There is an ever-growing number of people choosing to try medical cannabis as a treatment for their ailments and/or illnesses. Medical cannabis education becomes crucial. Newcomers, who have no experience with cannabis, need reliable information to help them choose the best strain for their specific ailment. And that can be accomplished with today’s cannabis genetics research. Just click here for more educational articles.
Today’s cannabis genetics provide a huge variety of different strains, and the strains have pronounced differences between them, particularly when it comes to treating specific illnesses.
Research is important if you want to get it right and the research about genetics exists.
Indica vs. Sativa
There are two main varieties of cannabis. So, the choice begins with – indica or sativa? Indica strains are usually associated with dense buds with a fruity or sour aroma and the stereotypical couch potato effect, commonly referred to as, a body high. This makes it favorable by patients looking for sedative effects, and also effective for appetite stimulation, muscle spasms, pain, and anxiety.
On the flip side, sativa strains are associated with less dense buds and a spicy, sometimes, earthy, aroma. Sativa strains are known for their euphoric and energizing effects, and are preferred by patients suffering from nausea and other abdominal complaints (IBS, Crohn’s, etc), as well as being effective for treating symptoms of depression, due to their uplifting, euphoric and energetic characteristics.
Currently, it is uncommon to find strains that are 100% indica or sativa. The medical cannabis genetics breeding has steadily moved towards literally thousands of available hybrid strains. These hybrids were created by combining the different effects of the two traditional varieties (Sativa and Indica) into different ways for the most effective treatments. You can now pick a specifically bred strain that treats your specific ailments and symptoms. Now when choosing a strain, it is possible to find precisely what its genetic lineage is, and which ailments and symptoms it is best likely to treat. Do your research because it is worth the effort to find the perfect strain for your medical needs.
THC vs. CBD
Another factor to consider when deciding which strain is best for you, is to examine its cannabinoid profile. There are different types of cannabinoids within each strain of medical cannabis. The amount of each cannabinoid that is present in the product you are consuming will determine how effective it is as a treatment for your specific ailment and symptoms.The two main components of cannabis are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). THC gives cannabis its psychoactive effect – the high – but it also has important medical properties, including, but not limited to, pain relief, reduction of vomiting and nausea, suppression of muscle spasms, and appetite stimulation.
THC was first discovered by Raphael Mechoulam and THC was thought to be responsible for all cannabis effects. The current research shows that is now untrue. The medical benefits of CBD and other chemical components of cannabis like CBN, are believed to outnumber those of THC. The research strongly suggests that the chemical components of cannabis (THC, CBD and CBN) relieves pain, kills bacteria, reduces blood sugar levels, reduces chronic seizures, inhibits tumor growth, treats psychosis, reduces inflammation, promotes bone growth, and acts as an immunosuppressant in patients with autoimmune disorders, among many other benefits. (See link citations below to credible scientific medical cannabis research).
Currently, it is easy to obtain strains with a guaranteed ratio of at least 1:1 CBD to THC. And often a lot higher. This is news for medical cannabis users because – first, it gives patients a greater variety of strains and medicinal effects to choose from, and, if you don’t want your medicine to get you high, it doesn’t have to.
What to do next
What are people to do next? Since every patient is different, and everyone reacts differently to different strains, it is best to try a few different strains to determine which strain suits you. You may even find you prefer one for daytime use, and another for night time. Don’t just try one and give up when it doesn’t work for you. There are medical professionals to advise you ahead of your use. I am not a medical professional, and don’t know your medical history, however, your doctor does and may be able to offer advice, and all advice is worth listening to at the very least.
Last Chance Asylum recommends the following High CBD Cannabis Strains
High-CBD strains have analgesic, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties
Experiment with various strains until you find the perfect one for your medical needs
Cream & Cheese CBD 1:1; Pink Kush CBD 30:1; Bubblelicious.
Last Chance Asylum recommends the following High THC Cannabis Strains
High-THC strains for pain relief, reduction of vomiting and nausea and appetite stimulation
Experiment with various strains until you find the perfect one for your medical needs
Northern Lights; Gorilla Cookies; Blue Dream
Last Chance Asylum recommends the following Indica Dominant strains of medical cannabis.
Indica strains are preferable for pain and anxiety related conditions.
If you want to grow your own medical cannabis, use http://www.sunnycultivation.com/ for the world’s finest seed genetics.
Credible Scientific Medical Cannabis Research Studies:
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00965
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523418306408
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1714631
https://www.mmtcfl.com/blog/how-medical-marijuana-can-help-insomnia/