Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid - War of Strains | Weeday

Indica vs sativa vs hybrid; it’s perhaps the most debated topic within the cannabis community. If you have been in the cannabis community for a while now, the words indica, sativa and hybrid would be very familiar. But if you are new to the community, you may be confused about what they even are. Indica, sativa, and hybrid are types of cannabis that give different experiences when consumed. The widely acknowledged information is that indica is for relaxation, sativa for stimulation, and hybrid ranging somewhere in-between. But while the effect for recreation is widely known, even the most sophisticated budtender could have a hard time properly explaining the details of each species. Let’s explore the three common species of cannabis that are so widely-spoken, yet still mysterious.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: WHAT ARE THEY?

We often encounter terms indica, sativa, and hybrid along with the word ‘strain,’ and as a result, users often assume these three terms are categorized under strain. On a larger scale it may not cause too much confusion. But to be scientifically specific, the term indica, sativa, and hybrid are categorized under species. Cannabis users normally choose between three mentioned species; indica, sativa, and hybrid. The strains are the different types within the species that are cultivated. While they are from the same family of Cannabaceae, the effects differ obviously.

Within the cannabis community the general notion is that indica is for the body while sativa is for the mind, with hybrids touching somewhere in the middle. And while there is truth to the notion, the actual anatomy behind is far more complex than just stimulation or relaxation. Let’s dive into each species’ history and effects, and find out which one fits the best for you.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: INDICA

Indica originates from Afghanistan, India and its neighboring regions and was used as the primary ingredient for producing hashish. The natural plant of indica tends to be shorter and bushier, and its leaves tend to be shorter and wider than that of sativa plant. In Latin, the term indica translates to ’of India,’ paying tribute to its origin. The term originated in the 18th century along with the term sativa, with increased interest in the plant and its need to analyze and segment. Although indica and sativa both produce THC and CBD, indica plants are typically known to produce more CBD than THC, when compared to sativa plants. Some famous indica strains include Hindu Kush, Afghan Kush, Northern Lights and Skywalker. And as the names indicate, some major indica strains use names that derive from regions from central and south Asia.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: INDICA EFFECTS

Indica effects can differ from person to person, but it is typically associated with full-body effects, enhancing relaxation and helping in insomnia or reducing nausea. Indica can also increase appetite, so the typical desire for the ‘munchies’ when smoking, is more common with indica consumption than sativa consumption. While indica effects won’t knock you straight into a deep sleep, the relaxation effects typically come with heavy arms and legs, decreased energy, limited movement, and ultimately, a relaxing sleep helping against insomnia. Because of such association with relaxation, indica plant is associated with being lazy or tired, but is also heavily studied in the science and medical field.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: INDICA MEDICAL USE

Through thorough studies to enhance its medical ability, the use of indica effects in the medical field can easily be found in history. The Chinese term mázui (麻醉) translates to anesthesia, and literally means cannabis intoxication, proving the use of cannabis was a lot more ancient than others would think. And as the translation indicates, it is believed that the ancient Chinese used indica, rather than sativa. Even today, the indica strains are used primarily to help relaxation, pain relief and increasing appetite. Therefore, indica effects are used significantly for curing or relieving disease and symptoms such as Crohn’s disease, elderly pain relief and Tourette syndrome.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: SATIVA

Sativa has some disputes regarding its origin, but it is largely believed to be indigenous to eastern Asia. The natural plant of sativa is taller and slimmer, and its leaves tend to be longer and thinner than that of indica. The typical marijuana leaf symbol originates from the sativa plant. The term sativa means ‘to cultivate’ in Latin, and like indica, was first differentiated in the 18th century for a need of better segmentation and research purposes. Sativa is known to typically be more rich in THC than CBD compared to indica. Sativa plants require a longer amount of period to fully grow than indica plants. Some well-known sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Purple Haze and of course, the famous Pineapple Express.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: SATIVA EFFECTS

