What strain of weed is good for inflammation

Chronic pain is persistent pain that more than three months. This pain could be continuous or may come and go.

Chronic pain differs from acute pain, which occurs in response to an injury or disease and resolves when the injury or disease resolves. Sometimes an injury or disease may cause changes in the body that leave a person more susceptible to pain. These changes can be long-lasting, resulting in chronic pain. Chronic pain may be caused by inflammation or dysfunctional nerves.

Common conditions and diseases that are associated with chronic pain include:

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Headaches and migraines 
• Muscle pain such as fibromyalgia

Traditional treatments for chronic pain are acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications. Common medications include anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, muscle relaxers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Tylenol/paracetamol and opioids/narcotics.

Cannabis is also thought to help relieve the symptoms of chronic pain.

How Cannabis Could Help Chronic Pain

Cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are found in cannabis. When ingested, these cannabinoids influence receptors in the body known as CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are located primarily in the brain and the nervous system and regulate the psychoactive effects of cannabis. CB2 receptors are numerous in the immune system andare found throughout the body. When activated, CB2 receptors play a role in the activity of the immune system and inflammation.

CBD can help reduce chronic inflammation and pain. CBD is also an allosteric modulator of opioid receptors. Opioid receptors are important in the regulation of pain; this is why opioids are prescribed for chronic pain treatment. CBD binds to opioid receptors and alters how they respond to stimuli, ultimately reducing pain.

THC is the primary component in cannabis that causes intoxicating effects. THC helps to relax the body and bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain to reduce the sensation of pain.

Cannabis also contains several terpenes that may help reduce chronic pain due to their ability to relieve stress, anxiety and inflammation. These include:

• Beta-caryophyllene
• Eucalyptol
• Limonene
• Linalool
• Myrcene 
• Pinene

Cannabis vs. Opioids for Chronic Pain

Opioids are lab-made narcotics. Morphine and codeine are common opioids. These medications change how the brain receives messages of pain from the body. Negative effects of opioids include immunosuppression, depression and obesity. Opioids are addictive; in the USA, opioid addiction and dependence (known as opioid-use disorder) is the leading cause of drug-related deaths.

In addition to these negative effects, the body can build up a tolerance to opioids. This means that the body can become accustomed to the presence of opioids and they will no longer have the desired effect. Because of this, doctors often only prescribe opioids for short-term use and opt for other effective treatments where possible.

Cannabinoids can influence the way in which opioid receptors work, resulting in pain relief. Cannabis use is restricted in many places because of its psychotropic effects. Many of the side effects of cannabis occur when first using cannabis and are short-lived.

When used for pain relief, the main difference between cannabis and opioids is that opioids are better suited for acute, short-term pain, whereas cannabis can be a long-term solution for chronic pain when used at the right dosage. Additionally, opioid overdose is a leading cause of death, whereas, although the research is limited, cannabis overdose is believed not to cause death.

Best Cannabis Ingestion Methods for Chronic Pain

Oral ingestion of cannabis is the best method for chronic pain treatment. This includes drops under the tongue, edibles and capsules. Drops of CBD oil under the tongue produce pain-relieving effects in 15 to 30 minutes. Edibles and capsules take 60 to 90 minutes to have an effect as they must pass through the liver and be metabolized before the cannabinoids enter the bloodstream. When ingested orally, the effects of cannabis tend to peak about two to three hours after ingestion but last from 4 to 12 hours.

When administered via inhalation, cannabis can relieve chronic pain faster than when ingested orally, usually taking 15 to 30 minutes to reach maximum effect. However, the benefits of inhaled cannabis only last for two to three hours. For longer relief of chronic pain, orally ingesting cannabis is ideal. Additionally, smoking cannabis may lead to lung disease.

Best Marijuana Strain for Chronic Pain

Under previous classification systems, indica strains are considered the best for treating chronic pain. They tend to have moderate levels of CBD (Afghan varieties in particular) and high levels of THC and terpenes, which are effective for pain relief. However, other kinds of cannabis strains, particularly those high in CBD, are also beneficial for chronic pain treatment. The old “indica” and “sativa” distinctions are not necessarily accurate, and many sativa varieties may be equally as effective.

