Can Cannabis Help You Sleep? Here’s the Science | Jen Walsh | TED

Summary

The video script discusses the complex relationship between cannabis and sleep, particularly in treating insomnia. It highlights the historical use of cannabis and the recent scientific understanding of its chemical compounds, such as THC and CBD. The speaker, a sleep physiologist, explains the potential benefits of cannabinoids for various health conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety. A study conducted by the Center for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia in collaboration with Zyller Therapeutics is mentioned, which investigated the effects of a cannabinoid medication on chronic insomnia in 24 participants. The study found that while laboratory results were inconclusive, participants reported improved sleep and restfulness when using a smartwatch to measure sleep at home. However, the script emphasizes the need for more research due to the limited scope and sample size of the study. It also cautions against the use of cannabis for sleep due to legal restrictions, potential health risks, and the variability in individual responses to cannabinoids. The speaker concludes by stressing the importance of further evidence and scientific understanding before recommending cannabis as a treatment for sleep disorders.

Takeaways

• 🌿 **Cannabis History**: Cannabis has been used for over 5,000 years for various purposes including clothing, building materials, religious ceremonies, and health benefits.
• 🧪 **Chemical Complexity**: The cannabis plant contains hundreds of chemical compounds, including cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, which have different effects on the human body.
• 🚫 **Legal Status**: Despite its long history of use, cannabis was illegal in most countries until the late 1990s, which has limited scientific research until recently.
• 💊 **Medicinal Uses**: There is solid evidence that cannabinoids can treat conditions like epilepsy, nausea from cancer treatments, chronic pain, and improve appetite in HIV/AIDS patients.
• 💤 **Sleep and Cannabis**: Some studies suggest that cannabis may help with sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
• 📈 **Study Findings**: A study involving 24 participants found that cannaboid medication led to an average of 33 minutes more sleep per night and less wakefulness, along with reported improvements in sleep quality.
• 🚬 **Health Risks**: Smoking cannabis, like smoking cigarettes, can have negative long-term health consequences, and there are safer ways to consume it.
• 🌍 **Global Legality**: Cannabis remains illegal in most countries, so its use as a sleep aid is not universally accessible or recommended without proper regulation and medical supervision.
• 🧘‍♂️ **Alternative Treatments**: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a well-established treatment, though it can be time-consuming and difficult to access.
• 🧪 **Variable Responses**: People's responses to cannabinoids can vary widely, which complicates the use of cannabis as a one-size-fits-all treatment for insomnia.
• 🔬 **Need for More Research**: The current evidence base is limited, and more extensive, diverse studies are needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of using cannabinoids for insomnia.

Q & A

How long has cannabis been used by humans?

Cannabis has been used by humans for at least 5,000 years for various purposes including making clothes, building materials, religious ceremonies, and for its health benefits.

What are the two most well-known cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant?

The two most well-known cannabinoids are Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is known for its intoxicating properties, and Cannabidiol (CBD), which is non-intoxicating.

What is the primary reason for the intoxicating effect of cannabis?

The primary reason for the intoxicating effect of cannabis is the presence of THC, which is what people tend to seek out when using cannabis for recreational purposes.

What are endocannabinoids and where are they produced?

Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are produced by our own bodies. They are produced in our brain and throughout our body and are thought to be responsible for the 'high' or relaxed feeling people experience after activities like running or post-exercise.

What is the current legal status of cannabis worldwide?

As of the time of the transcript, cannabis remains illegal in most countries around the world, although it has been legalized for medicinal use in some countries in the past 20 years.

What are some of the conditions that cannabinoids have shown evidence in helping treat?

Cannabinoids have shown evidence in helping treat rare types of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with some cancer treatments, some forms of chronic or long-term pain, muscle stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis, and improving appetite in patients with HIV/AIDS.

What is the most prevalent sleep disorder?

Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder, affecting a third of the population, and for 15% of people, it is a chronic problem lasting longer than three months.

What is the standard treatment for insomnia?

The standard treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is typically done under the guidance of a specialist sleep psychologist.

What was the focus of the study conducted by the Center for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia?

The study focused on investigating the effects of a cannabinoid medication containing THC, CBD, and CBN on chronic insomnia in a group of 24 participants.

What were the findings of the study regarding the use of cannabinoid medication for insomnia?

The study found that participants who took the cannabinoid medication slept on average 33 minutes longer each night and were awake 10 minutes less. They also reported feeling better and more rested upon waking.

Why is it not straightforward to recommend cannabis for treating insomnia based on the study's results?

