Indica has long been used in traditional medicine to treat body pain and other inflammation-related diseases, such as arthritis. This is because indica has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. It is known to create a “body high”, which is different from the “mental euphoria” created by Sativa. As such, indica strains are the best for arthritis pain, providing results such as muscle relaxation, headache relief and reduction of inflammation. Scientists believe that when cannabis is consumed, THC, CBD and other cannabinoids found in the plant work together to reduce inflammation in the body.
Terpenes, or flavor profiles, also improve medicinal properties, so some cannabis varieties work better than others to combat inflammation. This is called the entourage effect, as explained by Dr. See our article on the entourage effect for more details. Both CBD and THC not only work to treat and prevent inflammation, but they also demonstrate their effectiveness in reducing both the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. They also reduce the activation of the STAT 1 transcription factor induced by LPS, which contributes to certain inflammatory processes.
Since researchers have found that CBD is more effective in fighting inflammation, CBD-rich marijuana varieties may be useful for people with extreme inflammation. CBD doesn't produce a high, although it does interact with pain receptors in the brain to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, indica can be an effective treatment for inflammation-related diseases.
