population as high as 30%. There are many studies that have focused on the effects or benefits of using cannabis to help treat patients with insomnia, all showing positive results.
Effects of Insomnia
Insomnia may cause additional burdens such as poor quality of life, increased health care costs, and job-related impairments. People who suffer from insomnia may experience issues with stress management, weight, heart disease, energy levels, and creativity.
What Causes Insomnia
The development of insomnia, as well as the severity and consistency of symptoms, can often be attributed to various psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, and cognitive-emotional arousal.
The Endocannabinoid System and Insomnia
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a biological network in the body made up of cannabinoid receptors that interact with cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are produced naturally in the body (endogenous) and also exist in the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids). The ECS plays an important role in regulating the body’s biological clock for many physiological activities, including sleep patterns and the body’s circadian rhythm.
There are two main types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. Sleep patterns are known to be regulated by the body’s cannabinoid receptors, specifically CB1 receptors. It was not until 1988 that cannabinoid receptors were discovered, leading to increased research and a better understanding of how cannabinoids interact with the human body. Learn more about Cannabinoids and Cannabinoid Receptors.
Several studies have been conducted on the effects that cannabis has on insomnia patients, such as this study published by NORML that shows 70% of patients in the study reported an improvement in their sleep patterns. Many people in the study, up to 39%, were able to reduce or completely discontinue prescription medication for insomnia when replaced with medical cannabis administrated nightly. Many insomnia medications may lead to addiction and even overdose deaths.
Additional studies performed in Canada and Australia report the same beneficial results of cannabis used in controlled studies for insomnia patients. An article published by the National Institute of Health last October of 2021 also show positive results when medical cannabis was used to treat insomnia, with overall efficacious use of cannabis across all ages and genders. No real difference was noted based on the method of ingestion, although Indica strains with a higher concentration of THC were shown to provide better sleep.
Type of Cannabis Strain to Best Treat Insomnia
Indica cannabis strains with a heavy THC count are shown to provide better relief for insomnia with improvement in sleep over exclusive CBD strains or Sativa strains. A hybrid mix has also been shown to provide benefits for insomnia, and some patients may appreciate a mix of THC and CBD to help with treating anxiety. Rather than judge a strain on being either Indica or Sativa, understanding the terpene content and finding a strain with a balance of both THC and CBD can promote relaxing, healthy sleep.
How to Take Cannabis for Better Sleep
You can ingest cannabis in different ways, such as vaporizing dried flower, ingesting cannabis oil, edibles, or smoking which is not recommended by health professionals. Inhalation via vaping has immediate results, whereas ingesting oil or edibles is slower acting but remains in the body longer. Each patient should experiment with the combination that helps them the most.
Some people may like to vape a little bit and then let the edible kick in, although caution must be exercised so as to not ingest too much. Micro-dosing is recommended while experimenting with the right dose for improved sleep. When looking for the right type of cannabis or cannabis seeds to grow your own helpful medicinal garden, you can get the best quality cannabis seeds from Mosca Seeds.
Don’t experiment with just any strain of marijuana, make sure that your cannabis plant has the THC, CBD, and terpenes concentration that promotes a better night’s sleep. Search the Seed Bank for a nice Indica strain and get started enjoying better sleep with quality cannabis seeds from Mosca to treat your insomnia.