It is not straightforward because the study was limited to one combination of cannabinoids and a small group of participants who were extensively screened. More research is needed with larger, more diverse groups and different formulations and combinations of cannabinoids to confirm its benefit and safety.

What are some of the potential risks associated with using cannabis or cannabinoids?

Potential risks include negative long-term health consequences associated with smoking, variability in individual responses to the medication, and the possibility of consuming too much, which can have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Understanding Cannabis and Its Effects on Sleep

The first paragraph introduces the topic of cannabis and its potential effects on sleep. It discusses the history of cannabis use, dating back 5,000 years, and its various applications, from textiles to religious ceremonies and health benefits. The paragraph also highlights the recent advancements in understanding the science behind cannabis, particularly the discovery of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. It emphasizes the non-intoxicating nature of CBD and the role of endocannabinoids in producing feelings of relaxation and the 'runner's high.' The speaker, a sleep physiologist, outlines the current evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids for conditions like epilepsy, cancer-related symptoms, chronic pain, and anxiety, and suggests that they might also help with sleep disorders, particularly insomnia.

05:00

🧪 The Science of Cannabis for Insomnia Treatment

The second paragraph delves into the complexities of using cannabis to treat insomnia. It mentions a study conducted by the Center for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia in collaboration with Zyller Therapeutics. This study involved 24 participants who took a cannabinoid medication containing THC, CBD, and CBN for two weeks, followed by a placebo for another two weeks. The study used both a wristwatch-type device and a sleep laboratory to measure sleep quality. The results indicated that while laboratory sleep didn't significantly improve, participants reported sleeping an average of 33 minutes longer and feeling more rested when using the cannabinoid medication at home. However, the speaker cautions that cannabis remains illegal in many countries and that smoking it can have negative health consequences. They also note the importance of knowing the exact concentrations of cannabinoids for medicinal use and the variability in individual responses. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the need for more research with larger and more diverse groups to confirm the benefits and safety of using cannabinoids for insomnia.

10:02

🚫 The Risks and Legality of Cannabis Use

The third paragraph addresses the risks and legal considerations associated with cannabis use. It points out that while there is a growing body of evidence regarding the negative effects of recreational cannabis use, more research is needed to understand the effects of medical cannabis use, particularly in terms of dosage and patient populations. The speaker stresses the importance of generating more evidence and improving scientific understanding before concluding on the use of medicinal cannabis for sleep disorders. They highlight that their research in Perth is at the forefront of addressing these complex questions, with early data showing promise. However, the speaker advises patience, stating that more evidence is needed before recommending cannabis as a sleep aid.

Keywords

💡Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant that has been used for various purposes for at least 5,000 years, including for its intoxicating effects, health benefits, and in religious ceremonies. In the context of the video, it is discussed for its potential use in treating insomnia, highlighting both its historical use and the ongoing research into its medical applications.

💡Cannaboids

Cannaboids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, with the most well-known being Delta 9 Tetrahydrcannabinol (THC) and Cannabidol (CBD). The video explains that while THC is known for its intoxicating properties, CBD is non-intoxicating. The role of cannaboids in the potential treatment of insomnia is a central theme of the video, emphasizing their different effects and the need for further research.

💡Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are compounds produced naturally in the human body that are thought to be responsible for the 'high' or relaxed feeling after exercise. They are mentioned in the video to illustrate the body's own system that interacts with the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, suggesting a complex internal regulatory system that could be relevant to sleep and other physiological processes.

💡Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. It is a significant topic in the video, as it affects a large portion of the population and is often chronic. The discussion around cannabis and cannaboids as potential treatments for insomnia is framed by the impact of insomnia on daily life and health.

💡Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

CBT-I is a specialized therapy typically administered by a sleep psychologist to treat insomnia. It is mentioned in the video as a current treatment option that can take time to show benefits and may be difficult to access. The video explores cannabis as a potential alternative treatment, highlighting the need for accessible and effective insomnia therapies.

💡Clinical Trial

The video describes a clinical trial conducted by the Center for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia in collaboration with Zyller Therapeutics. This trial investigated the effects of a cannabinoid medication on chronic insomnia in 24 participants. The trial's methodology and findings are central to the discussion on the efficacy and safety of using cannabis for sleep disorders.

💡THC

THC, or Delta 9 Tetrahydrcannabinol, is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis that is known for causing intoxication. It is a key component in the discussion of cannabis's effects on sleep, as it is the substance that is often sought after for recreational use and is also the target in roadside drug tests.

💡CBD

CBD, or Cannabidol, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that has gained attention for its potential therapeutic uses, including its role in the study mentioned for treating insomnia. The video contrasts CBD with THC to emphasize the different effects and uses of various cannabinoids.

