In terms of particular ailments, Sativa strains tend to be better for psychological disorders such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Indicas are usually best for pain and inflammation and are therefore beneficial for patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia and cancer. Most people prefer Sativa for daytime use and Indica for nighttime use. Sativas are good for treating mental health conditions such as depression or ADHD, while indicas are better for treating physical pain.
There is something scientific to make indicas make you sleepy and sativas make you more awake. Indica generally has a higher content of THC, CBN and myrcene. CBN is the cannabinoid that causes you to feel sedated. Myrcene works in conjunction with higher THC levels and creates a feeling of high throughout the body.
Sativa normally has lower THC, which means you can smoke the same amount and not feel as high. It also has a higher level of limonene, which gives it an energizing effect. The two cannabis strains, cannabis indica and cannabis sativa, differ in size, shape, smell and potency. Having a shorter flowering period causes indica plants to mature and complete their growth faster than sativa plants.
The two main types of cannabis, Sativa and Indica, are used for a variety of medicinal and recreational purposes. Indica-dominant strains can make you feel relaxed, while sativa-dominant strains can be uplifting and invigorating. When you experience a sedative effect of Indica or the mental clarity of Sativa, you notice the effect of cannabis compounds within that strain that react with your unique chemistry and body physiology. For example, a strain called Blue Hawaiian combines the mind-stimulating energy of Sativa with the body-relaxing properties of Indica.
The most significant difference outside of smell and appearance is that the use of Indica results in a more relaxed and sleepy feeling, while Sativa tends to give a cerebral and creative high. Sativa also has a much higher THC to cannabidiol (CBD) ratio than indica, leading to stronger psychological effects, such as hallucinations and paranoia, and long-term health problems, such as memory loss and cognitive function. One of the fundamentals of marijuana is the two main strains sold in dispensaries: Indica and Sativa. Now that you know the basic differences between indica and sativa dominance, let's take a look at better ways to choose a strain.
Indica plants tend to have shorter flowering periods (45 to 60 days) than sativa plants (60 to 90 days). While there is some truth to the myth that indica-dominant strains can produce a heavier body high, while sativa-dominant strains provide a more invigorating cerebral high, this is not always the case. So instead of thinking in terms of sativa, indica, or hybrid when it comes to the effects of a strain, start thinking about the THC-CBD spectrum.