It is important that sleep plays an integral role in your health and well-being. Those with insomnia may have trouble sleeping at night. Over 64 million Americans are affected by insomnia. This is a sleeping disorder that causes trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up feeling refreshed. Many people who suffer from insomnia have discovered that medical marijuana can be used as a safe, natural way to get their sleep.
With more understanding of the benefits of CBD, more people are curious about how can you get a medical card for insomnia? Learn about this new natural solution that may just improve your quality of life!
What’s Sleep and Why Should We Care?
Sleep is a naturally occurring state. It involves a loss of consciousness, reduced muscle tone as well as slowing heart and respiratory rate. This is distinguished from normal wakefulness by a diminished ability to react both to external and inner stimuli.
What Sleep Does to Our Health?
Sleep is vital to our health and plays an essential role in many physiological processes.
- Immune system
- Ability to perform everyday activities
- Concentration is key
- Nervous system
Your body works to heal cells while you sleep. For children and adolescents, sleep coincides with the natural release of growth hormones. This is important for proper development. You can also improve your brain function through sleep by improving your memory and eliminating unnecessary toxins.
Research also shows that poor sleep quality can lead to the following negative effects:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
Insomnia – Medical Marijuana
Cannabis is well known for its ability to relax and soothe the mind, making it a natural aid to sleep. People with insomnia, anxious minds or restlessness may find marijuana especially helpful for falling asleep faster.
There are two types of insomnia.
Chronic Insomnia Disorder: When someone has sleep problems or other symptoms for more than three days each week.
Short-term Insomnia Disorder: When symptoms of insomnia last for less than three weeks or are absent three times per semaine
Recent studies have shown that medical marijuana might be an effective way to relieve insomnia. This treatment restores the person’s natural sleep pattern, which is often disrupted by people with insomnia.
Endocannabinoid System
The complex network comprises
Naturally occurring Endocannabinoids
Cannabinoids from plants, such as cannabis
Synthetic marijuana oils: Created in a lab
This system plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s balance and is responsible for a range of physiological functions, such as:
- Pain
- Appetite
- Memory
- Circadian rhythm
- Sleep-wake cycle
- Immune system
- Mood
Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are some of the cannabis phytocannabinoids that may be useful in treating insomnia. These compounds bind to sleep-wake receptors, which can cause sleep disorders such as sleep-disordered breathing. CBD and THC have been confirmed to have sedative actions that lower anxiety and pain. Both play important roles in preventing a restless night. CBD and THC work together to promote sleep and reduce discomfort.
Medical Marijuana Administration
It is important that you know what type of medical marijuana is being used for your insomnia. Inhaled cannabis is only effective for two to three hours and may cause sleepless nights. If you are looking for a complete night of sleep, oral routes such as edibles could be the best choice. They can last up to 6 hours. Other routes of administration that have long-lasting effects are:
- Capsules
- Transdermal patches
- Metered-dose inhalers
- Sprays