Sleep is the best of both worlds, literally! You are alive and at rest. The deep sleep state is the most restorative, restful part of the sleep cycle. But ask those who are unable to sleep peacefully! They suffer from a lot of mental and health issues.
With the changing lifestyle in this competitive world, we are constantly burdened with stress and anxiety. It leads to the most common yet worrisome condition known as insomnia. Every living being needs to sleep not only to get relaxed but to let all the body parts heal, grow and work healthily.
Let’s understand more about insomnia and how to resolve this problem naturally using Vijaya.
What is insomnia?
It’s a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep or get back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. It can also cause frequent awakenings. Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Symptoms of insomnia
- Difficulty in falling asleep
- Waking up during sleep
- Irritability, depression, or anxiety
- Feeling tired all the time
Common causes of insomnia
- Stress
- Social media and binge watching on TV
- Travel or irregular work schedule
- Poor sleeping habits
- Eating late in the night
Some more serious yet prominent causes associated with insomnia are mentioned below:
- Mental health disorders
- Medications – antidepressants, stimulants, or caffeine-containing medicines.
- Sleep-related diseases like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
- Consuming caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol.
- Aging is another factor where changes in activities, sleep patterns, health issues, and medications may result in insomnia.
Treatment for insomnia
Opting for any medications should be the last remedy. First, it is suggested to check out your lifestyle and manage stress better. If that isn’t working, various medicines are available to deal with the condition of insomnia. However, taking them for a prolonged period is not advisable.
Ayurveda in combating insomnia
Ayurveda is a centuries-old, proven medical system that offers solutions to many ailments, and insomnia is one of them. While constant research is undergoing in this area on how to give the patient better sleep with the least adversity. Ayurvedic scholars and other medical practitioners are researching and finding the effectiveness of Cannabis (Vijaya) in inducing sleep.
The cannabis plant has been used for ages as a sleep aid. Vijaya (cannabis) contains 100s of cannabinoids. Some of them produce a calming and sedating effect.
Hempstreet offers Ayurvedic medicine called Trailokya Vijaya Vati, which contains Vijaya as the key ingredient that can help improve sleep. Trailokya Vijaya Vati’s benefits include increased appetite, curbed insomnia, and anxiety. It is advisable to consult an Ayurvedic doctor and take prescribed dosages to treat sleep disorders.
What’s inside Vijaya that helps treat insomnia?
Vijaya consists of various cannabinoids, offering benefits for sleep and other health conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative diseases. The three main cannabinoids that impact sleep are detailed below:
CBD or Cannabidiol
CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) of the human body and helps regulate sleep, mood, appetite, etc. Two receptors, CB1 and CB2, bind to specific receptors in or brain and central nervous system, thus affecting the sleep cycle. CBD has no psychoactive effects, which means there’s no “high” feeling associated.
CBD has gained popularity due to its ability to reduce anxiety, promote concentration, relieve pain and improve sleep-wake cycles.
CBN or Cannabinol
CBN may show strong sedative effects when combined with THC. CBN also shows anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties while improving the quality of sleep.
THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol
THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in the hemp plant responsible for providing relief from pain and nausea. THC also shows some sedative effects and assists in falling asleep, especially for patients with sleep apnea.
Terpenes
Terpenes is the aromatic compound present in many plants but available in higher concentrations in the hemp plant. Terpenes offer assistance in the functioning of the ECS, nervous system, immune system, and gastrointestinal systems.
Terpenes support other active compounds in cannabis and help to achieve the desired result. This is termed the entourage effect. Terpenes have calming, mood-lifting properties by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Terpenes increase the amount of adenosine, a sedating hormone that helps people doze off. Therefore, terpenes act as a sleep-promoter and may help reduce insomnia symptoms.
Time your Ayurvedic medicine
Just as it is important to fix a sleep time, it is crucial to set up a medicine time also, especially for sleep. Get clarity of dosage and timing in your Ayurvedic doctor’s online consultation. Generally, it is recommended to take medicine an hour before sleep and maintain the routine consistently.
Using Vijaya-infused Ayurvedic medicine is a solution. However, to sleep peacefully, you should also practice good sleep hygiene and incorporate the required lifestyle changes that promote good sleep.
Reference:
https://thesleepdoctor.com/cannabis-and-sleep/
https://www.healthline.com/health/medical-marijuana/cannabis-for-sleeping#how-to-use
