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In a modern world like today, medical cannabis is becoming an increasingly popular solution for disturbed and sleepless nights. More and more people each day are confiding in medical cannabis to help them accomplish longer, better, and more restful sleep as sleeping disorders became more common.
Statistics Are Not Encouraging
According to statistics, one of every four Canadians is not satisfied with their sleep quality and duration. Depending on the person, they deal with one or more types of sleep disorders.
Based on symptoms, we can divide sleep disorders into three different categories:
- Insomnia – you can’t fall asleep, and you stay awake at night. This is the most common sleep disorder nowadays.
- Disruptive sleep – the person has a disruptive sleep cycle, or they are woken up relatively often. It may combine disorders such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea.
- Narcolepsy – this is the most common disorder of excessive sleepiness, which causes people to feel tired and fall asleep even if they are fully rested.
People resort to different solutions to try and improve their sleep. Marijuana obtained from Ontario Cannabis or any other dispensary is among the most popular way of achieving a good sleep cycle.
But, why is medical cannabis a common solution for this problem that bothers so many people?
What People Do to Improve Their Sleep
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There are a lot of non-medical treatments, and natural remedies for sleep disorders such as insomnia and those should be the first on the list to try while looking for a solution. Things like diet, exercise routine, and sleep hygiene may make a big difference.
In case none of the previous tactics work, people would probably turn to medication as relief from a sleep disorder. If that is a must, medical marijuana is a much safer option than opioid treatments and sleeping pills. It could be a better choice, mostly because it has less harsh side effects and is less addictive.
But perhaps one of the main reasons why people are choosing medical marijuana as a solution for sleep disorders is because it seems to be effective. Some strains of medical cannabis like budget buds are known to have sedative qualities. Those with high THC values are known for their capability to cause tiredness. A lot of studies have shown that cannabis could allow more relaxed and deeper sleep as it reduces the number of REM cycles.
How Cannabis Affects Sleep?
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A research conducted in 2008 showed that ingested cannabis with higher levels of THC increased the amount of deep sleep while reducing the amount of REM sleep.
In case patients have PTSD, decreasing the number of dreams could be beneficial as it helps the patient achieve more restful sleep.
However, it is important to consult with a medical professional because it is necessary to figure out the proper dosage and chemical proposition as REM is an important part of immune and cognitive functioning.
Fortunately, strains of cannabis higher in non-psychoactive CBD and lower in THC have also shown to be effective in helping people sleep better at night.
A study conducted several years ago showed that the combination of best results contains equal parts of CBD and THC in strains. These strains gave people a good nights’ sleep without causing any problems with memory.
It is vital to remember that cannabis does not work like the hypnotic drugs or sleeping pills. Cannabis works in the way in which it lessens other symptoms that could affect sleep rather than induce sleep.
These symptoms include things like pain, anxiety, or frequent urination. If you are dealing with pain, you probably know how difficult it is to fall asleep and not wake up every couple of minutes. Prostate issues that may wake you up to urinate during the night can also disrupt the quality of your sleep.
Those are all symptoms that cannabis can help with if used right. Also, the major advantage of cannabis in comparison with other types of medication is that a lethal dose does not exist.
One more thing to pay attention to is to determine which delivery method best suits your needs. You could work with a cannabis counselor to make this workout. Although there is a popular belief that cannabis should be smoked, in real life that is not really recommended by experts. Cannabis oils can be taken orally on their own or mixed with beverages or food, and dried cannabis can be taken using a vaporizer.
Medical Cannabis Could Get to the Core of Some Sleep Disorders
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When people cannot fall asleep at night, they usually tend to think that they have insomnia. The truth is, however, that insomnia is often just a symptom of another condition.
Anxiety may keep you from falling asleep, and pain may keep people awake at night. Unlike opioid medications and sleeping pills, medical cannabis could address the core problem of insomnia in many cases.
Cannabinoids like CBD and THC can be quite effective at reducing the pain. Also, cannabis helps people relax, which could assist with anxiety. Cannabis may also help people to deal with PTSD or depression, but it may also be able to assist with spasticity.
Medical Marijuana May Be Unique For Every Person
One of the other reasons people are choosing medical marijuana for solving problems with sleep disorders is because of a big choice of various strains available. Different effects come from different strains, and people react to them differently. Some people prefer using shatter, while others go for an alternative variant.
It may be hard to find the right strain at the beginning, but trial and error increase odds of finding the perfect one. If one way and one strain do not help you get to sleep, another may be more effective.
Do not turn to medications right away if you feel like you haven’t found a perfect solution. When they enter the cannabis world, a lot of people are struggling to figure out what works for the best. Talk to the professionals at a marijuana dispensary or your doctor to discuss the right treatment option.
About The Author:
Tammy is a full-time content marketing specialist. He has been closely studying the cannabis industry trends for quite some time. He has worked for various domains before he came to the cannabis industry. When he is not working, Tammy likes to work out, trying new foods and playing with his dog.