Insomnia or sleeplessness is a disorder in which a person either can’t stay asleep or has difficulty in falling asleep in the first place. And this often leads to depression, drowsiness, low energy, irritation and overall a negative attitude, the following day. Insomnia isn’t a small problem. It can make it very difficult for you to focus on and learn new things. And if it becomes severe, it can even damage your motor skills.
But did you know cannabis can help you with this condition of yours? No, I’m not joking. Even 420 doctors say that cannabis and sleep have an amazing relationship. But before we discuss how, we need to understand why it is so difficult for some people to sleep?
There are various reasons which may cause insomnia. Excessive stress, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety or consumption of excessive alcohol, nicotine or caffeine, anything can be associated with this condition. And though there are some medications that can help you fall asleep, it’s better not to depend on them. These are often very addictive and may lead to some very serious side effects. Instead, you should try and practice sleeping naturally. Yes, it’s difficult for people with insomnia. But by developing a consistent routine, which includes a healthy diet and regular exercise, you may be able to achieve it. And cannabis can help you maintain this routine.
Let’s see how.
Cannabis and Insomnia
When we are sleeping, our body usually passes through the four important stages of sleep. Let’s discuss what these are.
- The first stage is known as NREM stage 1. In this stage, our body is usually half-awake. It can be called the transition phase between wakefulness and sleeping, and usually lasts around 5 to 10 minutes only.
- The second stage is NREM stage 2. In this particular stage, we are in a light sleep mode and become unaware of our surroundings. Our body temperature starts to fall. And our heart rate and breathing start becoming more rhythmic and regular. This stage usually lasts for around 20 to 30 minutes.
- The next stage, NREM stage 3, is the most important one for our body. It is the time when our body is finally in a full relaxation mode. Our muscles start to relax and our breathing and blood pressure start to fall. This is the stage where our body is actually healing. The phase usually lasts for around 35 to 45 minutes.
- And then finally, our body enters the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep stage. This is where dreams occur.
Now, as per the research, cannabis consumption can help us fall asleep more quickly. This means, it usually shortens the time spent in the first and second stage of sleep. And thus, we get to spend more time in the third stage. This gives our body more time to heal and relax so that we have the required amount of energy and motivation for the next day.
Some researchers even argue that cannabis reduces our time in the REM stage too. And that’s why we don’t have dreams when we are under the influence of weed. However, the studies on this particular subject aren’t very conclusive yet.
Which Cannabis Type is better for Insomnia?
If you are familiar with cannabis, you probably know about the two main types of cannabis strains: Indica and Sativa. We have a third type too: the hybrid strains. These are made by combining the above two.
While Indica, generally, is considered more apt for promoting sleep, many experts argue that we can’t just rely on these generalizations of Sativa and Indica. There is a lot more that goes into choosing a strain for sleeping. We need to identify a strain that has a nice amount of relaxing terpenes, and a good balance between CBD and THC.
The strains may also vary according to the reasons behind your insomnia. For instance, if your insomnia is caused by chronic pain, a strain with a higher THC level might be more helpful. On the other hand, if you can’t sleep due to anxiety, a CBD strain will do a better job here. In short, you need to do some experimentation.
Best Strains to Help you Fight Your Insomnia
As discussed above, the reason behind your insomnia plays a very important role in deciding the type of strain that works best for you. And thus, you may need to experiment with some strains. However, trying out hundreds of strains isn’t probably a very good idea. And thus, we have made this small list of some of the best cannabis strains out there that you can use to get some relief from your sleeplessness.
Harlequin
This particular strain is a Sativa-dominant (75 percent) one. The hybrid strain has a CBD to THC ratio of 5:2. And it is very well known for helping people relieve anxiety and stress. The strain induces some really amazing calming effects that can help people fall asleep very easily.
Girl Scout Cookies
This Indica based strain, with a THC level of around 20 percent and the CBD around 2 percent only, is quite famous for its sedative properties. The girl scout cookies can help a person feel fully relaxed, and thus, is an amazing choice for people suffering from sleeplessness.
White Widow
This hybrid weed strain again has THC of around 20 percent and CBD around 2 percent. The White widow is known to produce a high which is more relaxing and cerebral. And therefore, it’s a very good choice for those who have insomnia due to pain or depression.
Afghani CBD
This particular strain, the Afghani CBD, as the name suggests, is a strain high in CBD. And therefore, the effects it produces are more therapeutic and relaxing. As it has a high level of CBD, the strain is very helpful for people whose insomnia is due to high anxiety.
A-10
This Indica based strain has a high level of CBD and THC, and thus, is quite famous for its anti-anxiety and pain-reducing properties. THC can help people fall asleep much more quickly. And at the same time, CBD can help them stay asleep by balancing out the psychoactive effects of THC. Also, the A-10 is particularly known for its high potency, which promotes an amazing good night’s sleep.
Cookie Jar
This particular strain, which is a mixture of White Fire Alien OG and Platinum Girl Scout Cookie, is mostly famous for its relaxing effects on the whole body. It can also help you manage your headaches and anxiety in a very efficient way. And this makes it a very good choice for people with insomnia.
Of course, not everything works for everyone. The same is true for cannabis too. People have different biologies and different underlying reasons And thus they may need different types of strains for managing their insomnia. The above-mentioned strains are the most widely used for treating sleeplessness. However, they may not be the only ones. And so, if you are in any doubt, 420 doctors recommend you talk to an expert first.
You should also note that marijuana isn’t aid for insomnia but only help. In the end, you’ll have to develop a good and healthy sleep routine.