ACDC

ACDC has the lowest THC concentration on this list (1%). It also has a very high CBD concentration of 12%. This strain is ideal for pain relief when you need to focus, such as during the day. It is not as sedative as THC-rich varietals and does not have psychoactive effects as the THC content is very low. ACDC also contains myrcene, which is a terpene that is beneficial for reducing pain and inflammation.

Harlequin

Harlequin generally contains approximately 9% CBD and 5% THC. This makes it a popular strain for chronic pain if you are after pain relief without the psychotropic effects. The CBD relieves pain and the THC concentration is low enough that you are still able to focus. Harlequin also contains myrcene for further pain and inflammation relief.

Cannatonic

With 9% CBD and 4% THC, Cannatonic can provide pain relief without sedation. It’s worth remembering that, in higher doses, CBD can cause sedation. This is especially if it’s combined with THC. Remember: cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and THCV are biphasic, meaning they can have different effects at different doses.

The most common effects felt when using this strain of cannabis are relaxation, focus, and pain relief. Cannatonic also contains myrcene, providing further pain relief.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights has a THC concentration of approximately 18%, giving it euphoric and muscle-relaxing effects, which may reduce pain. It causes sleepiness so it is ideal to take if chronic pain affects your sleep. Additionally, Northern Lights contains myrcene, another pain reliever.

White Widow

White Widow contains myrcene, cannabigerol (CBG) and approximately 15% THC. It is known to relieve pain and has been reported as having stimulating effects.

Blueberry is a relaxing cannabis strain that gives a euphoric effect and is known for relieving pain. It contains approximately 17% THC and myrcene.

Buying — and using — cannabis for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. If you’re like many novice medical marijuana patients, you likely have a ton of questions like: 

Is all cannabis the same?

What do I ask for at the dispensary?

It’s completely normal to be confused by all of the talk of strains, terpenes, and THC ratios — and we’re here to help! 

Not all marijuana is created equally, and some strains are better for beginners than others. We’ve compiled our picks for the best weed strains for beginners, including potency levels, concentrations of CBD and THC, and which strains are best for beginner growers.  Plus, learn the difference between indica and sativa, the health benefits, and how to find the best strain for you.

1. Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a Sativa-dominant hybrid that crosses two champion strains: Super Silver Haze (SSH) and Blueberry. Blue Dream is well-loved by both novices and experts alike for its balanced Sativa effect and pleasant taste. Blue Dream contains a wide range of terpenes, which may help explain why the THC’s effects are not so overwhelming.

The Blue Dream strain is very approachable, and its popularity reflects this characteristic. Blue Dream may work particularly well for stress, anxiety, and depression. Blue Dream is known for its peppery, piney, herbal, and lavender taste, suggesting that this variety often contains the following terpenes: linalool, beta-caryophyllene, pinene, and myrcene.

2. Cannatonic

Cannatonic was bred for its balanced THC and high-CBD content (usually, about double the amount of CBD to THC), making it ideal for those who want to avoid the psychoactive effects of THC, but want to take advantage of some of its painkilling properties. Cannatonic is a cross between MK Ultra and G13 Haze.

The strain AC/DC is a sub-type of Cannatonic with a high amount of CBD. Like many CBD-rich strains, Cannatonic could be particularly useful for stress, pain, anxiety, depression, and muscle spasms (and for some, migraines) during the daytime. Cannatonic is often described as having an herbal, pine, and pepper flavor profile, suggesting the presence of the terpenes pinene, myrcene, and beta-caryophyllene.

3. Harlequin

Harlequin is another CBD-rich strain. Some have reported that Harlequin is slightly more “uplifting” than Cannatonic. Again, the low-THC and the high-CBD combination can make Harlequin very approachable for new users. Harlequin is a descendant of Colombian Gold, Nepali Indica, and Thai and Swiss landrace Sativas. 

