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Cannabis plants are one of the most versatile plants in the world, and can have a profound effect on both the body and mind. Throughout history, and right up to the present day, it’s been used in medicine, agriculture, cosmetics and more.
Not only that, some of its 500+ chemical compounds have shown signs of being antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer agents. Which is why you can use cannabis for pain relief and cannabis for anxiety or depression.
Below is a simple guide to the cannabis plant. We look at the three sub-species of the plant, and whether or not they still play a role in how cannabis is prescribed - spoiler alert, they don’t. And then we go on to look at the amazing benefits of the plant, how to use it, and the potential side effects.
Types of Cannabis Plants
While the uses and potential medical benefits of cannabis are near infinite, the cannabis (or marijuana plants) themselves come in three clear sub-species.
Cannabis sativa
Sativa plants have long, thin leaves, grow up to two metres tall, and take longer to mature than other types of cannabis. They thrive in warm, tropical, and subtropical regions, which is why they have an elongated structure. They’re adapting to their environment and competing for sunlight among other vegetation.
In their native setting, sativa strains were higher in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and lower in cannabidiol (CBD). What are CBD and THC? Well, THC is the main active ingredient in cannabis that can be behind that ‘high’ feeling. And CBD is the plant’s largest non-intoxicating compound.
Landrace strains are naturally occurring varieties, indigenous to certain locations. In other words, they’re ‘pure’ strains. But, after decades of cannabis cross-breeding, they don’t really exist any more. So, while ‘pure’ sativa strains may create an energising effect in users, it’s more likely 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.
Cannabis indica
Cannabis indica plants adapted to cooler, mountainous regions, so are short and bushy with broad leaves, typically growing up to two metres. Historically, they were known for their high CBD, low THC content, compared to sativa.
When looking at the difference between indica and sativa plants, in theory, higher levels of CBD would provide a ‘body high’ effect, easing pain, promoting sleep and lowering inflammation. However, not all indica strains are high in CBD, and likewise sativa strains don’t have low CBD content by default.
Hybrid strains are cross-bred varieties of the cannabis plant, combining sativa and indica traits. 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.”
Cannabis ruderalis
This is probably the most resilient cannabis sub-species, but, for a long time, was the least important from a medical point of view. It goes from seed to harvest in 30 days and is able to grow in extreme climates. But due to small amounts of THC, and not enough CBD to have much of an impact, ruderalis can sometimes be forgotten about.
But thanks to its swift flowering speed and ability to withstand extreme weather, we’ve seen ruderalis used more and more for hybrid strains since the rise of cross-breeding.
Benefits of the Cannabis Plant
When medical cannabis became legal in 2018, it meant UK patients could finally get some much-needed support for a wide range of health issues.
When prescribed through the NHS, cannabis based medications have only been prescribed for a very small number of conditions, and to just a handful of people at the time of writing. Medical cannabis currently prescribed on the NHS is often tailored to very specific conditions, unlike privately prescribed medical cannabis, which is available in multiple forms including the most commonly recognised, flower.
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the independent regulator of doctors in the UK. And when prescribed by a GMC Specialist Register-accredited doctor, and bought from a UK-registered private clinic, like Alternaleaf, medical cannabis can help treat a much wider range of issues, including:
- Anorexia
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Crohn’s
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Insomnia
- Multiple sclerosis
- PTSD
- Tourette syndrome
And many more.
How to Use Cannabis Plant?
With many options available in terms of both form and strain, you might not get it right the first time when it comes to the way you use medical cannabis. Below we’ve got some methods that might work for you, but it’s best to have a conversation with your specialist doctor or pharmacist if you’re worried or unsure. They’ll help you build a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle, and you can always change it up if you find something isn’t working.
Vaporise
All dry herb vaporisers work in pretty much the same way: you fill a chamber with dried, ground cannabis flower and then heat it until the therapeutic cannabinoids start evaporating. You then inhale the vapour that’s produced. We’ve got lots more information on vaporisers here.
Oils
Administering a few drops underneath your tongue is the most common way to take oils. The exact amount will depend on your required dose. You hold it there for around a minute before swallowing. Absorption is fast and effects occur within 15 to 30 minutes.
Other ways to take oil include:
- Adding it to a drink
- Mixing it with food
- Eating an edible
- Taking a capsule
We’ve got lots more information on oils here. But it’s always best to follow your prescribers guidance and take your medication as they’ve instructed.
Vape carts
Although there are lots of vape cart batteries to choose from, most are straightforward and easy to use. They usually come with a 510 screw thread, which is compatible with most cannabis vape batteries. You simply screw the cart and battery together and your device will be ready to use. They then work by heating the oil in the vape cart through a button on the battery.
It’s good practice to press and hold the button for half a second before inhaling, so the cart can heat the oil to the correct temperature. We also recommend releasing the button just before you finish inhaling to prevent any remaining vapour from lingering in the cart. But these are general guidelines, and the vape battery and cart you’re prescribed will come with their own instructions.
We go into a bit more detail on vape cartridge batteries here.
Other ways to use the cannabis plant include:
- Topicals
- Tinctures
- Smoking*
- Edibles
*UK doctors will never prescribe medical cannabis via smoking and instead will recommend inhalation via a vaporiser.
Potential Side Effects of the Cannabis Plant
Just like with any other medicine, patients can experience side effects when using cannabis medically. Alongside its many uses and benefits, these side effects can include:
- Brain fog
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Paranoia
- An upset stomach
But lots of research is still being done around this, and cannabis can affect everyone differently. You might not react the same way to a certain strain as someone else you know. If you’re worried about any side effects, speak to your specialist doctor. It may be a case of changing up your treatment. And remember to always start low and slow.
Other research has shown that smoking cannabis can lead to lung damage. For this very reason, UK doctors do not prescribe cannabis flower to be smoked. Instead, they advise safer methods like cannabis oils, vaporisers and vape carts. We’ve got lots of information about all of these on our Cannaverse blog.
Summary
Over the past decade, cannabis has become a vital treatment for a lot of medical conditions. And whilst sativa, indica, and ruderalis, the three main sub-species of cannabis, each offer a unique set of benefits in pure form, the amount of cross-breeding over recent decades has given rise to hybrid strains. Every cannabis plant features more than 500+ chemical compounds. The two main active ingredients, THC and CBD, impact the brain and body in very different ways. And it’s hybrid strains that have been integral to the success of medical cannabis helping target specific health issues.
For more information, or to discuss your own health needs, contact Alternaleaf today. There’s lots of help and information on our website, and we’re always here to answer any questions you may have.