Insomnia

Symptoms
About 30% of people suffer from insomnia and about 10% of people suffer from chronic insomnia. People who have insomnia have a difficult time sleeping. This includes falling asleep and staying asleep.

Those with insomnia also find that they experience: daytime tiredness and feelings of restlessness, irritability, depression, anxiety, plus difficulty paying attention and staying focused.

Benefits
Cannabis is well known for its benefits in treatment of insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by various ailments. The analgesic and anti-anxiety properties of cannabis can soothe pains and stress which may be the underlying cause of difficulty sleeping.

Strains that contain THC are most effective at combating insomnia. Studies have shown that THC reduces REM sleep. With shorter REM cycles, it allows for our bodies to reach deeper sleep cycles for longer amounts of time. Some studies have also found that cannabis use before sleep can improve sleep apnea, which is a breathing condition which can cause an individual to wake many times throughout the night.

Although THC is most commonly used to fight insomnia, CBD’s antianxiety properties can be used to reduce stress, in turn decreasing sleeplessness. Myrcene is a terpene found in certain strains of cannabis. Strains with this terpene will be most effective in relaxing the body and allowing for a good night’s sleep.

Treatment
The sedative properties of Indica strains make them ideal for sleeping disorders. Strains containing about 20% THC or less allow for a full night’s sleep without causing grogginess the next day. When first starting to use cannabis for treatment of insomnia, start with low doses until you know find the right dose for you. Smoking or vaping provides almost instant effects and can be done right before going to sleep.

Tinctures and edibles have more of a body effect, and though they take longer to take effect, they work well for falling asleep and staying asleep. With edibles, always start off with a low dose until you know the right amount for you; remember they may take up to 2 hours to take effect.