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A restful night's sleep is essential for good health, yet 1 in 5 of us struggle to get the recommended 8 hours every night. Cannabis-based treatments may provide long-term relief for insomnia, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome. These treatments have been available since on prescription since 2018, and Releaf’s doctors are here to work with you on a one-on-one basis to design a personalised and effective treatment plan, tailored to your needs.
Am I eligible?
Sleeping Disorders
Sleep quality, timing, and duration can affect your relationships, work performance, and mental health. Yet most conventional sleep aids are only recommended for short-term use, leaving chronic sleep disorder sufferers without a long-term option. While holistic approaches, including mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and more recently, CBD oil, are becoming popular alternative options, cannabis-based treatments may offer a more effective remedy for severe sleep disorders.
How Can Cannabis-Based Treatments Help?
In low doses, THC can induce a sedative effect and help to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, while also increasing sleep duration. Meanwhile, CBD can boost serotonin, alleviate stress and anxiety, and promote a relaxing bedtime routine, leading to better sleep. Since serotonin regulates sleep and is a precursor to melatonin, higher serotonin levels can help you to fall asleep more easily.
improvement in quality of sleep reported using cannabis oil in a placebo-controlled trial
people are affected by insomnia in the UK, and 1 in 5 struggle to get enough sleep every night.
Of UK adults are aware cannabis treatments can be prescribed for sleep disorders
in a small-scale sleep study using cannabis oil were no longer classed as clinical insomniacs after treatment.
Articles on Sleeping disorders
22. 11. 2023
Earlier this month, Self Care Week was celebrated all over the UK - but we think its importance rings true all year round. That’s why we’ve launched our latest blog series: Wellness Wednesday; to take a look at alternative, natural and holistic approaches to improving our wellbeing.
22. 11. 2023
Lucy MacKinnon
05. 08. 2023
Medicinal cannabis-related products, such as those containing CBD, may have benefits for chronic conditions that interrupt sleep. Some studies have shown that both CBD and THC variants, the active ingredient in cannabis, may have the potential to relieve the symptoms of OSA, improving sleep for chronic sufferers of the condition.
05. 08. 2023
Sam North
13. 07. 2023
We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. Restless nights are at least a semi-common occurrence for most people, but if you find yourself battling through weeks or months-long issues surrounding sleep, there may be more at play.
13. 07. 2023
Sam North
After a catastrophic plane crash shattered his shoulder, Matt’s entire life changed. Read more
Condition Sleep Disorders
Subscriber 4 months
For years, Chaos has lived with the debilitating effects of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is only just starting to be properly recognised in the conventional medical community, even though it affects millions of people worldwide. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 6 months
I’m Maxim, a 20-year-old from Haywards Heath, with a passion for sales. I’d say I’m a pretty outgoing, yet, ordinary person. I’m enthusiastic about work, and I love to be sociable and meet up with my friends or go out with my girlfriend, like most twenty-something's do. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
At Releaf, we recognise just how much courage it takes to break free from social and societal norms and begin to advocate for your own healing. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 10 months
Ethan was an active hiker and mountain biker before a back injury robbed him of his mobility, making it hard for him to move around his home and perform simple, everyday tasks—let alone walk the trails of the Scottish Highlands. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
Have you ever been forced to work through an injury? To just grin and bear it? This is a decision that thousands of people in the UK face every day. For so many of our patients suffering with chronic pain, taking months off work to heal from work injuries was never a realistic option. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
As more mainstream research shows the benefits of medical cannabis in treating chronic illness, the surrounding stigma in the UK is steadily declining. At Releaf, we’re seeing an increasingly diverse range of people of different ages, religions and ethnicities come through our doors looking for holistic solutions for chronic health issues. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 7 months
Jacqueline's health journey has been one of setbacks, surgeries, and ongoing struggles with arthritis and chronic pain, both of which contributed to mental health challenges. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
Misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, Georgia spent years on medications that she never felt quite addressed the root of her struggles. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 9 months
Like so many people in the UK looking for alternative treatments for chronic nerve pain, Peter wasn’t aware that medical cannabis had been available in the UK on prescription since 2018. For years, he suffered with trigeminal neuralgia, an excruciating nerve condition, until a chance encounter that led him to Releaf’s doors, where he connected with doctors who understood the complexity of his condition. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Most of us love nothing more than a bit of rest and relaxation. That feeling of letting everything go, and just being in the moment. But for 36-year-old Thomas, finding the mental space to relax can be a bit of an issue. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 6 months
The growing evidence of medical cannabis’ effectiveness in treating chronic pain is slowly reshaping how we approach health and wellness. However, many GPs in the UK are still quick to prescribe addictive medications like opioids and benzodiazepines before looking at safe, alternative solutions like medical cannabis. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Ryan’s passion is the outdoors, and there’s nothing he loves more than a long hike through the forest with his trusty dog. For years, Ryan’s pain disconnected him from the natural world. Now, his recent treatment with medical cannabis is finally offering hope. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 10 months
Rhona's story is one of resilience and determination. After years of battling through chronic pain and sleeping issues without being able to find a real diagnosis, Rhona was coming to the end of her rope. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Omar, 31, is a theatre director who, for years, has battled chronic pain and discomfort due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His story is an important one, because it highlights the difference between the holistic approach to healing that Releaf provides, and the conventional one that focuses on physical symptoms. Read more
