Author: Sasha Kalcheff-Korn

Many clients come to Realm of Caring looking for help in improving their quality of sleep. The great news is that research is continuing to show us that cannabinoid therapy may help. Certain cannabinoids have shown through studies the ability to benefit our sleep-wake cycles, decrease nightmares, lessen the conditions that interfere with our sleep, and assist in actually falling asleep. Depending on what sleep disorder one is suffering with, or what sleep benefit they are looking for, there are 3 main cannabinoids that have been studied for their sleep-enhancing qualities. Those cannabinoids to be discussed here are CBD, THC, and CBN. 

Before we go on, let’s get into some background information and understanding. 

Circadian rhythm is our biological rhythm in a 24-hour period, coming from the latin circa meaning around and dies meaning day. The most commonly known is the sleep-wake cycle, which in chronobiology, is tied to day and night or lightness and darkness. When our circadian rhythms are properly aligned and consistent, we can experience true restorative sleep. 

Insomnia is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as the most common sleep disorder, involving problems getting to sleep or staying asleep with symptoms being episodic, persistent, and/or recurrent. The many types of insomnia are known to cause daytime tiredness, distress, irritability and/or impairment. 

Our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is composed of endocannabinoids, as well as two distinct receptors known as CB1 and CB2, and enzymes responsible for the metabolism of endocannabinoids. It has been found that the expression pattern of CB1 and CB2 receptors are influenced by light-dark cycles and therefore appear to align with circadian rhythms. Furthermore, it has been shown in studies with rodents that the ECS may potentially modulate those rhythms to promote sleep. 

CBD Benefits

CBD is not a naturally sedative molecule. Research has shown that high quantities may have “sedative-like qualities”, potentially due to the effect on cortisol levels. So why is it that you might have heard from a friend that CBD helps them sleep?

There are two great reasons for this. 

CBD has therapeutic properties that have the potential to mitigate symptoms that interfere with sleep. It also has the potential to improve sleep-wake cycles leading to an increase in the percentage of total sleep overtime.

Among the several researched properties, CBD may benefit as an anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. The anxiolytic properties of CBD may help to improve sleep by mitigating anxiety or stress-induced insomnia. Stress induces a sleep-related feature known as rapid eye movement (or REM) sleep rebound, this is an increase in REM sleep during the nightly sleep cycles. People experiencing REM sleep rebound may spend more time in REM than they would during a night of normal, healthy sleep.

Inflammation is a root cause of autoimmune disorders including arthritis, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), crohn’s disease, and others – all which have an effect on body clock function that can lead to sleep disorders. A study by Northwestern found in mice this link between inflammation and what controls the body clock. By limiting this inflammation, we may lessen the effects on our body clock functions and have more restful sleep. 

A study in 2005 showed that people reporting insomnia symptoms are at least 3 times more likely to have a chronic painful physical condition. These events may then become cyclical in that pain may disrupt sleep and sleep deprivation can increase pain perception. In the majority of animal studies, CBD has been known to exert analgesic effects; co-administering with THC may provide more benefit to this therapeutic action. 

Our circadian rhythm aligns our sleep and wakefulness with day and night to provide stability in restorative rest that enables increased daytime activity. Low doses of CBD may be associated with wakefulness to help our focus and cognition during the day. Studies show that therapeutic levels of CBD administration may increase total sleep time and decrease frequency of arousals at night – leading to an increase in total percentage of sleep overtime. 

THC Benefits

In comparison to CBD, THC has shown in studies as having an affect on mental and physical sedation, even in low amounts. THC also has positive therapeutic benefits that may lead to better sleep.

Nightmares are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often resulting in this being considered a “treatment-resistant” condition. Initial research has shown the benefit cannabinoids can have in managing nightmares linked with PTSD. A study with military veterans and prison inmates receiving Nabilone, a synthetic form of THC, found a reduction in nightmare presence and intensity. This increased participants’ hours of sleep per night. 

Just as mentioned with CBD, THC is also beneficial for mitigating pain-induced insomnia or wakefulness. When it comes to pain studies and medical cannabis with significant THC content, benefits consistently show moderate to high symptom management of chronic pain. 

A normal amount of apneic events in a healthy individual is about 4 per hour while asleep. Sleep apnea is the most prevalent form of sleep-disordered breathing in the United States and a number of animal and human studies have been conducted to examine cannabinoids as potential therapeutic alternatives to continued positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which are currently being utilized.

