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Enfold Me, Morpheus, in Thine Drowsy Arms
I’m a lifelong insomniac. Over the years, I’ve tried most everything: coffee abstinence, naps, no naps, Dramamine, going to bed early, going to bed late, melatonin, sleep aids with an antihistamine, exercise, and the ingestion of cannabis. mainly through vaping, though I’ve tried gummy bears, and smoking as well.
Everything but sleeping pills. I’m leery of them and many doctors, including my doc at the Veteran’s Hospital, are so down on them that they won’t prescribe them because of adverse side effects like confusion, dependence, and memory problems.
Unhappily, my insomnia has grown worse as I’ve aged. These last few years, I’ve been getting, on my bad nights, only an hour or two of sleep. On my good nights, I get four or so hours. That lack of sleep has started to interfere with my quality of life.
But I may have found a solution. I got the following sleep recipe from a friend of my wife: a half dropper of a tincture of cannabis/CBD (in a 1:1 ratio) and a half dropper tincture of pure CBD (the non-psychotropic flowers, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant). A tincture is made by dissolving a drug or plant in alcohol. It’s a concentrated and easy way of imbibing the THC in cannabis. (Tinctures were the main form that cannabis medicine came in until the U.S. enacted laws prohibiting cannabis.)
By the way, this “medication” is not inexpensive. A small bottle (1 fl. oz.) of the THC/CBD tincture costs about 50 bucks. The small bottle of the tincture of CBD is about the same. I don’t know yet how long these bottles will last. I’m hoping for about a month. But if it works, it’s worth it to me.
If you want to add a cup of tea to this concoction, try a cup of chamomile tea, which, some say, has soporific capabilities.
Here’s how it works in practice. About an hour before bedtime, with the eyedroppers that came with the small bottles, I squirt .50 ml of each of the two tinctures under my tongue. I let it soak in for a few minutes and then finish it off with a cup of chamomile tea.
I’ve been taking this “medication” for a couple of weeks now, and the improvement in my sleep has been dramatic. Last night, for instance, I slept five hours straight. I haven’t done that in years. Then I got up, ate a bowl of cereal, and then went back to bed and slept for two more hours. Seven hours of sleep! Incroyable!
Is it possible that at the age of 83, I have finally solved my sleeplessness problem?
By the way, I live in a state, Oregon, in which it is legal to grow, sell, purchase, and ingest cannabis. In fact, just at the bottom of the hill on Highway 99, there are two upscale marijuana stores. In over twenty states, recreational marijuana is legal — and some of the others are in the process of making it legal.
Postscript: I’m not a doctor so you’re taking your chances when you follow my advice. Well, actually I am a doctor, but it’s the wrong kind. I’m the Jill Biden kind. Following Doctor Jill’s lead, I would appreciate it if you would address me from now on as Herr Doctor Professor. Thank you.
Here’s Bob the Dog after I laced his water with a heavy dose of THC/CBD.
Bravo! I take it that Bob will be getting a few more than his usual 18 hours. Could make it hard to find time to chase squirrels.
Glad to hear you’re getting some ZZZZZ’s and may have found a way to a remedy. These CBD places are becoming more popular. I can see how people are having trouble sleeping – avoid the news before bed is at the top. You have done a lot in your life – teacher – writer – soldier – woodworker, on not much sleep to boot. Who would have thought that a derivative of pot would do it!
I went to bed last night at 9:45 and must assume I was asleep by 9:50. I awoke this morning at 5:50. I slept 8 straight hours. This is not my typical night that usually includes one 5 minute interruption for a trip to the bathroom.
Kent and I are the same age, within a few months. I have no idea what makes my sleep pattern as it is but it has always been that way.
I am grateful.
Bob, I envy you.
Probably a clear conscience.
Kent, have you tried that?
Jim, I have no conscience so my nights are serene, though sleepless. My mind is at rest. It’s my body that causes me problems. For one thing, I have restless leg syndrome.
Having suffered from insomnia in the past, I didn’t intend to diminish what I know to be a serious problem. I just seems that you have tried every possible solution without success.
In reading these responses I had some thoughts about things that could help me sleep. I generally make decisions quickly once I have the information needed. My emotional range is very narrow, almost non-existent. I don’t regret or fret over the past, I don’t look back beyond considering the value of a learning experience. And I try to always do the right thing.
I don’t regret or fret over the past.”
Bob, I’m with you on this.
Ambien works for me, with no side effects.
Mark, I would like to have tried Ambien myself, but my doc at the VA has a thing about sleeping pills and wouldn’t give me a prescription for it.
I relate to the sleep disorder.
Congratulations on finding a solution.
I have avoided cannabis/CBD oil to treat the problem. This is because I remember all too well that when I was much younger, a touch of marijuana made me sleepy for a week. (I want to sleep but not for a whole week.)
But you pointing out a specific remedy gives me hope.
I got the following sleep recipe from a friend of my wife: a half dropper of a tincture of cannabis/CBD (in a 1:1 ratio) and a half dropper tincture of pure CBD (the non-psychotropic flowers, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant). A tincture is made by dissolving a drug or plant in alcohol. It’s a concentrated and easy way of imbibing the THC in cannabis. (Tinctures were the main form that cannabis medicine came in until the U.S. enacted laws prohibiting cannabis.)
There is a local Compassion Center and I am sure they can fix me up with a CBD sleep remedy. I’m going to give it a try.
I suffer a touch of it but I always thought it was work related. When I was working college football I did a package of mountain and west coast schools. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays were spent on eastern time and the rest of the week on pacific time.
Before that it was baseball. Night games meant 1pm calls and an 11 o’clock out followed by a 7am call the next day for a day game. I never knew if I was coming or going, falling asleep or just waking up.
Glad you found your solution although I can’t say it appeals to me.
This was an interesting read. I hope you found your solution. I have trouble falling asleep too. I get on average about five hours a night. I don’t take anything to help. I put on some boring podcast on some philosophic subject. Puts me right out…lol.
Don’t demean yourself. You have a PhD. “Dr. Jill” has an EdD. As a recipient of a MEd, I am well aware of the value of education degrees.
Has anyone tried more magnesium?
That is supposed to help. My mother (87 years old) is an insomniac like Kent and I make sure I add magnesium and melatonin to her daily medicine. (I setup her weekly pill boxes.) The combination has helped though it’s hard to say if there is a direct link. She’s just one person and such conclusions require a large number study.
I take a magnesium tablet with a couple of other vitamins every day.
I do a calcium/magnesium supplement twice a day. I am prone to leg cramps, and if I feel my toes start to curl I grab the cal/mag and take one. It’s the only thing that offers immediate relief.
My kids got me a Purple mattress for my birthday earlier this year, and I have never slept better.
My wife takes magnesium for muscle cramps and still has a lot of sleep problems.