There's more than one reason why people suffering from insomnia turn to cannabis.
You try everything, counting sheep, counting thoughts, turning over in bed. You turn around, get up, but don't fall asleep. Insomnia is indeed a unique agony, but now that the stigma of cannabis is slowly lifting, more and more people are seeking its therapeutic sedative properties.
Acute insomnia – which usually lasts only a night or two – happens to almost all of us. It is usually triggered by a stressful external event.
But, chronic insomnia – seen regularly with three or more restless nights a week over the course of the month – affects a billion people worldwide.
Interestingly, insomnia affects women at twice the rate of men. And it doesn't get better with age.
Half of all older adults are regularly affected by insomnia.
Beyond feeling sleepy and irritable the next day, chronic insomnia is associated with some serious long-term health problems: cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
So, what causes insomnia, what are the traditional treatment options, and how could cannabis be a healthier, more viable alternative?
Patel turned to cannabis after getting a prescription for Ambien. Fear of potential side effects has found research validating what cannabis users have long suspected: Cannabis helps people sleep.
Oddly enough, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Big Pharma Sanofi-Aventis may agree. They also funded a study that showed that using THC allowed some subjects to fall asleep more easily and more quickly.
Here are some of the most important tests:
Faster time to fall asleep. As early as 1973, research documented that some subjects were able to fall asleep more quickly after ingesting THC. More recently, a 2013 study on healthy subjects validated the previous findings.
Sleep longer and better. The first studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cannabinoids in promoting sleep. A study on THC found that subjects experienced fewer interruptions during the night and some decrease in awakenings during the first half of the night.
Enjoy deeper sleep. Cannabis can have a positive impact on the sleep cycle. Studies show that THC can increase deep sleep. Why is this important? Because scientists believe that deep sleep plays a vital role in our body's natural restoration process.
Improves breathing during sleep. About 17% of men and 9% of women regularly have trouble breathing during sleep – a condition called sleep apnea – and most are never diagnosed. However, research published in January 2013 by Frontiers in Psychology shows that cannabis can help people breathe better when they sleep.
Evidence for cannabidiol, CBD, as a sleep aid has been mixed.
In one study, CBD – which is non-psychoactive – appeared to be effective as an “alarm-inducing agent,” meaning it can make you feel more awake, the opposite effect of what an insomniac wants.
However, others who participated in the study reported that ingesting CBD-rich extracts or tinctures a couple of hours before going to bed had a relaxing effect that allowed them to sleep better at night.
According to Project CBD, some patients with sleep problems report that “ingesting a CBD tincture a couple of hours before bed has a balancing effect that facilitates a good night's sleep.”
The key is to find the right balance, the one that is right for you.
Everyone's body reacts differently to cannabis, so it may take a bit of trial and error before you find the perfect fit.
Try a heavy indica or edible. Consider something with a little CBD.
You may be surprised to find that the remedy for making it easier for you to sleep is not what you thought it would be.
