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The cannabis plant is complex, with 500+ chemical compounds and over 100 cannabinoids. You’ve probably heard of Tetrahydrocannabinolis (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). They’re two natural cannabinoids that you’ll see a lot when researching medical cannabis.
THC is psychoactive, so can be behind that ‘high’ feeling cannabis is sometimes associated with. CBD is non-physioactive, meaning it won’t make you feel “high”.
However, you might not be familiar with cannabis indica. This is one subspecies of the plant which we’ll be exploring below. And quite a bit has changed over time, especially when it comes to its uses.
Origin of Cannabis Indica
Indigenous to the Hindu Kush mountains in Southern Asia, the indica plant adapted to the harsh, bone dry climate of its origin. As you may think, the term "Kush" in many modern cannabis strains originates from this region, as well as one of the original indica landrace strains, aptly named; ‘Hindu Kush’.
Short and bushy, indica leaves are wide and broad, and grow quickly with plenty of buds. Historically, landrace, or pure indica strains were known for their higher CBD, lower THC content. This theoretically provides a ‘body high’ effect, easing pain, promoting sleep and lowering inflammation.
However today, not all indica strains are high in CBD. Hybrid strains are cross-bred varieties of the cannabis plant, combining indica traits with another type of cannabis plant, sativa. And it’s thanks to these that medical cannabis patients can get prescriptions tailored to their specific health needs. This results in more reliable, long term effects, and moves us away from the outdated idea of “sativa by day, indica by night”, and “THC for mind, CBD for body.”
When prescribed cannabis by Alternaleaf, your doctor will advise you on the total THC and CBD percentage.
Cannabis Indica Effects and Benefits
We’ve covered cannabis indica for pain relief, relaxation and sedation. However, these are the ‘historical’ effects cannabis indica is known to have. As cannabis cultivation and research progresses, the oversimplified thinking that indica is sedating is being challenged. Research discussed by Dr. Ethan Russo indicates that the effects of cannabis are determined not solely by its sativa or indica classification but by its chemical composition.
After decades of cannabis cross-breeding, pure sativa and indica strains don’t really exist any more. So, it’s difficult to say what the medical uses of cannabis indica are. Instead, it’s cannabinoids, along with terpenes, which are the part of any plant you can smell, and hundreds of other chemicals within cannabis that actually affect our bodies, and not the subspecies.
Since its legalisation in 2018, medicinal cannabis has given UK patients desperately-needed support. When prescribed by a General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register-accredited doctor, and bought from a UK-registered private clinic, like Alternaleaf, medical cannabis can help treat a much huge range of issues:
- Anorexia
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Crohn’s disease
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Insomnia
- Multiple sclerosis
- PTSD
- Tourette syndrome
And many more conditions and symptoms.
This reevaluation is vital as the majority of cannabis strains available today are hybrids, blending characteristics of both subspecies.
Indica vs. Sativa
Below is a short snapshot comparison of the key differences between indica and sativa plants. We also dive a bit deeper in cannabis sativa here.
Sativa plants:
- Have long, thin leaves
- Grow up to two metres tall
- Take longer to mature than other types of cannabis
- Thrive in warm, tropical, and subtropical regions
- Historically known for their highTHC and low CBD content
Indica plants:
- Are short and bushy with broad leaves
- Typically growing up to two metres
- Grow in cooler, mountainous regions
- Historically known for their high CBD, low THC content
Will I experience side effects?
Just like any other form of medication, medical cannabis can lead to a number of potential side effects.
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth: staying hydrated might help if you experience this.
- Insomnia
- Anxiety: this is usually a result of overuse, which is why we always recommend starting low and slow.
But our patients experience minimal side effects when they take their prescription as instructed by their doctor.
Summary
In the past if you were looking for something to help ease pain, promote sleep and lower inflammation, cannabis indica might have been a good fit. Today, however, hybrids are the new focus, combining traits from both sativa and indica strains to create tailored effects based on the overall genetics. And, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to cannabis strains. One person’s experience may be completely different to yours.
If you’re considering medical cannabis for the first time, it’s best to have a discussion with your pharmacist or specialist doctor about which strain and form would best suit you. There’s lots of help and information on the Alternaleaf website, and we’re always here to answer any questions you may have.