Insomnia
Medical Marijuana for Treating Insomnia
Are you struggling with sleep, like difficulty in falling asleep, fewer hours of sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, and getting up tired because of poor sleep quality?
Medical marijuana can help revitalize patients so they can have an energetic and productive lifestyle by resolving their sleep-related issues. Please read below to learn what insomnia is and how patients can treat it using medical marijuana.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by decreased amount and quality of sleep. An patient suffering from insomnia experiences difficulty in falling or in staying asleep. This state of hyperarousal at night results in tiredness and restlessness during the daytime which can sometimes lead to anxiety which further increases their insomnia or hyperarousal at night.
Sleep is a complex process that has restorative and detoxifying effects on the brain. At the end of the day, our brain is filled with waste products and toxins. Research shows that during sleep, the glymphatic system, which could be called the cleaning system, of our brain starts washing out the toxins which prevents many neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Using medical marijuana to treat insomnia may also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia but more studies need to be conducted on medical marijuana and dementia.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends that 7 or more hours of sleep are required for this recharging and cleaning process to successfully take place. Continuous lack of sleep can lead to serious consequences like anxiety, depression, heart disease, and many other medical conditions and syndromes.
Types of Insomnia
Insomnia can be
Primary, with no underlying health disorder.
Secondary, associated with health problems like asthma, depression, pain, medication, sleep apnea, as well as other health problems.
Symptoms of Insomnia
Insomnia can result in the following symptoms:
Difficulty falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Drowsiness during daytime
Fatigue
Irritability
Reduced memory
Loss of concentration
Mood changes
Depression
Anxiety
Statistics of Insomnia
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), out of all the reported sleep disorders, insomnia is the most common one.
Treatment for Insomnia
Conventional treatments for insomnia include:
Medications
Many over-the-counter medicines like diphenhydramine are available for insomnia. Sleeping pills can help a patient reach a state of unconsciousness but are not great for getting good quality sleep. They are notorious for their side effects like drug-drug interactions. Their long-term use increases the risk of addiction as well.Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also considered a treatment for insomnia. Its self-encouraging techniques help in dealing with anxiety, depression, and many other insomnia symptoms.Lifestyle Changes
This non-medical approach has been found to be very useful in treating insomnia. Some of the lifestyle changes for fighting insomnia include:Try to sleep at the same time daily. This will help in making a sleeping routine.
Avoid meals and beverages before bed.
Avoid exercise before bedtime
Reduce alcohol consumption
Reduce caffeine intake
Avoid phone or TV before bed
Having warm milk can help you in having better sleep.
Medical Marijuana for Treating Insomnia
Medical marijuana has been proven to be an effective alternate treatment for insomnia patients. It does so by rooting out the causes of insomnia and restoring the normal sleep cycle.
According to a study carried out by Rolando Tringale and Claudia Jensen, marijuana obtained from cannabis reduces the time taken to fall asleep.
Anxiety can result in insomnia or can be the result of insomnia. Marijuana has calming and anti-anxiety effects on the mind and body. According to a study carried out by Marcel et. al, medical marijuana relieves the patients from stress which results in better sleep.
Pain keeps you from getting the required relaxing sleep hours a patient needs. Marijuana, with its analgesic properties, helps in improving sleep quality with pain relief.
Cannabis and medical marijuana can also help increase focus and concentration which is also helped by adequate sleep. Some patients report using medical cannabis has the two-fold effect of increasing their sleep and concentration which enhances their mental abilities.
Best Ways to Take Medical Marijuana
Route of administration greatly affects the onset of action and effectiveness of medical cannabis. The most effective ways of taking medical marijuana are:
Smoking: When you inhale the smoke of medical marijuana, you get instant relief which is why it is the go-to for those experiencing chronic pain discomfort, nausea, and/or loss of appetite. It allows the terpenes, CBD, and THC to instantly get into the patient’s bloodstream which is why the effects of using medical marijuana this way are so popular.
Vaping: Vaping is similar to smoking because you are still inhaling a heated substance to deliver the medical marijuana which contains THC and CBD. However, you are inhaling vaporized oils along with the medicinal components of medical marijuana such as THC, CBD, and terpenes rather than burning the marijuana plant itself. Many people feel this is a cleaner form than smoking however at this time no studies have shown this to be a safer option for consuming medical marijuana.
Oral Ingestion: Some cancer patients prefer to take their THC and CBD orally which allows them to feel the benefits of the THC and CBD for a longer time. However, it doesn't have the rapid action that you get by vaping or smoking. It can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to take full effect. The edible form of medical marijuana typically come in candies such as lollipops, gummies, capsules, and oil droppers
If symptoms are severe and unbearable, smoking and vaping are recommended. It is because of the rapid onset of action and immediate relief of symptoms.
On the other hand, if symptoms are not severe, edibles with cannabinoids are recommended. They take some time to get into action but their effect is long-term.
Best Strains of Medical Marijuana for Treating Insomnia
When it comes to choosing the best strains of medical marijuana, CBN (cannabinol), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Indica, and Sativa dominance should be kept in mind. CBN, THC, and Indica dominant strains of medical marijuana are bests for treating insomnia.
The best strains of medical cannabis reported to provide the best night sleep are:
Hindu kush
Granddaddy Purple
Harlequin
Gelato
Bubba Kush
Mendo Breath
Northern Lights
The results may vary from strain to strain and person to person. To achieve the best medical results, seek professional advice from one of our licensed marijuana practitioners or our marijuana doctor at CannabisMD TeleMed in Virginia.
Side Effects of Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana, although beneficial for sleep, has notable side effects. These are:
Dry mouth
Hunger
Red eyes
Drowsiness
Euphoria
It is advised to consult one of our marijuana practitioners in Virginia where its medicinal use is legalized as patients need supervision to control its misuse and harmful effects.
References
Insomnia: Causes, Symptoms, Types, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/insomnia
Sleep helps “detox” your brain. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267611#Glymphatic-system
Healthy Sleep - Sleep Education by the AASM. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/
What Are Sleep Disorders? (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/sleep-disorders/what-are-sleep-disorders
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: How CBT Works. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/cognitive-behavioral-therapy#uses
Cannabis and Insomnia. (2014).
Bonn-Miller, M. O., Babson, K. A., & Vandrey, R. (2014). Using Cannabis To Help You Sleep: Heightened Frequency of Medical Cannabis Use among Those with PTSD. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 136(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.DRUGALCDEP.2013.12.008
Best Strain for Sleep: 10 to Consider, Plus Tips for Use. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/best-strain-for-sleep