💡Cannabol CBN

Cannabol CBN, or Cannabinol, is another cannabinoid mentioned in the video as part of the medication used in the clinical trial. It is one of the lesser-known cannabinoids but is included to show the variety of compounds in cannabis that may have potential medical applications.

💡Legalization

The video discusses the historical context of cannabis being illegal in most countries until the late 1990s, with some countries legalizing it for medicinal use in the past 20 years. Legalization is important to the narrative as it has enabled increased research and use of cannabis for medical purposes, including the study of its effects on sleep.

💡Evidence-Based Medicine

The concept of evidence-based medicine is central to the video's message. It emphasizes the need for solid scientific evidence to support the use of cannabis for treating insomnia. The video calls for more research and larger, more diverse studies to confirm the benefits and safety of cannabinoid treatments for sleep disorders.

Highlights

Cannabis has been used for at least 5,000 years for various purposes including health benefits.

The science of cannabis and its effects have been understood for about the past 100 years.

Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical compounds, including well-known cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

THC is known for its intoxicating properties, while CBD is non-intoxicating.

Endocannabinoids, produced by our bodies, are thought to cause the 'high' experienced after exercise.

Cannabis has been legalized for medicinal use in some countries since the late 1990s.

There is solid evidence that cannabinoids can treat certain health conditions like epilepsy and chronic pain.

Cannaboids may help reduce anxiety associated with public speaking.

Surveys report that up to 47% of medicinal cannabis users take it to improve sleep.

Insomnia affects a third of the population, with 15% experiencing it as a chronic condition.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a treatment option but can take time to show benefits.

A study at the University of Western Australia investigated the effects of a cannabinoid medication on chronic insomnia.

The study found that participants who took cannabinoid medication slept on average 33 minutes longer per night.

Cannaboids might be a potential alternative treatment for insomnia, but more research is needed.

Cannabis remains illegal in most countries and has negative long-term health consequences when smoked.

Medicinal cannabis allows for known concentrations of cannabinoids, ensuring a controlled dosage.

Individual responses to cannabinoids can vary greatly, affecting the outcome of treatment.

Further research with larger and more diverse groups is necessary to confirm the benefits and safety of using cannabinoids for insomnia.

The study emphasizes the need for more evidence-based research to understand the role of cannabinoids in treating medical conditions, including insomnia.

