How Cannabis Helps You Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important things that a person can do to ensure mental and physical health. Sleep is the process of rest and is broken down into sleep cycles primarily know as REM and non-REM sleep, each of which provides benefits such as allowing your mind to organize thoughts and memories, regulates your emotions and metabolism, and regulates the recovery of damage to muscle tissue, joints, and other parts of your body.

Despite this more than a third of the adult population does not get the minimum of seven hours of sleep each night. Sleep deprivation can lead to memory loss, moodiness, a lack of focus and motivation, and a higher risk of physical imbalance.

There are several reasons why a person may not be able to sleep well from mental health disorders to physical conditions, both of which can be managed with the use of cannabis, CBDand THC.

Helps to soothe pain

Pain is the leading reason why people seek health care in the United States. Of those, nearly 25-million adults suffer from chronic pain which often leads to sleep deprivation due to the frequent and explosively painful cramps and muscle spasms.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviewed more than 10,000 scientific studies based on the benefits and negative effects of marijuana. What they found is that cannabis inhibits the same function that reacts and blocks pain receptors in the brain which effectively relieve chronic pain. As a result, medical marijuana, has become an acceptable way for people suffering from post-surgery pain, cancer, Fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other forms of chronic pain.

Reduces anxiety

The leading cause of insomnia is anxiety which prevents a person from being able to disassociate their selves from fears and concerns. The inability to put these thoughts aside triggers the mind to stay awake. Due to the relaxation properties associated with cannabis, it can be an effective way of relieving symptoms that often cause wakefulness.

However, it is important that a user understand which strains of cannabis they are using to reduce anxiety for a restful sleep. While some strains inhibit a sedative-type effect, others may increase heart rate. Currently, there are several options for taking CBD and THC as an anxiety and sleep aid.

Helps with PTSD

Sleep deprivation is a problem for many people who suffer from PTSD, especially those just returning from war zones. Due to the effects of cannabis to reduce REM sleep may be the most impactful for PTSD survivors who experience frequent, painful, and livid dreams. REM sleep is the stage of sleep where dreams can become intense due to higher brain activity.

Cannabis reduces the amount of time that a person stays in REM sleep, which also reduces the impact of livid dreams on the person suffering from PTSD.

While early in the stages of legality in the United States cannabis studies have started to reveal important benefits cannabis can provide to those who suffer from insomnia, sleep deprivation, and other mental health disorders.

Author, Krista Harper