Regular consumption of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, depression, stress, and anxiety disorders are among the many causes of insomnia. You may find yourself awake at 3 a.m. with a flurry of thoughts racing through your mind or anxiety killing your sleep. More often than not, prescription drugs are of no avail. You might then want to resort to cannabis strains for support. With so many options to choose from, let’s take a deeper dive into it.
How Cannabis Strains can Support Sleep
Before understanding how getting marijuana seeds helps to induce sleep, let us know the four significant stages of sleep:
- The first ten minutes of sleep is your half-awake step.
- After this, the heart's pace slows down and reduces body temperature. It is the phase of light sleep.
- 35-45 minutes after you fall asleep, the most crucial stage of your sleep cycle comes. It is the deep sleep stage. Your body relaxes fully, and cells heal and regenerate during this stage.
- The REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase is where dreams take place. It usually hits after 90 minutes of deep sleep.
Research shows that under the influence of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), to be exact, the human mind falls asleep faster. It allows us to be in a deep sleep for longer, giving the body more time to heal. More time in the deep sleep phase means the duration of the REM stage contracts. So, many cannabis users believe dreams don’t occur when they are high.
Best Medical Strains for Insomnia
Here are some of the best medical strains for insomnia to choose from:
God’s Gift
Indeed, this 1990s California strain lives up to its name for all sleep-deprived people. The THC level ranges between 18% and 20%. The notes of berry and lemon originating in God’s Gift from OG Kush and Grand Daddy leave you relaxed and ecstatic simultaneously. One can search the net for Ontario weed online and find trusted retailers offering high-quality Strains at discounted prices.
Granddaddy Purple
Granddaddy Purple (GDP) has earned its name because of its powerful sleep-inducing effect on patients all night with insomnia due to pain. The THC levels (sometimes as high as 23%) and sleepy terpene myrcene content will put your insomnia, anxiety, stress, and pain issues at rest immediately. It is an Indica cross of Purple Urkle and Big Bud strains and has intense and delicious grape and berry flavours.
Northern Lights
It is comforting to be all cosy under a blanket on a winter night and watch the Northern Lights dance above your head! Inhaling the medical cannabis strains of Northern Lights brings a similar overwhelming and tranquillizing upshot. The THC content in this Indica strain can stomp out insomnia even in the most restless kind. It has been around since the 1980s, and today, it is one of the most sought-after strains on leading mail-order cannabis sites. You can start growing your own flowers by getting your hands on some of the finest seeds from Zamnesia Seedshop, including Northern Lights, for a full-body unwinding.
Ogre
Being a hybrid, Ogre has the best of both Sativa and Indica strains. For those insomniacs who aren’t much affected by Indica strains, this is a great option to kick out restlessness and promote sleep. Its lingering sweet and citrusy notes leave the patient feeling delighted.
Big Bud
The megalithic flowers in this Indica strain aren’t its only great features; it surprises its users with their mind-numbing effects. People with insomnia claim they no longer need sleeping pills because Big Bud acts like an off-switch for the mind and gives the person a nice nap.
Critical Kush
What’s better than Critical Mass, a notorious strain known for its ‘couch lock’ effect? A cross-breed of Critical Mass with one of the most potent Sativa hybrids: OG Kush. The THC content ranges between 20 and 25 percent in Critical Kush. A lingering citrusy-pine flavour accompanies its tranquillizing and sleep-inducing benefits.
Things to Consider before buying Strains
Before you grab the best deals on budget buds, here are a few points to consider:
- · While vapes have a faster sedative effect, edibles have a long-lasting impact. So, you might opt for edible strains for long hours of undisturbed sleep.
- Old marijuana buds are better than fresh flowers due to the high content of the tranquillizing chemical cannabinol (CBN).
- Follow the “start low and go slow” rule regarding THC strains. If anxiety keeps you up all night, large doses of THC might become counter-effective. Strains containing CBD are an excellent alternative in such cases.
- For insomnia, you get the best relaxation effects when you inhale Indica strains or Indica dominant crossbreeds instead of pure Sativa strains. Make sure you buy weed from reputed sources only.
- For a deep slumber, it is advised to smoke or vape your marijuana at least an hour before your sleep routine. This gap helps your brain to get over the psychoactive effects of THC.
Not all cannabis strains have the same sedating effects on every individual. You must try them out to pick the theme that works best for you. Once you get the green signal from your doctor to treat your insomnia with marijuana, you are good to go!