How Does a Newly Approved Medical Cannabis Patient Know Which Strain to Try?
So, you have just been diagnosed with a medical condition you’ve been worried about. Here are two possible scenarios. One, your general practitioner or specialist diagnoses a specific medical condition or syndrome. On your own, you do some web research and find a cannabis strain that has proven effective for relief from that medical problem.
Two, you work out a therapy plan that includes medical cannabis with that doctor or a medical cannabis-informed professional. Then, you follow the advice of that doctor to select and dose the most effective strain.
Most users fall into scenario one. While scenario two is preferable, it is an ideal situation in a world without enough marijuana doctors.
So, how does a newly approved medical cannabis patient know which strain to try?
1. Research first-tier sources: There is a temptation to cherry-pick research that suits your needs. Without discounting the value of other sources, you might start with sources like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Health, Livestrong, and other reputable medical resources.
These sources are conservative. But, their conservative approach is a good place to start. You may also be surprised that they are increasingly open to acceptance of if not advocacy for medical marijuana.
2. Put brain power on the backburner. Most medical conditions are body issues. Others affect brain/body issues that show in the central nervous system or personality disorders.
But, in all cases, your plan therapy should keep THC low. Most of the results we think of as therapeutic come from CBD influences. It’s true that modest use of THC helps with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and PTSD, but generally, you want to keep it low or offset with CBD.
3. Talk to others. You can follow forums on the Internet to watch what current users think. You can research websites dedicated to your specific condition. And, you can talk things over with a trusted budtender.
Here’s part of the problem. Should you trust your budtender more than your doctor? Of course, not. But, if your doctor is not familiar with cannabis, the budtender’s advice can help organize your approach.
4. Keep track. You owe it to yourself to keep records on the strains you use and the effects they produce. For example, the Strain Tacker© Journal is a self-explanatory, self-directing diary of cannabis use for medical purposes.
You can accomplish much the same thing with apps like Releaf, PotBot, and MyDX.
What strain to try?
This list is not exhaustive. Any treatment should reflect input from your medical practitioner. But, it does include strains generally acknowledged as therapeutic for specific medical problems.
• For cancer:
- Chemo boasts a very high THC for treating serious pain, insomnia, and other symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment.
- Harlequin is a CBD-dominant hybrid with a 5: 2 CBD: THC ratio that relieves heavy pain and enhances moods. The hybrid balance lets patients use it throughout the day.
- Jillybean has a 60: 40 THC: CBD ratio that produces a euphoric and energetic head high. But, its anti-emetic properties help reduce patient nausea and vomiting and improve appetite.
• For epilepsy and other involuntary spasmatic and convulsive conditions:
- Charlotte’s Web continues to be the CBD-rich gold standard for controlling seizures with only 0.3 percent THC.
- White Widow targets the seizure-related pain, insomnia, and stress with calm creativity and mild euphoria.
- Grape Ape relieves stress and anxiety with calm relaxation and anti-anxiolytic effects.
• For Multiple Sclerosis:
- Critical Mass offers 5 percent CBD with up to 22 percent THC. That makes it extremely relaxing and great option for anxiety, depression, pain, and stress attached to MS.
- Sojay Haze promises relief from fatigue with a euphoric and creative energy and pain relief.
- Super Sour Diesel has a potent 2 percent THC that is energizing enough to help MS patients fight pain and insomnia.
• For common stress disorders:
- OCD: Cherry Pie, Cherry Kola, and Cannatonic all help patients treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorders.
- PTSD: Victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder use Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Northern Lights.
- SAD: Social Anxiety Disorder is treated with Granddaddy Purple, Jack Herer, and Critical Cure.
• For chronic pain:
- ACDC and Blackberry Kush treat generalized pain.
- Harlequin, Blue Venom, and White Berry all treat inflammation and arthritis.
- Purple Arrow and Blueberry Headband reduce migraines.
- Redwood Kush and Dynamite both help reduce cramps.
Your medical cannabis patient takeaway!
Cannabis offers great pleasure to the millions who use it. Medical cannabis is a category of strains and administrative methods that target specific medical conditions.
If you are a newly diagnosed patient, there is multiplying scientific evidence that supports treatment and therapy of many medical problems with cannabis and cannabis-derived products.
But, as a newly diagnosed patient, you ideally want to seek advice from your medical practitioner to mutually create a therapy regimen that includes medical marijuana. Absent the doctor’s buy-in, you must spend time to research and assess the values of different cannabis strains to try the one making the most sense for your condition.
If you launch your own regimen, you must track your progress and response with your mind open to possible options and better choices.