is sativa or indica better for back pain
Back pain is a common yet extremely uncomfortable ailment affecting millions worldwide. It can range from mild discomfort to intense, debilitating pain.
While several conventional treatments are available to relieve pain, some people are turning to the endless therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
Cannabis and medical marijuana may be a practical, useful, and interesting options for those seeking natural solutions to managing their sciatica, muscle spasms, and chronic back pain..
There are three main types of cannabis; Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid.
Each has different effects that may be medicinally beneficial in treating back pain.
Indica strains tend to be pleasantly sedating, while sativa strains can vividly increase energy levels and promote creativity.
So which cannabis strain should you choose?
It all comes down to how your body responds to the cannabinoids and treatment; and what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Cannabis is a plant species that is also called marijuana.
It contains cannabinoids like CBD; but when we talk about cannabis or pot, we’re referring mainly to riveting THC-containing products like flower buds, concentrates, and edibles.
Hemp has little to no THC content, so it has no mind-altering effects when consumed recreationally or medicinally.
Does weed help with back pain?
Does marijuana help with back pain?
Yes, weed can help with back pain.
Cannabis makes an amazing natural analgesic and muscle relaxant. It reduces pain by blocking the neurological transmission of pain signals from your nerves to your brain.
There are several biological factors that determine whether medical cannabis will help with your issues. The first is if you’re considering using CBD or THC to ease your discomfort. CBD and THC have measurably different physiological effects on the body and mind, but they both have proven therapeutic medical benefits that can help people manage irritating chronic pain.
This also helps to reduce subcutaneous soft tissue inflammation around joints that cause stiffness or soreness in muscles and joints.
If you’re looking for a more direct approach to treating and managing back pain; try hemp oil and apply it topically on the areas with pain.
It’s non-psychoactive, so you won’t feel any high effects; just relief from your pain symptoms.
How does cannabis work for pain?
For many people, cannabis is a better alternative to opioids when managing pain.
Cannabis contains two active compounds: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is psychoactive, and CBD is more physioactive.
In layman’s terms, THC gives you the “high” feeling while CBD provides the muscular relief and medicinal effects.
Research shows that both compounds have spectacular analgesic properties that help significantly reduce inflammation and pain.
The ratio of these two compounds determines which strain you should use.
Higher concentrations of THC produce more of a euphoric high. In contrast, higher concentrations of CBD are often used as an anti-inflammatory or for treating anxiety disorders; without getting stoned out of your mind.
There are three main strains of cannabis plants: Indica, sativa and hybrid.
There are three main groups of cannabis plants: indica, sativa, and hybrid.
Indica is the most widely popular option for treating pain because it’s known to be effectively sedating and relaxing. Many people also find that indicas help with insomnia and anxiety. They’re good for relieving body aches and work well as nocturnal sleep aids if you have trouble falling asleep at night.
Sativa is often more energizing, which makes it better for daytime use or when you want to feel more alert or creative.
It’s known for giving energy boosts and helping relieve headaches, depression and nausea (like morning sickness). But, on the flip side, sativas can make some people anxious or paranoid if they’ve never used them before!
Hybrids are crosses between two different strains. They contain traces of both parent plants’ effects.
Hybrids are often recommended as starting points because they tend not to be too intense in either direction compared with purer forms like pure sativas vs pure Indicas.
All strains have unique benefits.
Some strains work well for certain ailments; but it’s still important to do your research.
Indica strains are known for their sedative effects and can be helpful when you have trouble sleeping or anxiety.
Sativa strains are often recommended for pain relief, but it depends on how your body reacts to cannabis.
However, every strain has unique benefits! For example:
- Cannatonic has been shown to reduce inflammation in arthritis patients. This is something that all types of cannabis can help with because they contain cannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol), which have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Blue Dream is an example of a hybrid strain that will give you both mental stimulation and relaxation depending on how much THC there is in the bud itself.
What is Indica?
Indica is a popular strain of cannabis used for medical purposes.
It has been shown to be therapeutically effective in treating anxiety, depression, stress relief and insomnia.
It’s often recommended for insomnia patients with trouble sleeping or experiencing pain and inflammation.
Indicas can also help those in need with pain relief because they produce more sedative effects than sativas and tend to be more relaxing.
In particular, they’re known to relieve migraine headaches due to their ability to reduce muscular inflammation.
What is Sativa?
Sativa is a type of cannabis plant. Sativa plants are tall with thin leaves and are usually grown outdoors as opposed to their counterparts, which are shorter in stature and grow better indoors.
The effects of smoking or ingesting these plants can generally be described as uplifting and energizing, helping people to feel more talkative and creative. This makes it especially popular among those who want to stimulate their minds while enjoying cannabis’s psychoactive properties.
It’s often associated with creativity, focus, and euphoria.
For this reason, it’s best suited for daytime use or activities that require lots of energy and focus. Popular sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Jack Herer, Durban Poison and Super Lemon Haze.
What are Hybrid Strains?
Hybrid strains are a combination of both indica and sativa. These hybrids can either lean towards one side or the other, but many growers and patients like 50 / 50 crosses. In other words, it’s not uncommon to see hybrid strains with names like “50% Indica / 50% Sativa” or “75% Sat / 25% Indi”.
Hybrid strains are often more potent than pure variety because their genetics allow them to express characteristics from both sides of the spectrum. This means you may feel energized from an indica-dominant hybrid strain or relaxed from a sativa-dominant one.
In other words, these hybrids don’t give you one specific effect (like putting you in bed) but offer different effects depending on your mood!
What are the effects of indica vs sativa marijuana strains?
