(Continued from part 1)
As Truth on Pot tells us, cannabis can decrease the time it takes to get us to sleep and keep us in stage 3 longer, which is the slow-wave sleep when we get the most rest. The time we spend in REM sleep (stage 4) decreases as a result, which explains the lack of dreams.
“Over the years, many studies have set out to determine the impact that marijuana has on sleep. And the findings seem to explain why many choose to smoke before bedtime. That is, marijuana can act as a sleep aid by decreasing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.
“But what happens after you fall asleep? Interestingly, studies show that marijuana can also affect the different stages of sleep; specifically, slow-wave sleep and REM sleep.
“As it turns out, slow-wave sleep and REM sleep are somewhat intertwined. Studies have found that ingestion of THC – the psychoactive compound in marijuana – leads to an increase in slow-wave sleep. An increase in slow-wave sleep leads to a decrease in REM sleep, which explains why marijuana users often experience less dreams.” (1)
The ‘REM rebound effect’, which increases the REM sleep of longtime users who quit, is the reason many who give it up become restless.
“Another interesting finding is the REM rebound effect that is commonly observed when marijuana use is stopped.
“Common characteristics of an REM rebound are restlessness and overly vivid dreaming, which are a result of the brain spending more time in the REM stage than it usually would. An increase in REM sleep has also been linked to depression and symptoms of bipolar disorder.” (2)
While using marijuana at night will disrupt REM sleep, its beneficial effect on the deeper slow-wave sleep makes it a potential insomnia treatment.
“Taking everything into consideration, it would appear that nighttime marijuana use does in fact disrupt one’s sleep. While it is tempting to view this as a negative, research suggests marijuana could offer a few health benefits as well.
“For example, in addition to helping users fall asleep faster, the effect of marijuana on slow-wave sleep may also be viewed as beneficial.
“Experts say that the most damaging effects of sleep deprivation are caused by inadequate slow-wave sleep. For instance, research has shown that reduced slow-wave sleep can be a powerful predictor of high blood pressure in older men. Thus, users who suffer from a lack of overall sleep may actually benefit from using marijuana.” (3)
Its effect on the REM stage makes cannabis a less preferable candidate to help with sleep, even though nobody’s certain how REM sleep helps the brain or body.
“On the flip side, a lack of REM sleep should be viewed as a potential drawback of nighttime marijuana use – although experts are still unsure of what REM sleep actually does for the brain. The fact that brain cells are highly active during REM sleep suggests that it does not play a role in the rest and repair of the brain.
“What’s more, research shows that REM sleep deprivation has little to no impact on learning and memory, with some studies showing that it may even improve memory.
“A lack of REM sleep has also been found to alleviate symptoms of depression. Even still, experts are confident that REM sleep has some sort of positive effect on the body, while it remains to be determined what exactly it may be.” (4)
REM sleep doesn’t seem as important to our wellbeing as slow-wave sleep, but people should still be aware that cannabis can disrupt the REM stage and cautious not to willingly deplete their time in this stage by smoking, vaping, etc. before bed.
According to studies cited by Colorado Pot Guide, cannabis could potentially treat sleep apnea.
“While the lack of dreams may seem like a definite draw-back to some, keep in mind that it is during REM sleep that most sleep disturbances associated with sleep apnea occur.
“Sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by interrupted breathing patterns during sleep, affects millions of Americans resulting [in an] overly sleepy (and thus dangerous) society. A 2002 study, however, suggests that cannabinoids could offer a ‘potent suppression for sleep-related apnea’.
“According to a 2013 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, ‘…Δ9-TetraHydroCannabinol (Δ9THC) stabilizes autonomic output during sleep, reduces spontaneous sleep-disordered breathing, and blocks serotonin-induced exacerbation of sleep apnea.’” (5)
When testing a synthetic form of THC, researchers found that it improved sleep conditions for 17 test subjects.
“Building off of this, the researchers went on to find that dronabinol, a man-made form of THC, did, in fact, improve sleeping conditions for 17 adults suffering from obstructive sleep apnea without reducing quality of sleep. Though the study was small, the implications of this are huge.
