Insomnia

Sleep is an essential process that allows our bodies and minds to repair themselves and function effectively. Getting enough high-quality sleep is therefore vital for maintaining our overall physical and mental health. Yet, research shows that a significant portion of the population is not getting enough sleep - with many suffering from sleep disorders. We’re taking a look at how medical cannabis treatment could be beneficial in treating common sleep disorders from insomnia to sleep apnoea.

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.

Sleep is an absolutely vital component of our mental and physical health. But the unfortunate truth is that many of us are simply not getting enough of it. While many of us experience the odd sleepless night due to the daily stresses of modern-day life, one too many cappuccinos at work, or an oppressively hot and muggy summer evening, an ongoing loss of sleep could be categorised as insomnia.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Lauded for its potential anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and antioxidant effects, it has found great popularity around the world as a health supplement. While cannabis use is strictly regulated in the UK for the consumer market, the law states that CBD products are legal as long as they contain less than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per dose or less than 1 mg per container. This ensures that users can enjoy the health benefits of medical cannabis without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Many of us know how it feels to endure a sleepless night. Heat and humidity, noisy neighbours, or the worries and stresses of daily life can all prevent us from finding the restful state needed for good quality sleep. Most of the time, this transient insomnia comes and goes as external conditions become more favourable. Over time, however, a prolonged lack of sleep may lead to chronic insomnia.

Insomnia is a poorly understood and debilitating condition where sufferers find it difficult to either fall asleep, stay asleep for long periods, or get good quality sleep in general. Although there are conventional pharmaceutical treatment options available, most come with some pretty heavy side effects. Patients in the UK are increasingly looking at medical cannabis as an effective complementary treatment option to reduce the symptoms of insomnia.

Sativa and Indica are the two main types of medical cannabis, and while they are essentially the same plant, they can have vastly different effects on the mind and body. With recent studies suggesting that the differences between the two may be more nuanced than the recreational cannabis market would have you believe, the question of “Do Sativa or Indica strains offer better sleep?” is becoming increasingly relevant.

Cannabidiol, otherwise referred to as CBD, is the second most prevalent cannabinoid that medical cannabis produces after THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and the most dominant in hemp varieties. Over the past decade or so, CBD has become increasingly popular as a natural remedy for many health conditions, including insomnia.

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.