Medical marijuana has been a breakthrough treatment option for a great number of patients seeking the relief it provides for health conditions that range from
arthritis and migraines to seizures and even cancer. The whys behind the
relief cannabis provides to some patients can be harder to
understand. That said, one key reason medical cannabis
could be a great alternative treatment has to do with the amount of cannabidiol (CBD) that’s contained in the
particular type of medical marijuana strain that a health-care provider
recommends.
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The Role of CBD in Health & Wellness
The two main components in marijuana are CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While THC is
the substance responsible for the way marijuana can impact a patient
psychologically—such as creating heightened or enhanced feelings
of euphoria), it’s CBD that can bind to certain receptors in the body to reduce the sensation of pain in patients, or even alleviate
other common symptoms such as nausea and spasms. This is often why
practitioners prefer high-CBD strains of cannabis. The mood and
well-being that THC provides may be desirable, but CBD can induce a sense of calm as well as reduce inflammation among other things while avoiding some of
the psychoactive effects of THC.
Researchers have come to recognize the important role cannabinoids may
play in the treatment of symptoms related to life-threatening diseases like cancer. The
National Cancer
Institute
notes that "commercially available cannabinoids … are approved drugs for
the treatment of cancer-related side effects." While federal
law has remained unchanged, a growing number of states have enacted
legislation in a nod to the usefulness of cannabis in a complete medical
regimen. Beyond it’s positive effects on cancer side effects, CBD is now being
explored as a treatment to hit cancer head on.
RELATED: WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT CANNABIDIOL, OR CBD
Strains of High-CBD Cannabis That Have Beneficial Effects
The impact of CBD illustrates why practitioners and patients prefer high-CBD strains of medical marijuana. All medical marijuana isn’t created
equal, and that makes it important to explore available strains in order
to find the right match for the illness and the symptoms being
addressed.
Charlotte’s Web
One particularly potent strain, called Charlotte’s Web, is
named for a child it most notably helped by alleviating her long struggle with
seizures. In addition to a high concentration—20%—of CBD,
Charlotte’s Web, which is derived from hemp, has a very low concentration of THC—at less than 0.3%.
Harlequin
Another high-concentration strain of medical marijuana is called
Harlequin. This cannabis strain has been found to be effective in the
treatment of pain, stress, anxiety, depression and inflammation.
Depending on how it’s distilled, Harlequin can contain
between 8–16% CBD, running only a tad lower than
Charlotte’s Web. However, it has a 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC, which
means that this cannabis strain mutes the potential psychoactivity of THC that
patients often seek to minimize.
Avidekel
Patients and practitioners can also consider Avidekel, a strain of
marijuana developed in Israel and reported by researchers at Hebrew
University to treat people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes
and heart disease.
In fact, Hebrew University researcher Ruth
Gallily says that Avidekel, which contains less than 16% CBD, has
remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. Because so many illnesses are
exacerbated by inflammation, this particular marijuana strain can have very broad
applicability for all types of diseases or conditions that involve inflammation and swelling.
Sour Tsunami
Sour Tsunami, another strain of medical cannabis that’s got high concentrations of CBD, was one of the initial types of marijuana bred
specifically for CBD versus THC. Naturopathic doctors, like Dr. Jake
Felice, have seen Sour Tsunami make a world of difference in patients battling
irritable bowel syndrome. As a hybrid of two other strains—Sour Diesel
and NYC Diesel—Sour Tsunami’s concentration of CBD is around 11% with THC measuring slightly lower.
Other High-CBD Marijuana Strains That Can Provide Relief
In addition to these four high-CBD strains of marijuana, numerous others are available to consumers in markets where cannabis has been legalized for use. They include Cannatonic, Trident, Remedy, Zen and many more. These cannabis strains
all feature a different ratio of THC to CBD. Depending on the ailment, some patients benefit from either a higher or lower concentration of THC in combination with CBD.
While CBD interacts with pain receptors, a particular patient’s condition may also benefit from the psychotropic effects of THC, which is typically an even more effective painkiller. This can be particularly true in later-stage diseases or diseases that are highly
complicated in nature.
Ratios of THC to CBD as well as specific concentrations of these compounds in
medical marijuana should be discussed carefully with a patient’s medical
provider. Only after careful evaluation—and some trial and error—can a patient find the right type of cannabis to provide the healing or relief they need.
Photo credit: Rusty Blazenhoff
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it’s easy, private and 100% online.
