Introduction
Cannabis commonly referred to as marijuana is derived from the cannabis plant and is widely used for medicinal purposes and recreation. It is broadly categorized as indica and sativa with each group composed of many strains. It is used in the medical field to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, nerve pain, nausea, vomiting, and migraine. The two species are different in their morphology in that sativa has narrow finger-like leaves while indica has wide and broader leaves. Users must be aware of indica vs. sativa cannab is effects.
Body
Level of energy production
The major difference is the effect each species has on the general body. Indicas are known to decrease energy production by lowering the body’s metabolism rate. It also activates the parasympathetic nervous system while inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system. This action decreases the heart rate and general energy production. This makes it a stress reliever and appropriate in the evening after a long day. Sativa on the other hand stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system. This increases metabolism and energy production. It also causes increased perfusion of the brain enhancing creativity.
Specificity
Due to different modes of action, indica and sativa cannabis are often used to treat specific conditions. Indica due to its sedative properties and its ability to reduce metabolism is used to treat inflammatory disorders and pain. It is usually of good use for patients with cancer, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. On the other hand, sativa is commonly used to treat psychological disorders. This is due to its ability to influence the perfusion of the brain and increase the metabolism required during the thought process. Despite these indications brought by indica vs. Sativa cannabis effects, sativa is commonly used as the majority of the conditions are accompanied by psychological changes.
Difference in aroma
The aroma in cannabis is a result of the emission of chemical compounds called terpenes. These chemicals are responsible for medicinal effects by interacting with cannabinoids receptors to produce a physiological change. A sweet aroma is released when Sativa is set on fire while a pungent and musty odor is emitted when indica is set on fire. Controversy can arise since the age when the cannabis plant was harvested is critical. Any cannabis plant harvested at a young age produces a less pungent odor regardless of the species and does not have any significance in indica vs. Sativa cannabis effects.
CBD vs THC levels
Indica has higher CBD than THC levels while Sativa has higher THC than CBD levels. The natural compounds primarily found in cannabis are cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol. These chemical compounds have many similar medical effects but different psychoactive effects. THC is naturally psychoactive while CBD is not psychoactive. This simply means THC affects the mind while CBD does not. From such illustrations, it’s clear that sativa affects the human mind more than indica. This forms a basis when classifying indica vs. sativa cannabis effects
Conclusion
It is always important for a person to understand the type of strain one is used to. Some of the cannabis strains have opposing effects while some have summation effects. A thorough study should be conducted including laboratory before administration of cannabis. The user should be well informed about the adverse effects of green society store of cannabis. Researchers should focus more on identifying more Indica vs. Sativa cannabis effects.