Many people use Harlequin for pain, anxiety, and depression, especially during the daytime. The mango flavors associated with Harlequin could be due to the terpene myrcene. Harlequin may have a similar flavor profile to Cannatonic, meaning the terpenes in both strains are similar, but the concentrations are different in each.

4. Northern Lights (NL)

An Indica-dominant strain of Afghani parentage (with a touch of Thai Sativa), NL is a classic “couchlock” strain often enjoyed at night for its sleepy effects.

NL has also been used as a building block for many other strains for its stability, from SSH to White Widow. There are nine different original versions of NL, of which numbers 1, 2, 5, and 9 are the most desirable. There is a high amount of THC in NL, but some variations have some CBD to balance the THC.

Northern Lights is noted for its herbal, peppery, citrus flavor profile, suggesting a mixture of the terpenes myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene. These work together with the cannabinoids for relaxing, euphoric effects.

Some have noted a slight energetic twist in some variations, which may be one reason why the creators picked Northern Lights to breed with several hazes, with the offspring being prize-winning strains like Super Silver Haze and NL5 x Haze.

The strain Northern Lights is also a short, stocky, and hardy plant that produces the classic “Christmas tree” shape. Due to its reliability and flavor profile, Northern Lights has been crossed with many strains to improve their vigor, shorten growth time, and potentially even save their genetics. These factors make Northern Lights one of the best marijuana strains for beginner growers, too.

5. Blueberry

Blueberry is another classic Indica that comes from Thai stock, with some Afghani. Blueberry is possibly one of the most crossed strains there is, which is a testament to the strength of its genetics. Blueberry and its variations will likely stay with us for quite some time, and the original will likely always be enjoyed for its potential for insomnia, pain relief, depression, anxiety, and stress. 

Crosses like Blue Moonshine (Blueberry x Afghani) and Blue Cheese (Blueberry x UK Cheese) have more potent effects. Blueberry is noted for its fruity, piney, lavender, and occasionally slightly peppery taste. This suggests that myrcene, pinene, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and some terpinolene are present in Blueberry and one of its many crosses.

6. Jack Herer

Jack Herer is a cross of three classic strains in Haze, Shiva Skunk, and Northern Lights #5 and comes with a classic taste to boot. Jack Herer can be pretty potent but also acts as a good entry point for other energizing Sativas. Jack Herer could be useful for depression, fatigue, stress, and ADHD. Jack Herer can alternately have more uplifting, euphoric, and energizing effects.

Jack Herer is said to have a fruity, peppery, herbal flavor profile, suggesting terpinolene, beta-caryophyllene, and myrcene terpenes. Some variations also have a strong lemon flavor, suggesting limonene. Some varieties may contain high amounts of cannabigerol (CBG), but this still needs to be determined.

7. Hindu Kush

Hindu Kush is another Indica strain, although some report it having slightly different effects from your usual Indicas. Although sleepiness is one of its potential effects, some report Hindu Kush as having a little more uplifting and euphoric effect when compared to other Indicas. This could be due to Hindu Kush’s more citrusy, peppery flavor profile produced by terpenes like limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and pinene.

Hindu Kush is an excellent example of why you must look beyond the sativa vs. indica label. In its natural environment of the Kush mountains, the same variety of kush plants grow tall like a Sativa at the lower altitudes and short and bushy like an Indica at higher altitudes to survive in different environments.

Many prize the hashish from Hindu Kush for its spicy, earthy, vanilla, and sandalwood flavors. The noted musky, spicy, earthy taste that can come with some kush varieties could be due to myrcene and delta-3-carene.

8. Granddaddy Purple (GDP)

Another Indica, this time a cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud. GDP is renowned for its purple flowers, grape and berry aroma and taste, and fusion of euphoric and physically relaxing effects. GDP could be useful for appetite loss, muscle spasms, pain, stress, and nausea. Linalool, humulene, and myrcene are common terpenes in GDP, which suggest a sleepy effect.