Transcripts

if you've tried

cannabis you may have experienced some

of its side

effects perhaps you got a bit peckish

and you've got the local pizza shop on

speed dial or maybe you got a bit

sleepy so isn't it a no-brainer that

cannabis can help us sleep better well

I've been researching this topic as a

sleep physiologist and I'm here to talk

about why cannabis for treating insomnia

is

complicated humans have been using

cannabis for at least 5,000 years we've

been using it to make clothes for

building materials it's been used in

religious

ceremonies and for its health benefits

and apparently it's been used for

fun but it's only been in the past 100

or so years is that we've started

understanding the science of cannabis

and its

effects we know that the cannabis plant

contains hundreds of chemical compounds

including the

cannaboids the most well-known cannaboid

is Delta 9 Tetra hydr cannabol you may

have heard this as

THC THC is primarily known for its

intoxicating properties that high that

people tend to seek out when they use

cannabis Rec

rationally and when you're pulled over

for those roadside drug tests it's the

THC that they're looking

for the other well-known cannaboid is

canabidol or

CBD unlike THC CBD is non-

intoxicating and as recently as about 30

years ago scientists also discovered

other cannaboids ones that are produced

by our own bodies the endoc

cannaboids it's the endocannabinoids

that are produced in our brain and

throughout our body that are thought to

cause that high that people experience

after running or that relaxed post

exercise feeling don't worry these ones

are not being detected by those roadside

drug tests so you can continue with your

marathon

training but what's really exciting

about this rapid increase in our

understanding and knowledge of cannabis

and cannaboids is that the cannabis

plant or cannabis was illegal in most

countries around the world until the

late

1990s so it's only been in the past 20

or so years since it's been legalized at

least for medicinal use in some

countries that its use has been

increasing and we're understanding more

about its

benefits there's now pretty solid

evidence that cannaboids can help treat

rare types of

epilepsy the nausea and vomiting

associated with some Cancer

Treatments it can also help treat some

forms of chronic or longterm

pain the muscle stiffness associated

with multiple

sclerosis and in patients with HIV AIDS

it can improve

appetite and there is also some evidence

that cannaboids may be helpful in

reducing anxiety associated with public

speaking I didn't make it up and I

haven't had any medicinal preparation

today cannaboids might also be helpful

for treating some sleep

disorders most commonly it's been used

to treat insomnia in fact some surveys

report that up to 47% of people who use

cannabis medicinally are using it to

improve their

sleep insomnia is the most prevalent of

the Sleep Disorders it affects a third

of us and for 15% to us it is a chronic

problem so it lasts longer than 3

months the symptoms of insomnia are

variable you may have trouble falling

asleep uh you may have trouble staying

asleep and if you're really unlucky you

might experience

both but even if you haven't experienced

insomnia yourself you can probably

relate to the feelings of not having had

enough sleep and how it impacts you the

next day perhaps you're not as patient

with your loved ones

uh you might find it hard to concentrate

or stay

alert or you might find it difficult to

remember things like finding the right

words when you're doing a public talk

that you've had to

memorize in the long term insomnia can

contribute to conditions like anxiety

and

depression as well as some forms of

cardiovascular disease but we have a

good treatment for insomnia

cognitive behavioral therapy for

insomnia or

cbti which is typically done under the

guidance of a specialist sleep

psychologist but it can take weeks to

see benefits from cbti and it can be

difficult to access so wouldn't it be

great if we had an alternative treatment

for

insomnia that was safe easy to access

and gave us quick results

well we know that cannabis has been used

to help sleep probably for thousands of

years and there's plenty of reports of

improved sleep in people who have used

cannaboids for treating other medical

conditions we just don't have good

evidence that it can help with

insomnia so our team at the center of

asleep science at the University of

Western Australia in Perth recently

teamed with ziler therap itics to

investigate the effects of a cannaboid

medication on chronic

insomnia in this world first study 24

participants took a cannaboid medication

which contained THC and CBD as well as

another cannaboid cannabol CBN for 2

weeks they also took a placebo for 2

weeks in random order they didn't know

which one they were having and we didn't

either until we'd analyzed all of the

data

over the two weeks we measured their

sleep with a wristwatch type device like

a research quality

Smartwatch and we also made more

sophisticated measures of their sleep

over a single night while they slept in

a sleep

laboratory we found that when people

took the cannaboid medication they

actually didn't sleep much better when

they were in the

laboratory this may be because it was

just a single night or or it may be

because they had to sleep with equipment

like this what we did

find was that when people were sleeping

at home for 2 weeks as we measured their

sleep with that fancy wrist

watch that they slept on average 33

minutes a night longer and they were

awake for 10 minutes less each night

they also reported that they felt they

slept better and they felt more rested

on waking up each

day no one reported an increase in Pizza

consumption seriously though this is the

most comprehensive investigation of any

medicinal cannabis product as a

treatment for insomnia that's ever been

done and the results are really

exciting so does it mean that if you've

got insomnia you should be sitting back

on the couch each night with a

joint well this is where things get

complicated firstly cannabis remains

illegal in most countries around the

world so please don't do that secondly

like smoking cigarettes smoking cannabis

is associated with negative long-term

Health consequences so it's not

recommended there are far safer ways

that it be can be

consumed also if you consume cannabis

that you just got from a

friend you won't know exactly what's in

it with medicinal cannabis we know the

concentrations of each of the cannaboids

so we can work out exactly how much of

each cannaboid you're

having but even though we might know how

much of each of the cannaboids you're

having we also know that like any

medication your response to it might be

variable so what might make me happy and

docile might make you energetic and want

to clean the house and just saying if

that happens feel free to come over to

my

place but one of the main reasons that

the jury is still out on whether we

should be using cannaboids to treat

insomnia is that although the results

from our study were really

encouraging it's just one study using

one combination of

cannaboids and we studied 24 people who

were extensively screened to have no

other major health condition and to be

pretty much taking no other

medication we really need more research

in a larger more diverse group of people

using different formulations and

combinations of cannaboids to really be

convinced of its benefit and

safety you still can consume too much

and it can have negative effects on your

physical and mental

health and plenty of people have done

really silly or dangerous things after

having

cannabis however a lot of our

understanding of these risks associated

with using cannabis have come from

studying people who use it

recreationally again we need more

evidence looking at the effects of using

cannabis or cannaboids in the doses and

the populations that use it

medically as you can see answering the

question about whether we should use

medicinal cannabis to treat Sleep

Disorders isn't so

simple to have an informed

conversation about the usefulness of

cannaboids for treating medical

conditions including insomnia we really

need to generate more evidence and to

understand the science better our

research here in Perth is leading the

way in answering some of these

complicated questions and the early data

is really promising but the data party

has only just

started for those of

you who were hoping to get the green

light to use cannabis to get a better

night's sleep you'll just need to wait

for the evidence to

grow thank you and sleep

well oh