Can Cannabis Help You Sleep? Here’s the Science | Jen Walsh | TED
Summary
TLDRThe 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
🌿 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.
🧪 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.
🚫 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cannabis
💡Cannaboids
💡Endocannabinoids
💡Insomnia
💡Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
💡Clinical Trial
💡THC
💡CBD
💡Cannabol CBN
💡Legalization
💡Evidence-Based Medicine
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
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