Anytime you have an excuse to eat cookies, you should take it. The best edibles for insomnia are the comfort food we love so much.
We aren’t getting enough sleep and you’re not alone. According to the research, more than 30 percent of American adults report a variety of sleep problems, from trouble falling asleep to difficulty staying asleep and getting poor quality rest. In the age of Adderall and smart phones, it might not be surprising that our natural need for restorative relaxation is under assault.
But if new technologies are keeping sleep elusive, centuries-old cures are increasingly popular ways to combat the problem.
Enter edibles.
Good Quality Sleep is Hard for Many People
People from every background and social status have begun turning toward edibles to ease their drift into La-La Land. Actress Charlize Theron swore by edibles in a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmy Live!, where she touted sleep benefits for both she and her mother and the best edibles for insomnia.
“I have really bad sleep and so does my mom. We were talking about it because we do take sleep medication, and I was saying we should try a sleep strain [of cannabis edibles] and … it totally works. It’s amazing,” she raved. “Incredible!”
And she’s not alone. In addition to Theron, studies have shown that war veterans suffering from PTSD are increasingly turning toward cannabis treatments to help them fall asleep and stay asleep.
Recent studies have also shown that cannabis may help induce sleep, especially for patients whose sleep is troubled by other conditions such as MS, cancer, neuropathic pain, and rheumatoid arthritis.
But not all cannabis products function the same way. The method of delivery dictates a lot about the effects of cannabis’ active ingredients, thanks to how the body processes them. When cannabis is smoked, the effects hit quicker but last for a shorter period of time. When it’s ingested through an edible, the effects last much longer — making edibles the best way for insomniacs to finally get a good night’s sleep.
The Best Edibles for Insomnia?
And what’re the best edibles for insomnia? Cookies! A simple cannabis cookie will keep cannabis active in your system much longer than a vape or bong rip will, meaning that you’ll reap the sedative benefits while you’re sleeping. This can help you not just fall asleep, but stay asleep.
So to get the best results, take an edible about 60-90 minutes before you want to fall asleep, to give it time to work its magic (and give you a chance to wind down — the normal rules still apply during this time: Limit your screen usage, get ready for bed, try to go to sleep around the same time every night…you know the drill).
Cookies make the best edibles for insomnia because they are easy to make at home and they are satisfying without leaving that cannabis taste in your mouth. If that flavor puts you off, chocolate chips will cover over it perfectly.
The Cheat Sheet for Making Perfect Cookie Sleep Aid
If you’re going to make your own best edibles for insomnia, here’s a quick cheat sheet. First of all, you need to pick your strain. THC and CBD affect sleep differently
But maybe the most effective sleep aid in cannabis is CBN — cannabinol. CBN is a byproduct of THC degradation, so older strains have more CBN than younger strains. It’s a bit harder to come by than THC or CBD, but its sedative effects are powerful. CBN helps users stay asleep longer because of the way it interacts with your endocannabinoid system.
If you have the opportunity, it makes sense to pick a strain with a good amount of CBN. If you’re going to use a product, makes sure to pick one that’s full spectrum because CBN actually functions better when it’s combined with CBD and other compounds in cannabis.
Once you’ve selected your strain, the rest is easy.
The Sleep Recipe
- Grind your cannabis into a fine powder.
- Spread the cannabis on an aluminum foil sheet and place it over a baking tray in an 200 degree oven for about two to three hours in order to completely decarboxylate the material. This process is also effective for converting some THC to CBN, which is why you bake the material for two to three times as long as you would for making traditional edibles.
- Place the heated cannabis into a slow cooker and combine it with enough coconut or oil to cover the cannabis and heat it on low for another two to three hours. Again, the longer the better.
- Once you’re done, you’ll have an infused oil that can be used in any cookie recipe that calls for fats like butter. Or, if you’re not big on taste, you can take a straight spoonful. Remember, however, that if you use this oil in a baking recipe, try to keep the oven below 300 degrees to avoid vaporizing some essential cannabinoids.
- Eat and sleep. As always, start small and build from there.
Good night, friends. 🙂
