For a new patient, stepping over the counter at the dispensary for the first time can be quite an experience. The initial excitement of taking a closer look at the products soon gives way to the daunting task of choosing something that really suits your needs.
So we begin each new patient orientation by discussing the two primary types of marijuana, indica and sativa. They have different genetic characteristics as they originally came from different parts of the world. Both types have significant medicinal properties, but there are significant differences between their effects, which can determine which option will work best for a patient's needs.
Indica Strains
Indica strains provide a physiological effect, which can be felt throughout the body. These strains are commonly used to reduce pain, relieve muscle tension, increase relaxation, and help patients relax. Indica strains are often recommended for use at night, as many patients find them helpful for promoting sleep.
Sativa Strains
Sativa strains produce more brain effects, which affect mood and emotions. These strains are popular for boosting energy levels, improving focus, and combating depression. Sativa strains are often recommended for daytime use as helping many patients provide relief from symptoms without interfering with daily activities.
Hybrid Strains
Hybrid strains are varieties that have similar levels of indica and sativa. These "best of both worlds" strains offer a balance between the benefits of both types.
Suggested Read: What Are Hybrid Strains
Understanding these categories helps patients better predict how they might react to one product or another, but these rules aren't even set in stone. Many patients have success treating common symptoms such as pain, nausea and loss of appetite with a variety of strains from the indica/sativa spectrum. We encourage our patients to sample a range of products, and those who do often search for preferred strains in more than one category.
Due to extensive cross-breeding, it is rare for a strain to exhibit completely pure sativa or indica characteristics. Patients should view these categories as a spectrum, with each strain falling somewhere on the map between these competing extremes. For this reason, not every product listed on dispensary menus as "Sativa" will be equally active and alert in its effects, just as not every "Indica" will produce a primarily sedative effect. For example, a patient who finds a particular sativa strain to be highly stimulating may be tempted to avoid this category altogether, when in fact some milder sativa may be able to successfully treat their symptoms.
Suggested Read: The 5 Best Hybrid Cannabis Strains
Trying to categorize each strain we encounter, the reality is that cannabis genetics often has complex and sometimes unknown histories. Even the most popular sativa strains usually have some indica genes and vice versa. In addition, different plants will sometimes display different characteristics than others, just as two human children born to the same parents may look alike but display different personalities.
Ultimately, an understanding of the differences between indica, sativa and hybrid strains often serves as a useful guide, but each patient is unique and each individual will be the final judge of what works best for their medical needs. This is why medical cannabis is such an interesting and rewarding journey for so many people.
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