For patients with chronic pain, it’s important to understand the difference between the types. While both strains are derived from cannabis, their chemical compositions differ, and their effects do as well.
Indica is more relaxing, sedating, and effective for nighttime use. It can help you unwind after a long day at work or school by reducing muscle tension, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate, and relieving stress-related symptoms like headaches or nausea…
Sativas are energizing and uplifting—ideal for daytime use when you need an uplift in mood or energy levels. They’re also known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which help with arthritis pain management!
When it comes to using medicinal cannabis for back pain, the decision comes down to how you want to feel.
Sativas are more energizing, while indicas are more relaxing. They provide a daytime high that will keep you motivated and focused on your tasks. Furthermore, they may even help alleviate the stress of dealing with pain.
Indicas are better suited for nighttime use; they’ll help ease muscle tension and relieve chronic pain without keeping you up all night.
How long do the effects of Indica last?
Indica effects can last for up to four hours. Many sativa varieties effects may last for eight or more hours. Hybrid strains might last for up to twelve hours!
It’s important to note that the difference between indicas and sativas is not just a matter of how long their effects last—it’s also about how they make you feel. Indica plants have been meticulously bred over time to produce predictable, relaxing sedative effects while functioning normally at work or school. On the other hand, Sativa plants tend to cause more euphoric energetic highs that may be great for daytime use but could interfere with your ability to sleep at night, especially if you’re used to sleeping during the day.
How long do the effects of Sativa last?
The effects of a sativa strain can last anywhere from 2–6 hours, depending on your tolerance level and the size and potency of the particular strain you’re using. About 1-4 hours when smoked or vaporized, 3-8 hours if ingested orally.
These strains are often recommended for daytime use because they don’t make you tired or lazy; and have more energizing effects than other strains.
The effects of sativas tend to be more cerebral and energetic. They can help you focus on tasks and improve your mental performance, but they may also leave you feeling stimulated if used at night.
Sativa plants are often used as daytime medicine because they tend to cause
The effects of sativa
It’s also important to note that when it comes to medical marijuana, not all strains are created equal. In fact, some strains may have little or no THC at all!
How to use marijuana for back pain?
The most popular method of taking marijuana is to smoke it.
There are many ways to smoke marijuana, including rolling it into a joint or smoking it in a pipe or bong.
The effects are felt almost immediately and can last between 2–4 hours. This is the most popular method of taking the herb because it’s fast-acting, easy to dose and convenient. It’s also a great way to medicate in public without drawing too much attention to yourself.
If you’re new to smoking cannabis, we recommend starting with the classic joint; it’s less expensive than other methods and has a relatively low level of THC.
Vaporizing is another interesting way to inhale your medication without smoking.
For those who don’t like to smoke cannabis, there are other options. For example, you can eat marijuana in tea, soup, or hot drink.
Using edibles to treat your pain may take slightly longer to work than other methods of consumption; the effects may be longer lasting when you’re experiencing relief from the discomfort of your back pain.
Topical use CBD can be beneficial for chronic pain and muscle soreness.
Best Ways to Use Cannabis for Back Pain
You can use cannabis to help relieve your back pain in a number of ways:
Smoking or vaping. This is a great option if you want immediate relief without waiting for the effects of edibles. However, smoking can be difficult on the throat and lungs, so it’s not ideal if you’re looking for long-term relief.
Edibles are certainly one of the most popular ways to use cannabis. They can take some time before they kick in. But once they do, they provide extremely effective relief from acute and chronic pain for up to six hours (sometimes longer).
Plus, edibles are easy and convenient because all it takes is swallowing one!
Tinctures/sprays/topicals. These products deliver cannabinoids directly through mucous membranes into your bloodstream via inhalation (tinctures) or topical application (sprays), bypassing digestion altogether for faster effects within minutes rather than hours, like with edibles or oils. Tinctures also have fewer side effects than smoking, so they might be better suited for those who want immediate but temporary relief from their symptoms without any psychoactive side effects associated with inhaling THC vapor into their lungs while vaping instead.
Best Strains for Back Pain
Some of the best marijuana strains for pain.
- If you’re looking for strains that can help with sleep and pain, we recommend the following:
- Sour Diesel Sativa Strain
- Pineapple Diesel Sativa
- Bubba Diesel Indica
- Blue Dream Hybrid (a cross of Blueberry and Haze)
- Bubba Kush Indi (a cross of Hindu Kush and Bubble Gum)
- Grape Ape Indi Strain (a cross of Grapefruit and Master Kush)
- Blueberry Sativa (a cross of Blueberry and Haze)
- Jack Herer Hybrid (a cross of Haze and Northern Lights)
- Pineapple Express Sativa
What is the best strain for sleep and pain?
One of the most common ways to use cannabis is to treat pain, whether it’s chronic or acute. But what’s better for you?
Indica strains are known for their relaxing effects, which can make them easier to fall asleep with than insomnia-inducing sativas. So if you’re looking for a consistent strain that will help you sleep and reduce your back pain, indicas are a good choice.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that will help keep your mood upfully positive and give you energy during the day; sativas may be better suited to your needs. A hybrid strain can provide both of these effects without feeling too “heavy” on either end of the spectrum; which could be beneficial if managing chronic pain is difficult enough without having to worry about how tired or wired you’ll feel after smoking up!
Conclusion: is sativa or indica better for back pain
Overall, I would say that indica is better for back pain, and other forms of chronic pain. Sativa can also help you with pain management, but is used mostly as a daytime treatment.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the difference between indica and sativa, and how they can help with your back pain!
If you’re still unsure which type of marijuana will work best for your needs, consider talking to a budtender about their recommendations. Remember that there are plenty of options, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find what works best for you!
