Patients who are suffering from medical conditions in which traditional drug treatments are ineffective will often look for an alternative source of symptom and pain relief using medical marijuana. If you’re just beginning to search for the best medical cannabis to treat your particular condition, the amount of choices can be overwhelming. We hope to provide some simple information here to get you on your way in choosing the right strain or hybrid strain to best meet your needs.
Sativa and Indica
Sativa and Indica are the two main types of medicinal cannabis, with each yielding different medical benefits and physical effects. Sativas are tall, thin plants with narrow light-green leaves. Sativa grows quickly and as high as 20 feet in one season. Indica, on the other hand, is a short, stocky, dense plant, with broad darker green leaves. Indica has a faster flowering time, 8 to 10 weeks versus Sativa’s 10-16, and is more commonly used to make hash. Sativa has a fruity, floral and sweet aroma while Indica tends to have a dry, acrid, even skunk-like odor.
Sativas, while tending to have a higher concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the primary psychoactive component of marijuana- are less potent than Indica. Therefore, for many patients, effects of Sativa are found to increase focus, creativity, energy and serotonin levels, offering them not only relief from their conditions but also an elevation in mood. Sativa is often characterized as “cerebral,” meaning it gives patients more of a “head/mind high.” For some illnesses, however, Sativa alone is not strong enough to provide sufficient therapeutic relief for body pains.
Indica strains are reported to be more relaxing and sleep-inducing, relieving nausea and stress and giving a sense of calm. Indica is used to treat a larger number of conditions and is often favored by those diagnosed with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and glaucoma as it is shown to be very effective at reducing nausea, stimulating the appetite and reducing intraocular pain. Indica is often characterized as giving a “body stone” in contrast to the “head high” of Sativa.
Hybrid Medical Marijuana Strains
In addition to the two main strains, thousands of hybrid marijuana strains are also available. Often hybrids will fall into two broad groups: Indica-Sativa or Sativa-Indica. Each hybrid strain is developed to treat different ailments and have different effects. The goal of hybrids is to combine characteristics of each strain to minimize some of the unwanted effects of one while adding the desired effects of the other. For instance, Indica-dominant hybrids are effective for pain relief with the Sativa component allowing the patient to maintain energy and activity levels. Sativa-dominant strains are good for stimulating appetite, with the Indica component helping to reduce body pain and increase relaxation.
The options on hybrid strains are endless, and you may not know which specific strain will help your medical condition most until you try it. The two top criteria in choosing the best strain and to communicate to your medical marijuana provider are:
- What is the illness or ailment you have been diagnosed with?
- What are the symptoms you are trying to treat using medical marijuana?
Although most well-known for treating cancer and HIV/AIDS patients, cannabis is effective in treating illnesses and autoimmune diseases such as:
- Lupus
- Muscular dystrophy
- Epilepsy
- Quadriplegia
- Paraplegia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Glaucoma
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Back pain
- Insomnia
- Migraines
Choosing the best medical marijuana strain for your particular condition can take a little trial and error, but knowing the difference between the two main strains can help shorten the search. Potency and dosage vary with each strain, your condition and your individual tolerance. Your medical marijuana providers can recommend the best strain and dosage that will best reduce your pain while still maintaining your ability to function in your everyday life.
For more detailed information about the many different strains available, we have listed United Patients Group’s Cannabis Strain Guide in the resource section of our website. Also, feel free to contact us for a recommendation of a medical marijuana dispensary or marijuana doctor in your area that can help you determine the best strains for your condition.
Nice weblog! It’s amazing how strains have changed over the years. Growing up in the 60’s, Cannabis was just Cannabis (Grass). Nowadays, we have choices for most ailments and moods. Truly enjoyed your writings. Keep it up!
good writing.i agree with the first comment..in other words’we’ve come along way baby’!!I use it for both MS and Cancer.would’nt be alive if not for my Medical MJ.
Wonderful Linda! It’s always good to hear from people who have had success.
Warm regards,
~The UPG Team
Hey All, I diagnosed w/M.S. in 09. On walker now. Looking for hope and emotional support and non-alcoholic bright spirit Muscian/Writer/Creative Horse/dog/cat/nature worshippers for positive support. Where can I find a distributor for Dekalb, IL area? – Please p.m. me. Thanx!
Hello Dee,
You can find enormous support on a private Facebook page called “Cannabis Oil Success Stories”. You will find a large amount of information on MS and cannabis as well.
I hope this helps!
~Corinne
Linda, I am searching for my aunt. She is dealing with cancer and chemo is not successful. Which one you used. Indicate or Sativa?
Hello Susan,
This is not a one size fits all treatment. Much depends on what cancer? What stage? Has it metastasized? Age Weight? Other pharmaceuticals? Other medical conditions?Becasue of this it is imparative to speak with a medical professional to get guidance. I hoep this helps!