THC shares properties of the endocannabinoid Oleamide, which benefits apneic events. Results in one animal study showed that both the endocannabinoid Oleamide and the exogenous cannabinoid THC reduced apneic events, suggesting therapeutic promise for those who suffer with sleep apnea. 

CBN and sleep

If you are new to CBN, this is a cannabinoid that is created as THC ages. 

It has been observed that there is a correlation between aged cannabis and sleepiness, therefore CBN was previously linked to sedation. However, there may be more to it than the CBN itself. What limited research there is, has shown that CBN alone does not provide sedating effects. However, the combination of THC and CBN has been researched to promote sleepiness. 

What also may be adding to the sleepiness as a result of taking CBN, are the sesquiterpenes that are left behind as cannabis ages. These may be naturally more calming than the monoterpenes that evaporate overtime. Neurologist Ethan Russo explains that in aged cannabis, monoterpenes begin evaporating after the live plant is cut from its growing medium as they are lighter in weight. Pinene is a monoterpene example. Once monoterpenes have evaporated, sesquiterpenes are left behind due to being heavier in weight. These terpenes are naturally more calming, such as nerolidol and caryophyllene oxide. 

As well, just as with CBD and THC, CBN has its own therapeutic benefits. For example, in a rodent study, CBN was shown to reduce arthritis-related inflammation. 

There is a lot to consider when starting cannabinoid therapy but, as always, a Realm of Caring care specialist is here to help with your questions. Contact us today by calling (719) 347-5400 or by emailing info@realmofcaring.org. 

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Disclaimer

The Realm of Caring Foundation specifically invokes the first amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Realm of Caring always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.

The Realm of Caring Foundation is an independent nonprofit with its own governing board. We do not produce or sell cannabinoid products, nor do we receive funds from the sale of other company’s products.

Update on June 29th, 2021: Our collective efforts to oppose and veto HB21-1317 have failed. Governor Polis signed the bill and now our friends at Cannabis Clinicians Colorado and Buscher Law are suing the State to stop this bill from becoming law. This must happen so that we can prevent HB21-1317 from ending medical cannabis. 

There is still time, but we need your action NOW. 

How?

You can still sign the veto request. 

Buscher Law is writing and filing this lawsuit and your letters are needed on how HB21-1317 will impact your practice or impact your healthcare. Please send your letters to info@realmofcaring.org as quickly as possible, there is no time to waste.

For more information, read the damaging impacts this bill will have below. 

Update on June 8th, 2021: On Friday, May 14th a bipartisan bill was introduced in the Colorado House to more strictly regulate high-potency THC products, imposing barriers to access for medical consumers as well as negatively affecting recreational buyers and cannabis businesses in Colorado. The proposed requirements aim to further regulate the legal purchase and sale of THC products, with damaging language that unfairly targets medical cannabis patients in the state. Members of the Colorado State Senate approved this legislation on June 3rd, 2021. The bill now will return to the House for a concurrence vote before advancing to the desk of Governor Polis. 

As an example to how these requirements would affect one, a medical cannabis patient in Colorado who is 20 years old would need four, in-person doctor visits per year who will need to assess the patient’s mental health history (in addition to physical health) prior to approval. Once this patient is approved for their card, they will only be allowed to purchase 2 grams of a concentrate product per day and their personal information would be tracked to ensure they do not “dispensary hop”. 

House Speaker Alex Garnett, a co-sponsor of this bill with Representative Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) has discussed combining this bill with an existing November ballot initiative seeking an additional tax on all recreational cannabis products sold in Colorado. 

HB21-1317 proposes:

• That The Colorado School of Public Health shall conduct a report of “High-Potency THC marijuana and marijuana concentrate research”. The research is to study the “effect of high-potency THC marijuana on the developing brain and the effect of marijuana concentrates on physical and mental health” by systematically curating and synthesizing existing research as well as identify evidence gaps and new research that is needed. The purpose is to find “sufficient scientific evidence to make a recommendation regarding appropriate regulatory measures”. 
• To limit concentrate purchases for medical and recreational consumers to 8 grams per day. Unless the patient is 18-20 years old, then their limit is 2 grams per day.
• Starting a new statewide tracking system to ensure that medical marijuana patients do not “dispensary hop” and buy their maximum allowed purchase amounts at multiple sites in the same day. 
• Medical cannabis concentrate and retail cannabis concentrate must be sold in a package containing one gram, separated into no less than 10, equally-portioned amounts. 
• Doctor’s who recommend medical cannabis must conduct a full assessment of their patients’ mental health history in addition to their physical health history. 
• Medical patients 18-20 years old would need two in-person visits every 6 months with doctors who diagnose them as “having a debilitating or disabling medical condition”. 
• Practitioners who make a medical cannabis authorization must include in their certification:
  • The date of issue and effective date of recommendation
  • The patient’s name and address
  • The recommending physician’s name, address, and federal drug enforcement agency number
  • The THC potency level recommended
  • The dosage form
  • The daily authorized quantity 
  • Directions for use
  • The recommending physician’s signature 
• That the Department of Public Health and Environment create a report from emergency room and hospital discharge data of patients who show conditions or a diagnosis that reflects cannabis use. 