“Because sleep apnea reduces sleep efficiency, over 22 million Americans who suffer from the disease notoriously work, drive and communicate while sleep deprived.
“This can result in lost productivity at work, increased hazards on the road and a breakdown of interpersonal relationships. If THC (synthetic or not) can help treat the disease, then millions of Americans may finally be able to sleep well again.” (6)
Colorado Pot Guide also mentions the drawback of cannabis as a treatment for sleep apnea or insomnia, which is that once the user quits, they experience the REM rebound effect.
“Many heavy marijuana users report difficulty sleeping once they’ve ceased use. These problems include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and the phenomenon known as REM rebound or very vivid (often anxiety-inducing) dreams.
“[These] are typical withdraw symptoms (which closely mimic nicotine withdraw) and can last only a few days to as many as six or seven weeks.
“Smoking a bowl at the end of the day is not an uncommon way to relax and ultimately sleep. But regular use of cannabis can affect one’s sleep cycle in a number of ways, both good and bad.” (7)
Cannabis is a potential treatment for those with sleep problems who use it occasionally or have never touched it. However, longtime smokers who need the herb to get to bed might not be using it medicinally, but relying on it for sleep.
They may experience the REM rebound effect if they quit, and I’m not sure if this means cannabis is a great insomnia treatment or it prevents a good night’s rest unless it’s used every night.
Users may experience the REM rebound effect if they quit, and I’m not sure if this means cannabis is a great insomnia treatment or it prevents a good night’s rest unless it’s used every night. Photo credit: leafscience.com
In my opinion, sufferers of insomnia, sleep paralysis, sleep apnea or any other sleep condition should do what they feel is best even if others condemn them. If they do use the herb to get to sleep, I’d recommend being honest with themselves about the effects, good and bad, it has on their sleep schedule.
Cannabis affects everyone differently, and while it’s tremendously helpful for some, others probably wouldn’t appreciate the lack of dreams or any other side effect. Whether it helps or hurts sleep, I think we can all agree that it should be legal, more research should be done and more knowledge should be shared about its benefits and drawbacks.
Footnotes:
- “Marijuana and Sleep: The Facts” from TruthOnPot.com, November 3, 2012 –http://www.truthonpot.com/2012/11/03/marijuana-and-sleep/
- Loc. Cit.
- Loc. Cit.
- Loc. Cit.
- “How Cannabis Affects Sleep Patterns” by Abby H., Colorado Pot Guide, March 2, 2015 –https://www.coloradopotguide.com/colorado-marijuana-blog/2015/march/02/how-cannabis-affects-sleep-patterns/
- Loc. Cit.
- Loc. Cit.
Source:By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness, January 26, 2016 – http://tinyurl.com/hfjm4zm
Comments
Sorry Meindert, for going a bit astray of the cannabis topic, but I do want to emphasise that the people we describe as "Nordics," because they live in Northern Europe, such as the Skandanavians, could not have lived in those areas comfortably, at the height of the Ice Age, as the glacier covered the lands completely...Thus they originated elsewhere......Migrating from Atlantis and parts of inner earth, having been offered official sanctuary, during the global great deluge...
With respect for that common error, expressed by Mikael, regarding the racial+geographical "links," I will suggest to him that when we think in terms of written history aka (fake history,) of course, it appears as if "white" people came from Europe and "black" people are strictly from the south, including Africa and the Darwinists will tell us all about "evolution" and how tropical adaptions differ from the colder north, etc.....Yet, it is all fake....The truth of human origins is different to what the official history and official "science" would have us all believe....
And there is no reason why dark skinned people should be stopped from travelling north, provided they are doing so in good faith and within the laws of the host countries...
Truth is, white Europeans did not originate in Europe, at all...They have lived here since the ice age meltdown, BUT came from a different region of the earth and before that, ALL earth human races came from cosmic star nations, originally in the Lyra constellation....Vega star system...