Mary Ann
I seeking advise on what is the best strain or hybrid for the treatment of severe arthritis pain in neck and back. I am considering MMJ for the first time and do not want the negative side effects associated with a marijuana induced high. Also, what is the best way to take it, e.g. salve, oil, edible, or what. I don’t want to smoke. I quit smoking 30 years ago and don’t want to start again.
Hello Mike, Thank you for your inquiry. While we are not doctors here at UPG, we are able to pass on information that can help people that suffer from Arthritis. There are many ways to ease the affects of this condition. Oils, salves, and sublingual sprays are a great start (there is no need to smoke). Both THC, THCa and CBD are all important for arthritis. Are you planning on making your own or will you purchase from a vendor?
Hopefully this helps!
~The UPG Team
Hearing a lot about the beneficial effects of cannabis oil. As there are a lot of different strains, can you recommend particular types for the following ailments:
Cancer (including prevention of breast cancer recurrence:
Anxiety/Depression:
Alzheimers prevention:
Migraines:
Arthritis:
Insomnia:
I would be very appreciative of your help. I feel like this is a minefield and want the correct info.
Cheers, Merril :)
Hello Merril,
Thank you for your note. There are varying cannabis treatments and strains for the conditions on your list. If you would like to discuss all the the options for these, please click the consultation tab on our homepage. We would be happy to pair you with one of our consultants to answer all of your questions.
Kind Regards,
~The UPG Team
I have cancerous tumors and have questions about using marijuana to specifically aid with shrinkage or slowing growth. It is not curable and no treatments are given except I am medicated for symptoms.
Specifically what type is what I would be looking for?
What is the daily dosage and frequency?
Thanks for any assistance!
Jim
Hello Jim, Thank you for your inquiry. There are many questions that would need to be answered before we can direct you i.e.; What kind of cancer? Wher is it located? Where do you live? How old are you and do you have any other conditions? Please feel free to click on our consultation tab on our home page to shcedule a phone consultation. We prefer not to talk about personal conniptions publicly.
All the best,
The UPG Team
My daughter has CP. Will the canna leaf juicing help her with spasticity? I have been reading about the benifits of cbd and tch ect and treating certain diseases. Does it hel cerebal palsy?
Ticha,
We have heard of people wiht CP finding great relief with ccannabis products. There is a product made in California that is a spritz for under the tongue and it emits exact miligram doses.
~The UPG Team
Hi
My mom has cancer in her stomach, stage 3 and also in her bones, stage 4, everywhere.
Age 65.
What kind of strains is the best for medical using for her. Do you know anybody who was cured in such advanced stage bones cancer? I will be very appriating for answer.
Greetings,
Hello Yulia,
We are so sorry to hear that your mother has to go through this. As you know, we are not doctors here at UPG but we have seen remarkable results with cannabis oil. The word CURE is not the word we use as in western medicine, when a patients is vclear of all cancer, they are concidered in remission, not cured. Cannabis oil has the ability to KILL cancer cells and arrest the spread of cancer.
We are hosting a Medical Cannabis Conference on November 1st at Dominican University is San Rafael California. We will be going over the science behind cannabis treatment. There will be time for a q and a with the experts throughout the day. I have attached the link for you below. If you are not able to join us, you can click the consuletation tab and schedule yourself in for a one hour private consult.
I hopethis helps,
Conference:
https://unitedpatientsgroup.com/conference
Consult:
http://www.vcita.com/v/unitedpatientsgroup
~Corinne
My doctor has been prescribing me oxycodone, Xanax and Cymbalta for chronic fibromyalgia, arthritis, involuntary limb movement and depression/anxiety. I’m a recent cancer survivor and my body can’t take anymore prescription meds. I’d like to try something natural but don’t know what strain to try for my ailments. I’d like a good pain relief and wonder if ingesting or topicals work best?
Hello Elle,
Many patients that suffer from inflammation and auto-immune conditions use a high CBD product. These products come in tinctures, oils lozenges, and even raw cannabis juice.
If you have a dispensary near you, you could ask to see and learn about these products. Always make sure the products are tested.
I hope this has helped.
All the best,
~Corinne
I have retinitis pigmentosa, im 30 yrs old and started suffering since a couple of years,I have vision problem in dark or low light places .I read mariujana could help me but i never used it(except some crazy stoned party with friends ;)) anyone can suggest me something
Earl,
We are not doctors here at UPG but we do know that Medical Cannabis can have a positive affect on chronic eye conditions, most notably Glaucoma. I have attached a few articles below for your research.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
UPG
https://www.nei.nih.gov/news/scienceadvances/advances/spice
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/marijuana-blindness-prevent-study-retinitis-pigmentosis_n_4833183.html
http://naturalsociety.com/new-study-finds-marijuana-prevents-blindness/
i recently was given a prescription to purchase medicinal canniibis for my chronic migraines. I also have fibromyalgia, and suffer from daily pain. I am very sensitive to prescription drugs, and don’t want to feel stoned or doped up. Do you have any suggestions for specific strains of canniibis I might look into that has been found effective in helping reduce migraine pain?