Take action now! Click the following link to oppose HB21-1317!

Send a message to your lawmakers in opposition of this effort with The Action Network. 

What are Seasonal Allergies?

Allergy symptoms occur when your immune system responds to foreign material, aka an allergen. That may be something you ingest, inhale, inject into your bloodstream, or come into contact with. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies are the 6th leading reason behind chronic illness in the U.S. 

Seasonal allergies, in particular, which are more famously known as hay fever, are one of the most common kinds of allergies around. Hay fever is the immune system’s reaction to air saturated with pollen from wind-pollinated plants like trees, grasses, and weeds. Sneezing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, itchy sinuses, throat or ear canals, ear inflammation, and postnasal discharge are among the most frequent symptoms which vary in severity. Headaches, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing can also occur.

Current Treatment of Seasonal Allergies

Despite allergies being so common amongst the world’s population, there is no absolute cure. Allergies, or ‘allergic rhinitis’, are mainly managed by avoiding triggers and relieving symptoms. For example, steering clear of cigarette smoke and pollen. People do so by using HEPA filters in their air conditioning instead of fans in the spring and summer. Another practice is staying home when pollen counts are high and closing windows.

Other medical options include prescription drugs and over-the-counter decongestants, and antihistamines, such as Zyrtec and Benadryl. Sometimes allergy shots are prescribed in extreme cases. But most allergy drugs have nasty side effects like dizziness and confusion. Another alternative has come up without any noticeable side effects which has been revealed to be CBD oil.

CBD as Allergies Symptoms Reliever 

Cannabidiol, or CBD, an active ingredient derived from the hemp plant, is receiving more attention as people become more aware of the medicinal benefits of cannabis. CBD oil has very low amounts of THC, so it won’t get you high. However, while CBD research is still in its initial phases, some studies show promising results on possible health benefits, including chronic pain management, stress relief and combating reactions to allergens.

A study published in 2005 revealed that CBD has immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties across cells of the respiratory system. So it may function as a natural antihistamine. CBD and other anti-inflammatories can help to manage some of the more severe reactions and alleviate symptoms such as inflammation around the nose, throat, and mouth. It can be ingested through tinctures/oils, vaping, edibles, or capsules to avoid any irritation. 

CBD also helps control the activity and development of white blood cells that respond when the body is exposed to allergens according to a 2009 study. Which is another reason why it may be an effective therapy for seasonal allergies. In addition, CBD has been reported to prevent the blocking of airways and nasal congestion that typically results in coughing and breathing problems.

Another study published in 2014 found that A-Pinene, a terpene, was found to be a promising anti-allergic agent. A-Pinene is characterized by a powerful pine and sage aroma that demonstrated a decrease in some symptoms of allergic rhinitis in mice. This research suggests it may be useful in the clinical management of allergic rhinitis, therefore the ability to moderate the unbearable allergy season. Pinene may also help additional symptoms of allergies since it serves as an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator.

You can use CBD oil along with or instead of traditional allergy therapies. As always, consulting with a medical professional is recommended; however Realm of Caring has resources such as this CBD dosage explainer to help you get started in this process. There is a lot to consider when starting cannabinoid therapy and a Realm of Caring care specialist is here to help with your questions. Contact us today by calling (719) 347-5400 or by emailing info@realmofcaring.org.

Disclaimer

The Realm of Caring Foundation specifically invokes the first amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Realm of Caring always recommends when and wherever possible that licensed local healthcare professionals be consulted.

The Realm of Caring Foundation is an independent nonprofit with its own governing board. We do not produce or sell cannabinoid products, nor do we receive funds from the sale of other company’s products.