Similar to the indica effects, sativa effects can vary from person to person, but typical use of sativa can be associated with the mind rather than the body. The widely known sativa effects include alertness, euphoric feeling and creativity, and an overall energy increase. Because of this, sativas are often used by artists and musicians to increase their minds and thoughts. Celebrities like Seth Rogen, Miley Cyrus and Willie Nelson are known to have their love for sativas. And because of such ability, daytime use is known to be the best for feeling the sativa effects.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: SATIVA MEDICAL USE

As mentioned, sativa plants takes a longer growth period than indica plants. Because of this, sativa plants were not the most popular species, especially in the past for the black market when cannabis itself was illegal. But that didn’t stop our ancestors from using the plant. Sativa effects were known to be favored in spiritual and religious organizations such as the Hashashins in the medieval era. With de-stigmatization and increased research, sativas started finding its use especially in the medical field. Sativa effects in the medical field included sedation, anti-inflammation, and pain relief. Because of such benefits, sativa effects today play large roles in elderly pain relief, fibromyalgia, and many other inflammatory conditions.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: HYBRID

So now that we’ve covered the two main species of the cannabis plant, it is time to look at the best of both worlds: Hybrid species. Hybrid species were created by humans from crossbreeding indica, sativa and other related species to increase the overall effects of cannabis. Hybrid species have a shorter history compared to its natural cousins due to the fact that it was a species created by humans with the advance of technology, and since the species is man-made, most of the hybrid cannabis are grown in greenhouses or on farms. The first popularized hybrid strain is known as the Skunk, which was introduced in the mid 70’s after a group of unknown travelers brought Afghani strains to the stateside, which the breeders realized that it could be hybridized with sativas, the popular species in the U.S. at the time. Hybrid strains have advantages in being able to choose how much amount of each crossbred strain users want in their flowers, and because of its limitless potential, cultivators and cannabis brands bring out new strains rigorously to create the best strain there is.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: HYBRID EFFECTS

As you can guess from the name, hybrid combines effects of the crossbred strains. With the majority of the strains originating from indica and sativa, users can feel the feelings of relaxation and stimulation simultaneously upon consumption. Users who are not sure of which effect they prefer can try out hybrid strains and figure out what they prefer thereafter. Hybrid strains can also calculate dominance of one of the crossbred strains for people who want the best of both worlds, but still have a preference over species.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: HYBRID MEDICAL USE

Because of its ability to control strain dosage, hybrids are the most sought after species within the medical field. Studies showed that through consuming different species of medical cannabis, patients preferred hybrid strains the most for relieving migraine, headache, arthritis, and chronic pain. So far, hybrid strains have made significant progress in a variety of medical conditions including autism spectrum disorder, fibromyalgia, geriatric, complex motor disorders and more. Hybrid strains are preferred by patients who have more than one medical symptom, because hybrid strains can be made with focus on patients’ symptoms and pains. Because of this, hybrid strains are used alongside pure-strain species over all disease and symptoms cannabis can relieve/cure.

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: SO HOW SHOULD WE DECIDE?

So what is the best choice for you? What will bring the best high for you in what way? The answer depends on your preference. As everyone has different tastes in satisfaction and pleasure, some may prefer being lazy on the couch as happiness, while running around in an open field with sunlight could be another’s favorite moment. But to summarize, here is the TL;DR;

Indica

Effects: Body-High, relaxation, decreased energy and increased appetite

Medical: Crohn’s disease, elderly pain relief and Tourette syndrome

Sativa

Effects: Head-High, stimulation, increased creativity and energy

Medical: Elderly pain relief, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory conditions

Hybrid

Effects: Best of both - effects vary depending on the crossbred strains

Medical: Autism spectrum disorder, fibromyalgia, geriatric, complex motor disorders and more

INDICA VS SATIVA VS HYBRID: CONCLUSION

Cannabis is currently enjoyed throughout the world with more and more countries opening up to the substance for its benefits. While smoking without any knowledge would still be fun, understanding the effects and thereby consuming the strains of your choice could bring much more pleasurable experiences than without. There is no superiority between indica, sativa, or hybrid effects, just preference of the consuming user. But always remember that even with all the benefits of cannabis, regardless of species, the benefits can all but be lost if you refuse to clean your gears. By knowing how to use and clean the gears properly you can maximize your high while also caring for your health. Enjoy the experience.

Enhance your experience

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