Best regards,
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
Many clients in your position use a high CBD strain such as Harlequin, Harlesue, or Cannatonic. These strains work very well with auto-immune conditions. As for migraines, depending on their origin, you may need a bit of THC to combat the pain. We suggest trying the high CBD first before making that decision.
Hopefully this helps,
UPG
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.
I have clear cell carcinoma kidney cancer. I also suffer from chronic neuropathy pain from my feet all the way to my lower back. And D pression I’m looking for the best strain to try and help with all of these especially the pain and the cancer. My doctor recommends that I try this instead of other pain medicines given out by the pharmaceutical companies because they are very addictive and a lot of people keep died from that more than cannabis every year does anyone have any recommendations please email me back at Xthsteve@yahoo.com
Hello Steve,
Yes we can walk you thorugh the process and connect you with reputable product makers that test their products. Please click the link below to sig up for a consultation. Once we gather all of the details in your case, we then can choos the appropraite Alchemist for you.
All the best,
United Patients Group
https://www.vcita.com/v/unitedpatientsgroup
I recently have decided to inquire about getting a MMC. I’m talking to my doctor soon. I suffer from failed back syndrome ( 2 failed back surgeries with fusions), fibromyalgia, PTSD, Anxiety disorder, chronic pain, degenerative disc and joint disease. I have been told I will have to be on stronger and stronger doses of opiods for the rest of my life. I’m already on a large quantity. They cause nightmares and depression. I was wondering if there is a strain that can help reduce my quantity of opiods but that won’t make me eat or fall asleep all the time. Any information would be appreciated.
Thank you
Hello Diana,
We are not doctors here at UPG but many do find relief from specific cannabis products such as tinctures, vapor systems, or oils. We have seen clients able to reduce their opiates if not get off of them completely with the proper direction. If you would like to get direction from our nurse, feel free to click the link below to schedule yourself in. I hope this has helped,
Best,
UPG
https://www.vcita.com/v/unitedpatientsgroup
hi, i am a 3x breast cancer patient at age 56. i also have rheumatoid arthritis and mild neuropathy due to infused chemo which i can no longer take due to side effects. i take organic turmeric 95% now. i do not want to feel doped up and i can use some energy. i am confused as far which type, smoke it or oil. help please.
Hello Cee,
While we are not doctors here at UPG, we do have an oncology nurse that can do consultations. She can review your case and discuss with you how people are treating themselves, what they are taking, the dosing protocol that is suggested, costs and what you can expect. These topics are specific to your condition so discussing them privately is important. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please click the link below and follow the prompts. There is a one time fee but you will see that the guidance you will receive is priceless. I hope this has been of some help to you.
Best,
UPG
Schedule a consultation:
https://www.vcita.com/v/unitedpatientsgroup
Medicinal marijuana may lessen seizures because of epilepsy and Dravet’s syndrome. It’s been proven by a number of studies.
Hello, my wife has RSD and in a tremendous amount of pain in both of her legs all day everyday. We are recently investigating medical Marijuana as a way to relieve her pain but are overwhelmed by the various strains. Which one would be the best for extreme pain relief? Please help Confused
Hello Mark,
Many untilize an Indica strain when treating pain, primarily from inflammation. A ratio of CBD to THC of a 1:1 or even a 4:1 has shown positive results. Of course we are not doctors here at UPG but we do have nurse practitioners on staff to duscuss your wife’s personal condition and her needs.
I hope this has been of some help.
Best,
Lauren
Trying to help my mother who has Parkinson’s disease, who also struggles with pain.friends along the way with similar disease has told me about asked me to look into Medical marijuana and the proper strain or mix that i need between cbd and thc.Keeping in mind my mother lead a drug free world and we don’t want her to get hi.If you can give me some insight that would be great.Thank you.
Rudy,
It is always best tp book a consultationwith one of our nurse practitioners when asking for advice specific to your mother’s condition. Each conditions has farious formulations based on the patients history, current medications and other medical conditions. I have added the link to the consultation tab here for your convenience.
Best,
Lauren
Hi, My mom is diagnosed with NSCLC Adenocarcinoma Stage 4 metastasize to L1. Asian non-smoker, Age 61 Weight 48 kg. Just received 2x carboplatin and alimta chemotherapy. Live in Indonesia. I heard that Indica is better for cancer. Please advise and how can we get it?
