Can Cannabis Help You Have a Good Night’s Sleep?
Sleeping is a major factor for maintaining mental health and physical wellness. Unfortunately, many people are unable to sleep soundly due to stress or mental health issues. According to research, more than 10% of the US adult population suffers from insomnia.
Another data from the National Institutes of Health shows that around 70 million adults in the US suffer from different types of sleep disorders. Consumers are spending $70 billion every year to combat this problem and the common solution is medication.
As people try to battle mental health issues that are causing insomnia and other sleep disorders, some are turning to cannabis to deal with the problem. CBD, a cannabis compound is helping consumers to sleep better and attain mental wellness.
Other cannabis compounds like Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC can also help you sleep better, given that you take the right strain and dosage. CBG, another cannabis compound is also being tested and is showing positive signs of relief.
CBD and Sleep
Many people get help from consuming CBD before sleeping because it brings relaxation without making them feel intoxicated or high. It relaxes the body and relieves pain, which helps consumers get rid of insomnia.
With this, they can get a good night's sleep without the need to take sleep medication or other substances. CBD can also help you manage anxiety and stress, which are among the commonest reasons for insomnia.
It calms down a consumer's brain for a deep, rejuvenating sleep throughout the night. CBD also encourages serotonin production which is responsible for making you feel happier.
The way CBD works is that it interacts with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in your brain to encourage serotonin production. Research shows that CBD can help you sleep better by regulating sleep cycles, keeping consumers asleep longer without waking up frequently during the night.
Best Cannabis Strains For Better Sleep
Other cannabis compounds like THC and CBG help with sleep as well. However, they may also cause drowsiness, which can make it difficult to stay awake the next day. CBD does not go that way; it encourages sound sleep throughout the night without making you feel high or intoxicated during the daytime.
A popular THC-based product called Delta-8 has been tested and found to be an excellent sleep aid because it has a high CBG content. Delta-8 THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system to induce sleep.
There are 3 common strains of cannabis widely known as indica, sativa and hybrid. Each strain has different CBD and THC contents, causing different effects on your body.
Indica strains are known for their soothing and relaxing effect. Sativa, on the other hand, is known to make people feel excited, happy, and energized. Hybrid is usually a combination of both, depending on who develops and manufactures it.
All of these strains can help consumers sleep better, relieving pain and calming down their bodies. Consumers who use indica strains often doze off during the day and sleep sound at night without waking up frequently.
Sative strains such as Durban Poison can also help treat insomnia by bringing relaxation to the consumer's body. However, unlike indica, it does not make you feel sleepy during the day.
If you're looking for a cannabis product that can help you sleep better without causing drowsiness the next day, then get CBD-rich products like Charlotte's Web or ACDC. Consumers get maximum sleep benefits from these products because they contain more than 9% of CB2 cannabinoid compounds.
How to Consume Cannabis
Cannabis products, whether it's CBD or THC based, are available in different forms with different consumption methods. What we usually see on TV or in movies is smoking a joint or bong.
While this is one way to go since it's the most natural, you might want to think of other ways as well. The option to smoke may not always be there due to legal barriers and health issues caused by smoking anything. It is best to consult a doctor to find out the type of cannabis products that are best for you to consume as well as get a medical marijuana card prescribed to you if that's what the state you live in requires.
Cannabis-infused edibles are also available in different forms for consumers who are looking for a different way of consumption. You can have chocolate bars, gummies, candies, brownies, and more that you can eat or drink to help sleep better.
Another method is vaping or using a vaporizer. Vaping lets you consume cannabis without the need to burn it so you don't inhale smoke from burning plants. Instead, a vaporizer heats up cannabis to release CBD, THC, or the other compounds without the need for combustion.
Timing Your Cannabis Intake
You can't just consume cannabis anytime you want if you are using it to have a better sleep. If not used the right way, it can cause sleep disturbances instead of improvements.
For example, avoid consuming too much cannabis before bedtime or it can disrupt your sleep. Some people have the misconception that using cannabis at night makes them sleep better but actually, you stand a chance to wake up frequently through the night because it doesn't let you fall asleep easily.
To maximize the effects of cannabis on sleep, always start using it at least 1 hour before you sleep. This gives your body enough time to feel the effects without disrupting your sleeping pattern.
Using cannabis alone to beat sleep disorders is just a short-term fix. If you want to consistently have a night of better sleep, it is recommended to practice good sleep hygiene and fix the things that are causing sleep disorders.
It is also recommended to do your research or talk to professionals before trying cannabis. Its effects and benefits may work differently from one person to another.