According to the American Sleep Association, about 50 to 70 percent of the American adult population has some kind of sleep disorder.

This can be a result of various circumstances, such as stress, over-exhaustion, relocation depression, and so on.

You surely know how important sleep is for your health and general well-being, and regardless of the reason behind your sleep disorder, you need to come up with an effective solution for your bad sleeping routine.

One of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep, and also the one which has become incredibly popular lately, is using medical marijuana to treat sleeping disorders.

How to Use Cannabis for Sleep Disorders

Cannabis is incredibly effective as a sleep aid for people suffering from various sleep disorders, which we will list later in the article. This feature of cannabis mainly results from the sedative properties of THC and CBN, two cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. And while using medical marijuana can be a great way to treat your sleep disorder, you need to take the right approach.

Choose the Right Strain

Not each strain of marijuana can help treat sleep disorders. When it comes to sleep, it is best to use Indica strains due to its relaxing and restful effects on human body and mind. So if you buy weed online in Canada or elsewhere,  remember to choose the right sleep-aid strain.

Moreover, it is recommended to use the ‘purple’ category of Indica because their unique terpene profiles make them particularly effective.

Make sure not to use Sativa strains in the evening, as they tend to stimulate your brain and will keep you awake for a long time. They are much better used during the day when you need increased energy levels.

Mind the Cannabinoid Content

Different strains of cannabis have different effects because of their cannabinoid content. There are three main cannabinoids that you need to know about when it comes to treating sleep disorders and anxiety: THC, CBN, and CBD.

THC

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is a crystalline compound and the main active ingredient found in the marijuana plants. It produces sedative effects an hour or more after use, which is why THC-rich strains are very popular when it comes to treating insomnia and other sleep disorders.

CBN

CBN (Cannabinol) is a metabolite of THC obtained when THC breaks down due to aging or oxidation. It is uncommon in fresh cannabis and has very strong sedative effects. So, basically, the older cannabis, the more sedative it has.

CBD

CBD stands for Cannabidiol, which is a phytocannabinoid found in marijuana. Strains with CBD are not considered inherently sedative, but the properties of this cannabinoid can help people whose sleep disorders are related to anxiety.

CBD is very effective in treating various conditions, and the benefits of CBD oil are well known across the globe.

Get Your Dosage and Timing Right

If you’re trying to treat sleep disorders, it is not recommended to take strong doses of cannabis, as this can lead to an intensified cerebral experience which can prevent you from sleeping. That’s why it’s best to use low to medium doses.

Also, timing is crucial because of the delayed onset of THC’s sedative effect. It is recommended to wait for 60 to 90 minutes after cannabis use before going to bed, as this allows the sedative effect to kick in.

Sleep Disorders You Can Treat with Medical Marijuana

Now that you know how to use cannabis for treating sleep disorders, we can talk about the types of sleep disorders this plant can help you with.

Current research indicates that medical cannabis can be highly effective when it comes to the following five conditions.

Insomnia

Insomnia is becoming more and more common in the global population. It is a disorder that prevents people from falling asleep, makes it difficult to stay asleep, or causes people to wake up too early.

Apart from those, here are some additional common symptoms of insomnia:

♦  not feeling well-rested after sleep

♦  irritability, anxiety, or depression

♦  daytime tiredness or sleepiness

♦  increased errors or accidents

♦  ongoing worries about sleep

♦  difficulty paying attention, remembering, or focusing on tasks

If you are suffering from this disorder, you may want to try using a CBD spray. If used properly, cannabidiol has been listed as one of the best potential treatments of insomnia.

Hypersomnolence

On the other hand, hypersomnolence is a disorder that causes you to feel sleepy during the day. If you have a tendency to take naps regardless of where you are and the sleepiness doesn’t go away after a nap or a good nighttime sleep, you may be suffering from this sleep disorder.

In this case, cannabis can be of great help due to the fact that certain strains of medical marijuana can boost alertness, regulate the sleep-wake cycle, as well as stimulate the mind.

Sleep Apnea

This is a very common sleep disorder. Basically, your breathing is interrupted for 10 to as long as 30 seconds at a time. This is not something to be neglected, as it can have a major negative effect on the quality of your sleep, oxygen flow, and cognitive ability.

Moreover, as many as half of the people who have obstructive sleep apnea snore on a regular basis, so even if you don’t suffer from this condition, you probably know someone who does.

Marijuana may eliminate this disorder, significantly reducing sleep apnea in the short term without any side effects or consequences to your sleep structure.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

This condition is not as common, but it’s maybe even the most worrying of all listed disorders. If you suffer from it, you act out your dreams while asleep. This means that you may move your limbs, talk, or even get out of bed and walk while sleeping.

Luckily, according to a study, CBD is very effective in treating REM sleep behavior disorder with no major side effects.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Finally, restless leg syndrome is pretty self-explanatory. It makes people have an irresistible urge to move their legs while they are sitting or lying down. Consequently, restless leg syndrome can interfere with your sleeping habits and prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Even though there is not enough research on how marijuana affects this disorder, there are a few studies that, like this one, which show that medical cannabis has helped six patients resolve this issue.

Take It with a Grain of Salt

Even though marijuana can be highly effective in treating sleep disorders, not all sleep aids will work for everyone the same way. Some people, like those with recent heart attacks or poor cardiovascular conditions, are advised not to use cannabis because in these cases, the plant can lead to myocardial infarction.

On the other hand, cannabis is great for treating depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, and many other psychosomatic conditions. If you find yourself suffering from any of these, then cannabis can help you relieve symptoms and move on with your normal life.

That being said, you should always keep in mind that marijuana is a quick fix and not a long-term solution. If you want to have a healthy life, you need to establish good sleep habits and change your behavior. Remember, the real change comes from within.

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