Elisa,
You may want to join the private Facebook page “Cannabis Oil Success Stories”. They are a large network that may be able to offer you suggestions being that you live in Indonesia.
Best,
Brent
I’m getting the impression that cannabis has no effect whatsoever on the lungs. Maybe the lungs have no cannabis receptors? It’s depressing to not see anything….total silence on the Internet concerning any lung diseases and the use of cannabis. Could it be that the lungs are the only part of the body that Cannabis has absolutely no effect on? There’s a group on Facebook that has to do with COPD and cannabis but their stories are a little hard to believe and they seem to not get along too well there. But other than that group, I can’t find any information on the Net about COPD and cannabis. Weird but true.
I have COPD stage 3 Emphazema. It does indeed work for this. You want to either stay with a straight Sativa or a 70 Sativa/ 30 Indica cut.
Best delivery methods:
Edibles-longer therapeutic effect, pass through liver to become more potent
Tinctures-feel effects in thirty minutes, (alcohol, oil, glycerin), place drops/oil under tongue enters blood vessels then bloodstream.
Best Strains: Indica dominant hybrids (Indica x Sativa).
TX, Dynamite, Alien Trainwreck, Lavender Kush, Northern Lights #1, Pineapple, Black Magic Kush, Mendocino, Blue Dream which is a 70/30 cut. You then have to make it into an oil in order for it to help COPD or other lung conditions. There are directions on how to do this available in the files area on the Facebook Support Group ‘Treating COPD with Cannabis’ Look in the FILES area for instructions on everything. It seems complicated but it really isn’t. You use one toothpick sized drop of the oil in the am and then the pm…thats it…if you are lucky enough to live in a state that has legalized this you can buy it already made…otherwise your stuck doing it this way.
Hello. I have triple negative mets in my lung and sub carinol node. I understand I need a ratio of 4:1 thc:cbd to work effectively. Any suggestions on a strain for me? I am going round in circles..
Anneliese,
I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Each patient is treated differently. Even if two patients have the exact same stage, and condition, the formulation and dosing may be different. A good example is my father. He was a stage 4 lung cancer patient with mets tothe brain. His formulation was different than the average due to the fact that he has a heart eurythmia. You may be taking other meds or suppliments that would play a part in choosing the right cannabis formulation for you. It is best to speak with an Oncology specialist in the medical Cannabis industry. If you would like a referral, I can do that for you.
Wishing you all my best,
~Corinne
Corrine, you left out the most important thing…did Cannabis help your father…or not? One of the biggest problems we have is lack of research, so other than cannabis use it epilipsy, we don’t know much and the ‘experts’ don’t either.
Jane,
YES, my father was given weeks to live. He was on hospice, wasting and full time oxygen. Cannabis brought him back to life and into remission…YES!
~Corinne
Hi there I hope you can help me I have been on opiates for 4 years now due to chronic back pain no doctors can help me I am losing it no one realy cares these pills are killing my liver I broke my back years ago at work medical canabis is not legal for chronic pain in Australia so I am willing to travel around the world if nessasary to get pain relief I just can’t coap no one realy understands sadly mistaken realy losing my ability to handle life like this if you can help in anyway like what you think would help where do I have to travel to any help will be so much appreciated it very very much thanks. Jim
Hello Jim,
I am so sorry that you are having such a difficult time. Before any travel, it is best to have a consultation with one of our nurses to understand what you need from cannabis and how to titrate down on your opiates. After you have a full view of what is needed you can then make a decision on how to approach getting assistance. Please understand that shipping cannabis medicines is illegal. The many that do travel here to the states may have a challenging time getting medicine home. I am attaching the nurses scheduling system here for your convenience. The consultations are conducted by way of phone or Skype.
Feel free to contact us by way of email if you have further questions.
Best,
Mary Ann
info@unitedpatientsgroup.com
I am trying to find the right strain for my mom, who has had colon cancer, which has now spread to her liver. This is the 3rd time the cancer has returned since 2012, and she will be having surgery and starting chemo treatments again soon. What kind would be best to keep it from coming back, or at least help with her pain from chemo?
Penny,
It is important to understand that cannabis treatment is not a one size fits all protocol. Each patient must be assessed by a medical professional in the cannabis industry to get a full medical background. Once this is done, the physician or nurse can plan out a protocol and formulation that is best for your mom.
If you would like to discuss further, please call our offices at 415-524-8099.
I hope this has helped,
Mary Ann
Hi, which cannabis oil would you recommend for sever emphysema?
Thanks a lot.
Nina
Nina,
Each patient is treated individually.Twp people with the same condition may require a different protocol based on current meds, pervious conditions, diet supplimentns, age etc. If you would loke an cosnult with one of our medical professionals, please click here to schedule yourself in.
Best,
UPG
I’m glad I stopped by!