Too often you might either toss and turn all night or fall asleep easily but wake up too early and can’t get back to sleep. You feel this happens even when you are exhausted. The next day you’re fighting to keep your eyes open. This is how someone feels when they have insomnia.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, “insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has a chance to do so.” If you have insomnia, you aren’t the only one. The foundation states over 40 million people every year are diagnosed with a sleeping disorder.
Insomnia can be caused by illness, lifestyle, or environmental factors. Common causes include:
- Stress
- Working
- Traveling
- Eating or drinking at night
- Side-effect of medications
- Chronic disease
- Chronic pain
- Psychological disorders
Often for chronic insomnia and other sleep disturbances, doctors prescribe medications. Many of these drugs have adverse and dangerous side-effects, especially with long term use. A few of the common side-effects include grogginess the next day, impaired driving ability, and seeming to be awake while still actually sleeping, such as driving, walking, or eating. One of the most severe side-effects of sleep mediation is becoming addicted. Using holistic alternative treatments such as CBD for sleep can help you avoid these and other severe side-effects!
You want to avoid those nasty side-effects, so does weed help you sleep?
Cannabis for Insomnia
Cannabis has a long history of use as a healing herb for a wide range of illnesses and disorders.
There are hundreds of chemicals in cannabis, many with therapeutic properties. The two most commonly used compounds are CBD, also known as cannabinoids, and THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the compound in the marijuana plant that gives the user the “high” feeling. It’s this chemical in weed that is consumed for its mind-altering properties for both medical and recreational purposes.
Different effects can be achieved by consuming various hybrids of the pot plant. The three main strains are Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. Sativa and Indica are the most widely used. Strains of Sativa are known for their energizing properties. Indica hybrids have more relaxing and soothing qualities and are the best cannabis for insomnia.
Some caution needs to be taken when using CBD for sleep. Be aware of how much THC is in the pot you are using. “Couch-lock” is the term given to the stronger indica strains. The stronger versions tend to be more like a sedative than just something to relax with. After consuming this strain of weed, you’ll have the urge to sit down on the couch and stay there…no matter what.
When using a higher level of THC in an Indica strain, be ready for the effect. Have your remote control and snacks within arms-length. When the feeling hits, you aren’t going to want to get up or move. Be very cautious about driving or using any type of heavy machinery when consuming a stronger marijuana blend. But then again, you really don’t have to worry too much about that. When it hits, you’re not going to want to, or be able to do anything that requires movement off that couch until the effects wear off!
Marijuana for a Good Night’s Sleep
The nights you can’t sleep, marijuana’s soothing effect can ease you into a good night’s slumber. Just don’t take it too close to the time when your alarm is going to go off. You don’t want to wake up tired.
It’s best if you give the strain you want to use a sample try before using it for sleep. This way, you can gauge how it will affect you. To dose correctly, you’ll need to find out when is the best time to use before bed, how heavy you will sleep, and the length of time the effects will last.
Everyone’s body chemistry is unique. You may not get the same relaxed feeling that others do for the particular strain of marijuana you are using. Trying out the strain before using it as a sleep aid will help you know exactly how the strain makes your specific mind and body feel. If it has the opposite reaction from what the typical user gets, that CBD sleep aid may not be right for you.
There are several ways to ingest cannabis for insomnia. The most common way is to smoke a joint or bowl. If smoking isn’t your thing, you can try taking it as a tincture, a drop of marijuana oil under your tongue. Cannabis edibles are another way to consume the substance but can be difficult to dose.
Cannabis for insomnia can be a great alternative to traditional medications. You can find various blends at your local marijuana store. If you have your medical cannabis card, you can get help at a marijuana dispensary. They can assist you in choosing which strain would work best as a marijuana sleep aid for your needs.