Condition Gastroenterological
Subscriber 6 months
Ollie is a 38-year-old father of three whose diagnosis with ADHD came only a year ago, sparking a profound reflection on the coping mechanisms he had adopted throughout his youth—most notably, his battle with alcoholism that led to a life-altering arrest for drink-driving at the age of 25 Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 5 months
As humans, we like to learn from others because we feel inspired by them, because there is strength in numbers, and that’s something we’re naturally comforted by. And, at Releaf, sharing patient voices and their experiences with medical cannabis is something we’re committed to, for exactly these reasons. We want to champion our patient’s voices to diversity the conversation, covering all sorts of health conditions treatable with medical cannabis, by speaking to patients one on one about how their health, life, and overall wellbeing, has changed since becoming a Releaf patient. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 8 months
After a car accident triggered his Restless Leg Syndrome, Eric was trapped in a cycle of insomnia, fatigue, and frustration that affected every aspect of his life. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 4 months
Jean’s story is one of quiet resilience, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive even amidst life’s unavoidable struggles. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 4 months
Living a healthy, active lifestyle has always been a top priority for the dad of four and full-time illustrator and printmaker, Martin. But due to the chronic pain from Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) and spinal arthritis, each day is a balancing act between managing his symptoms, pursuing his creative work, and getting all the other day to day stuff done. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
For far too many patients in the UK, finding legal treatment options that are effective and without the burden of heavy side effects can be difficult. To add to the struggle, navigating the complex healthcare and legal systems can often leave patients feeling lost and alone. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
Maruis’s story is one of trauma, struggle, and resilience in the face of seemingly relentless health challenges. Diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, along with osteoarthritis, he faced exhausting day-to-day battles, such as bouts of vivid night terrors and debilitating, life-limiting side effects from an exhaustive list of prescription drugs. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Having your health taken away from you, through no fault of your own, is terrible - especially for someone so used to being extremely active. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 10 months
For mum Laura, helping her son Harry through a number of health challenges has been a journey filled with ups and downs. Finding the correct diagnoses was a long and frustrating process, as has been managing Harry’s ongoing medical needs. Read more
Condition Neurological
Subscriber 8 months
One of our primary goals at Releaf is to remove the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis, and that’s why Hollie’s story is so important. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 8 months
At Releaf, we are dedicated to providing safe, effective treatments that enhance the quality of life for those navigating chronic health conditions. James’ story is an important one, because it draws attention to one of the most common and debilitating conditions faced by many of our patients: severe, chronic insomnia. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
Diagnosed with a range of conditions, including fibromyalgia, agoraphobia, and PTSD, Helen faced daily barriers that made even simple tasks daunting. Traditional medications only seemed to exacerbate her struggles, leaving her in a cycle of discomfort that made her unable to engage with the most important thing in her life: her family. Read more
Condition Pain
Subscriber 9 months
Daryl is a young dad who suffers from anxiety and depression. For his kids, he knew he had to find a solution. After conventional medicines only made things worse, Daryl reached out to our clinicians at Releaf and began his journey with medical cannabis. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 8 months
As human beings, it's part of our intrinsic, instinctual nature to learn from those around us, and to use the experiences others have had to help guide or inform our own. And in the world of medical cannabis, this is no different. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 10 months
I've actually been on this journey since about 12 years old, when I first started getting my period. From my very first period, I experienced more than normal levels of pain, and I was bleeding throughout the month. Read more
Condition Gastroenterological
Subscriber 9 months
Brandon is a 27-year-old who has faced the challenges of anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD throughout his life. For many years, he felt isolated, and his conditions often prevented him from engaging in social circles and made him a target for bullying. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 7 months
Ben had been battling anxiety and depression for nearly two decades when, seven years ago, he was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Despite years of being prescribed pharmaceutical treatment options like SSRIs and opioids, he still felt weighed down by their side effects. Read more
Condition Psychiatric
Subscriber 4 months
"Sleep is a fundamental aspect of health, it plays a vital role in allowing both our mind, and our body, time to recover for the next day.In a clinical setting, medical cannabis can be prescribed to eligible patients to assist in the treatment of sleeping disorders because of its sedative and relaxing qualities. For those who struggle to feel rested, or suffer from bad nightmares, THC is a useful component as it increases deep sleep at the expense of REM sleep. Evidence suggests THC may also help reduce sleep onset times and address pain concerns that disturb sleep quality, while CBD has shown to alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety, which can help in achieving a more restful, and relaxing bedtime routine."
Clinical Director
Daytime fatigue
Difficult falling asleep
Difficult staying asleep
Difficulty concentrating
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Impaired memory
Irritability
Nightmares
Poor work performance
Restless legs
Sleep onset insomnia
Sleep paralysis
It's important to note that these symptoms are general and may not be exclusive to any specific sleeping disorder. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans based on individual needs.
