Insomnia can take a huge toll on health. Medical cannabis has been researched to help manage the symptoms of insomnia and restore the natural sleep cycle. You can get access to medical cannabis for insomnia when you get a medical marijuana card at TeleLeaf in New Orleans.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that results in unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep. It is defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel after sleeping, not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off.
People with insomnia experience one or more of the following:
- Can’t fall asleep
- Can’t stay asleep
- Can’t get enough restful sleep
How Medical Cannabis Can Help With Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to live a normal day with the needed energy. What’s in medical cannabis that can help restore the natural sleep cycle and deal with insomnia?
Medical cannabis has two natural compounds that can manage the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the part of our body that manages critical functions in our body including sleep.
The two natural compounds in cannabis that affect this system in our body are:
- THC or tetrahydrocannabinol
- CBD or cannabidiol
Among these two chemicals, THC has been found to have a profound effect on sleep through these ways:
- THC reportedly promotes sleep by activating the endocannabinoid system’s CB1 receptors.
- It has also been widely reported that it shortens the period of sleep latency and causes users to sleep longer.
- It increases slow-wave sleep which is an essential aspect of cerebral restoration and recovery.
Using Medical Marijuana for Insomnia
Ongoing studies have established that when it comes to medical marijuana for insomnia, it’s a case of different strokes for different folks. The different ways medicinal marijuana products can be administered to help insomnia patients sleep better include
- A blend of oil and edibles (slow-acting but remains in the body for a longer period)
- Inhalation via vaping (for immediate or quick-in-and-out effect)
- Edibles (slower onset)
Traditional Treatments for Insomnia
Treating insomnia typically involves sleep-inducing medication, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i), or a combination of both of these measures. Positive lifestyle changes may alleviate symptoms for some people, as well.
Chronic insomnia is also treated with medicine although it is a last resort after stimulus control, relaxation techniques, and other CBT-i methods have not been effective at improving their sleep.
Historically people have used herbal supplements such as valerian and kava to reduce insomnia symptoms and improve their sleep. However both have been linked to adverse side effects and therefore, are generally not recommended by medical experts for insomnia.
Medical Marijuana As Another Method for Treating Insomnia
Many patients have experienced improved sleep with medical marijuana, especially when they are suffering from chronic conditions where pain can severely disrupt their sleep.
Medical marijuana has relaxing effects that may help manage sleep disorders like insomnia. Studies have shown that CBD in cannabis may help insomnia patients fall asleep and stay asleep.
People in the medical marijuana community refer to medical cannabis as an alternative treatment, with little to no side effects, for a variety of sleeping disorders. It can be more tolerated than other insomnia drugs which often have severe side effects.
Benefits of Medical Cannabis for Insomnia
The benefits of taking cannabis for insomnia will differ from one person to another. Dosages, strains, and how long you should use medical cannabis before seeing results are included in the factors to consider.
There are many medical benefits of taking cannabis for sleep disorder treatment. One of the best benefits is significantly improving the sleep conditions for those who suffer from chronic pain disorders. It’s a natural alternative that can both relieve pain and improve sleep.
Bottom Line: Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat or Alleviate Insomnia?
Medical Cannabis has shown to be very effective for our patients who experience insomnia. The Louisiana pharmacy nearest you will have a pharmacist to help you find the right medication selection on your new cannabis journey. Each new patient has the opportunity to have an orientation with the pharmacist to ask questions and learn more about each of the medical marijuana options to choose from.