9. Orange Bud

Orange Bud comes from a cross of two different Skunk #1 variations. It has a moderate THC profile with mellow effects that can help boost creativity. Orange Bud is very popular among newbies for stress- and anxiety-busting. TGA Subcool’s Agent Orange has a similar flavor and effect profile, whereas Orange Diesel has a stronger, more uplifting effect, commonly associated with Sativas. 

The strain Orange Bud could also be useful for depression. The citrusy and fruity flavor suggests terpenes like limonene and terpinolene. Many sativa strains could be overwhelming for those with anxiety. Orange Bud is a hybrid that may help solve some of the issues associated with purer Sativas.

10. Sour Tsunami

A cross between two CBD-rich NYC Diesel and Sour Diesel strains, Sour Tsunami is a low-THC, high-CBD Sativa-dominant hybrid noted for its effectiveness in combating pain and inflammation. Sour Tsunami has an herbal, fruity, piney flavor profile, suggesting terpinolene, pine, and myrcene.

Tips and Advice for Beginners

There’s much more to cannabis than finding your favorite strain. Here are some helpful tips to understand cannabis as a plant and its effects on your body. 

Understand the Difference Between Indica and Sativa

There is much controversy surrounding the differences between Indica and Sativa strains. In general, when looking at the cannabis plant’s chemical makeup and the degree of hybridization that takes place, most types of cannabis are clustered around the middle and look more similar than different. 

Yet, several people have noted significant differences in Indica and Sativa effects. This may be partly a placebo effect and the power of suggestion. Yes, “sativa” and “indica” are arbitrary, but breeders’ selective processes are not.

Varieties of cannabis from equatorial regions (e.g., Durban Poison) tend to contain more tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). Types from Afghani and Kush heritage may contain more myrcene, which is why they tend to make people sleepy. Varietals like Super Silver Haze (SSH), Jack Herer, and Amnesia Haze have a distinct limonene-beta-caryophyllene terpene profile. 

Cannatonic and Harlequin tend to produce more CBD, as they have been bred with that purpose in mind. Blueberry varietals are noted for their piney (pinene), peppery (beta-caryophyllene), fruity (terpineol), and lavender (linalool) smells and tastes. These are general tendencies and not necessarily firm-and-fast rules.

It may be easier to think of strains in terms of groups. If you find a variety of cannabis that is particularly effective for you, take note of its cannabinoid-terpenoid profile, genetics, and the breeder, then look for other strains in the group that match that profile.

Pay Attention to Terpenes

Just as important as THC and CBD are a strain’s terpenes. Terpenes are the oils within the cannabis that give it different flavors and smells – they’re what make some strains smell like citrus (limonene) and others smell like pine (pinene). If you find a terpene or group of terpenes that positively affect you, keep looking for strains and products that match that profile.

Understand Methods of Ingestion

The way you consume cannabis exerts different effects based on how your body breaks down the THC and CBD, so the method of ingestion matters.

• • Vaping: The cannabis flower is a commonplace to start for many beginners. Vaporized cannabis has immediate effects, making it easier to know how it’ll affect you immediately.
  • Edibles: These take longer to kick in and can be strong, as the liver breaks down the THC in edibles, making the cannabinoid more psychoactive.
  • Tinctures: An infusion of cannabis and oil is a good in-between method of ingestion, as the effects are faster than edibles and longer-lasting than vaping. An example of a popular tincture is cannabis-infused coconut or olive oil. Others infuse cannabis in alcohol to make an alcohol-based tincture (colloquially called “green dragon”).

Know the Possible Side Effects

Even if you use a beginner-friendly cannabis strain, there’s still a chance that you could experience unwanted side effects. The side effects of too much cannabis are easy to recognize and may include:

• • Sleepiness 
  • Anxiety or paranoia
  • Red eyes
  • Dizziness and nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Hunger pangs
  • Increased heart rate

If you experience these side effects, know that they will most likely pass in a matter of hours. But if the side effects are severe or prolonged, it is wise to seek medical counsel.

The best way to avoid the side effects of cannabis is to receive a doctor’s prescription with correct dosing. Reach out to the physicians at Leafwell, and we’ll help you apply for a medical marijuana card online today.