Mikail, you and those liken unto you are not worth talking to, unlike some others whose intentions are purely to uplift the community, not bring it down, as is your intention, through twisting the words of what others say, so take your axe ......... and grind it elsewhere.... rather, bury it all together, and get over your self.
Here is a very powerfull video you might learn from, the subject matter speaks for itself... bye bye Mikail.
Look, there will come a time, a life, a decade, when you finally realise that you are in control of the things around you....They do not control you.....Indeed, sample what you will...BUT, learn to experience them, and not become hooked by them.....You mentioned cakes....Indeed I don't eat cakes, at all....Nor biscuits...It's my choice not to....I chose to drink decaff tea, a couple of years back....I have adjusted, but at first, it is a bind...same with your ganga....If you let anything, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, food, anything can control you and not vice versa.....
Problem with some drugs and alcohol, is that behind the wheel of a car, you can harm others.....You feel you can do anything, BUT you are deluded by the substance being abused and you are being abused by the substance....There are food addicts who gorge themselves on 100 bars of snickers, 3 fudgcakes and 20 donuts, each day.....Now that is another example of a life out of control......You may say I have no right to make a suggestion of diet, to such a person, but I would feel it necessary, if such a person were close....Maybe even someone on the ACC community...an addict of any sort...Could possibly be given advice, in good faith, by other members...Yes I might and do....Not to control freewill...BUT, to offer educated insights...
Maybe some not addictive food for thought...??
@Drekx
No belief is valid up against the ultimate truth, that we do not know, but which makes our hearts beat. There is no "should and should not". Drop it. Life is free from all. You are free to create it as you wish, just don't harm anybody else :)
And cannabis is not any more harmful then a spoon of sugar :) (Sugar is what makes your cake sweet ;)
I have no problem saying all other hard drugs can kiss my a**. But Cannabis....is just..........a gift.....Its bigger then you man ;) And people who feel the need to use Cannabis is not so much more addicts then those who need to use coffee or beer.
I'm didn't come to Earth to restrict myself. I came to enjoy it. Substances or not, it's a part of living life in the "Early 21st century". Its just a dream...
...we have cannabis receptors in our body and brain, the current co-creative efforts of marijuana/mother nature and an aspect of divine source are working for the good of humanity through any and many possible means...one hidden aspect or tool ( lol, even 'scientists' know of consciousness effecting the outcome,) is for the recipient to invoke their 'intention' of the desired effect or outcome, for example, healing (physical or mental ;) ...you get what you think here in this holodeck gone wild :)-
Well, let us just say that the human body is the "temple" for the Soul to express itself, in physicality....It should be kept as healthy as possible... Healthy body and mind....Balanced emotions, too...Exercise, enough sleep, a good and varied diet....Education, meditation and purpose to a life...Self-realisation....
With effort, the development of balanced natural psychic gifts, such as telepathy....control upon the mental plane....Communication with higher self in spirit and also, other higher intelligences....
To do good in the world, using an avenue of preferred service....
Now if you are an addict...That is not possible to achieve.....Anyone here believing that the body temple is best served by a daily stoning by the ganga, had better think again...That is not the way to self-realise.....and connect with higher intelligence....Only astral beings of a low vibration....and ones that some may call "archons" that I prefer to describe as lower astral denizens that feed on addictive lives, of misguided and lost, persons...
Look, we can all try things, but do not feel you are needed to be an addict...Neither, alcohol, food, ganga, morphine, weed, hash, or anything that damages your lives and those close ones, who must suffer your behavioural and antisocial dis-functions....
I used to work in a MEDICAL marijuana production facility and I fully understand the stigma surrounding cannabis. Some people may call a monster but I can feel good knowing that my work was producing medicine for sick people.
@Drekx
HAHAHAHahahahHAHAHAhAhAHHAHAhAhAHHA!!!!
"My name is Drekx and I am a medium/source of information between people on Earth and the Galactic Federation of light. I also speak out against drugs and addicts just trying to smoke some mary jay"
HahAHAhAhAHHAHAhAhHAha!!!
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