"I have insomnia and use indica cannabis but dry mouth keeps me up at night. Is there a solution to this?"
I’m not a doctor but I do use cannabis for insomnia and I also know that this is a common problem. Dry mouth is caused by the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors and the regulatory control of the endocannabinoid system. For whatever reason, ingesting cannabis can inhibit saliva production. What I have understood on the subject is that THC is not responsible for this, but in my experience the more THC I consume, meaning the higher the % the more likely I am to experience this symptom. I also notice if I smoke I get this whereas I have an edible or a sub lingual spray it is less likely. There is much written to the contrary on that, but that is my experience!
There are some common ‘what not to do’ items when you have this symptom; which is to avoid alcohol, sugary drinks, coffee or anything salty.Commonsense really!
What you should do if you plan to smoke before sleeping to combat insomnia is to drink a lot of water throughout the day, eat fruits like oranges, drink milk (weird I know) or chew sugarless gum. Let me say it again, drink tons of water throughout the day.
Lastly, it is a good idea that you get this under control if it is happening all the time. One of the only known negative health consequences of ingesting cannabis is oddly, gum disease. This is thought to be caused by dry mouth at night. Your saliva actually protects your gums and teeth while you sleep and dry mouth over a period of years will likely cause decay within your mouth.
Here is a recent news segment we did on this topic:
https://www.hellomd.dev/health-wellness/hellomd-live-episode-6
Hope this helps!
pamelahadfield
