Cannabis is a wonderful, all-natural sleep aid. A good strain of indica can put even an insomniac to sleep. While smoking, eating or vaping cannabis certainly makes you sleepy, depending on the strain, there’s a lot more going on between cannabis, you, and your sleep. Read on to learn all about it.
THC, CBD, and Sleep
Sleep studies have mostly focused on THC, which is known to give people a sleepy, sedative effect. On the other hand, not much research has been done regarding CBD and sleep. According to the research that hasbeen done, subjects who suffer from anxiety and poor sleep saw mixed results when using CBD; two-thirds reported improved sleep, while one forth reported worsened sleep. Cannabis is a product that effects everyone differently. Therefore, it’s up to you to try out different strains with different levels of THC and/or CBD and see what works best for bringing you to dreamland.
Not All Strains are the Same
Typically, you hear that sativa strains are for daytime smoking, when you need energy to get things done, and indica strains are for nighttime smoking to help you relax and drift off to sleep. Most of the time this is true for most people. However, this rule doesn’t always apply and you shouldn’t base your purchase on it. In fact, what you need to do is write down (because your a stoner) which exact strains made you feel the most sleepy. Were they purely indica or sativa? Hybrids? How much THC did they contain? How much CBD? Answering these questions will help you narrow down the best strain that works for you.
Throw in Some Natural Sleep Aids
Cannabis is safe to use with other natural sleep aids. What you want to look for is a sleep aid with terpenoids found in hops, chamomile, or lavender. When taken together, these two natural sleep aids enhance each other to give you a sedative effect that will have you snoring in your pillow.
Fall Asleep Faster
Do you get stuck inside your head at night, unable to fall asleep? Then you need help to fall asleep faster. If you suffer from pain, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, or another condition that inhibits sleep, many of the symptoms associated with these conditions are alleviated with the use of cannabis, helping you feel more comfortable and fall asleep quickly.
Ever Had a Cannabis Hangover?
If your head feels all cloudy and groggy the next morning you may have a mild cannabis hangover. Other symptoms include dehydration, dry-eye, and congestion. Typically, you get a cannabis hangover when you smoke low quality cannabis or cannabis sprayed with pesticides. To avoid a hangover, stick with high-grade brands that do not use pesticides on their products. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water, eat healthy, and use cannabis in moderation. To combat a cannabis hangover drink lots of water and get some exercise.
You May Experience Less Dreaming
Cannabis is known to inhibit REM and dreams. Dreams occur during the REM stage of sleep and cannabis reduces the time you spend in REM land. This means you dream less and the dreams you do dream are less vivid. On the other hand, if you stop using cannabis after long-term use, you’ll find your dreams become lucid as your body has an REM rebound.
Sleep Can Get Worse when Long-Term Use Stops
Those who quit using cannabis or who take a tolerance break sometimes find their sleep worsens. Tossing and turning all night is a tell-tale sign that quitting cannabis is effecting your sleep. Not only that, but you’re feeling fuzzy and groggy in the morning. If this is the case, you may want to consider using another natural sleep aid or returning to cannabis use.