Pain comes in many forms. Whether it’s muscle aches, menstrual cramps, or injuries, pain can prevent us from living our daily lives. Medications may provide relief at first, but they bring certain dangers with them.
These include inflammation, side effects, and the possibility of overdosing. Fortunately, marijuana can offer effective pain relief without the dangers of medication.
There are numerous strains to choose from, which all have different benefits depending on the one you go for. Nevertheless, the sheer amount of strains can be daunting, especially when you’re not sure what to look for.
To make your choice a little easier, we’ve listed some of the best cannabis strains for pain relief below. Have a read and see if there are any kinds of marijuana that interest you.
AC/DC
This is a hybrid strain with 50% Indica and 50% Sativa. It is mainly yellow-green in color, with whispers of orange dotted throughout. The leaves are curly, but as ACDC has a low THC content, they don’t look frosty.
ACDC promotes happy and relaxed feelings, but it can also help with focus and concentration. This type of cannabis has a very high CBD level, making it one of the more powerful strains that help with pain relief. It has an earthy taste and smell, though some notice citrus or sweet flavors.
Most people use ACDC to help with chronic pain, though others find that it helps with muscle spasms and stress. This strain doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects, so this is a good choice for those who want to medicate their pain relief without the high.
Blueberry Kush
Blueberry Kush is 100% Indica with a high THC count, making it a soothing and pacifying strain. On first look, this type of weed has areas of white along with its leaves. It’s covered in a resin which makes it slightly sticky to touch.
As the name suggests, it begins to smell like crisp berries, then changes to an earthy aroma after it’s lit. Blueberry Kush tastes earthy, though some people pick up a sweeter flavor. Other than pain relief, people use this strain to treat stress, nausea, and insomnia.
Thanks to the Indica within, this strain makes your whole body feel relaxed. It’s a good choice to try if your pain gets worse at the end of the day. As it’s so soothing, Blueberry Kush can make you feel incapacitated.
This can be great before you go to bed, but it isn’t recommended for use during the day.
Harlequin
Thanks to its brassy orange hairs, Harlequin is an easily identifiable strain. This hybrid has a large percentage of Sativa with a good amount of CBD. The ends are round and deep green in color. It has a noticeable scent that diffuses lightly through the air.
Harlequin starts to smell woody but allows gentle vanilla notes to come through. This strain tastes like vanilla with some hints of fruity mango underneath.
As Harlequin has a high CBD percentage, it can increase pain relief benefits as the CBD reacts with the THC. Its greater Sativa content can make you feel more energized and focused, making this a good strain to have during the day.
Most people use Harlequin for pain relief, including headaches, muscle aches, and joint pains. This is a good strain to try if you suffer from pain during the day, or want to relieve pain without an intense high.
White Widow
An easily recognizable hybrid, White Widow is one of the most popular strains of cannabis ever known. At first glance, thanks to its large amount of THC, you’ll notice a lot of frost on the deep green leaves. Bold orange hairs grow upwards in swirls, making this a visually pleasing strain to look at.
Its spicy scent is noticeable from afar, so this isn’t one to try if you don’t want to be noticed.
White Widow promotes both energetic and euphoric feelings. This allows you to go on as normal, just with an overall relaxed and positive state. People use this strain for several ailments, including depression, nausea, and anxiety.
In terms of pain, The THC within provides effective relief from many ailments, including back pain, muscle spasms, muscle tension, and neuropathic pain. Thanks to the 60% Indica within, White Widow can provide up to 4 hours of pain relief, though this depends on the amount consumed.
Blue Dream
There are no blue or purple colors in this strain. Instead, Blue Dream can look orange, dark green, or brown, depending on the one you choose. Its strong scent smells reminiscent of blueberries and citrus, with underlying earthy notes.
This is a hybrid with 60% Sativa, so it provides uplifting and refreshing feelings. Users often feel energized, slightly relaxed, and more creative afterward.
In slightly higher doses, Blue Dream can be very effective for pain relief. The high THC percentage can help alleviate chronic pain, headaches, and fatigue-induced tension. However, as this strain is low in CBD, it isn’t recommended if you suffer from seizures or mental illness.
Over-consumption can cause stress and paranoia, so it’s important to stay within your limits.
AK-47
Named after the well-known Russian assault rifle, AK-47 is as strong as the title suggests. This Sativa dominant hybrid is a distinct green color with red hairs twisting between the leaves.
Due to the high THC content, the buds are silver and coated in frosty crystals. It smells sour at first, but this changes to an earthy and delicate floral scent.
High THC levels and large amounts of CBD make this strain great for pain relief. The Sativa within produces uplifting feelings, while the low Indica levels help soothe the mind and body.
Other than pain relief, AK-47 can help with nausea, insomnia, and poor appetite. Users go into a slight trance, but they can still be productive and take on work during this time.
This may be a good strain to try if your pain prevents you from accomplishing goals. However, do be aware that the high can last anywhere from 3-4 hours. If you haven’t tried AK-47 before, it’s best to try it on a day off and see how it affects you.
Sour Diesel
Sour Diesel has a reputation for being one of the smelliest strains ever known. The name well suits this strain, as it gives off gasoline and lemon flavors. This isn’t the best-tasting strain in the world, but the benefits do make up for this.
As it contains 90% Sativa, users note an increase in focus after consuming it. The effects are similar to caffeine, in that your head may feel clear, open, and energized.
You only need a small dosage of this strain to feel the effects, as THC percentages are high, ranging from 18-26%. It can be difficult to find cannabis strains that aren’t fully pacifying, but Sour Diesel won’t bring your energy levels down. As you feel relaxed and clear-headed, this strain relieves chronic pain well.
However, if you experience muscle aches or stress-related tension, strains with a greater amount of Indica may be better for you.
Lavender
You may have heard of lavender’s relaxing and calming effect. Like the original plant, Lavender cannabis has similar effects. This smells more like dried lavender instead of fresh, as it gives off herby and floral aromas.
Appearance-wise, Lavender doesn’t look special. Like other strains, it appears green with yellow and orange areas peeking through. However, Lavender’s positive effects make up for its lackluster appearance.
This Indica dominant strain produces a strong relaxing effect through your body. It’s best to consume this strain before bed, as you won’t be able to do any tasks. Most people find that they fall asleep soon afterward.
This calm and relaxed feeling washes over your whole body, making Lavender an effective pain reliever. It’s good at soothing regular headaches, migraines, and muscle aches. If you take Lavender, start with a small amount, as some side effects can bring on anxiety or dizziness.
Super Lemon Haze
This extremely common strain has a bold citrus flavor and smell. With a high percentage of THC and 0.1% CBD, it’s known for alleviating several health issues. This strain has an enormous amount of crystals on its surface, indicative of its THC content.
It gives off lemon and citrus aromas, though the taste is nothing like fresh lemons. Flavor-wise, the fruit notes are artificial, like lemon candy. Others notice that this strain tastes earthy or sweet.
This is a Sativa dominant hybrid with only 20% Indica within, giving users a quick uptake in energy. Its high THC content helps tremendously with chronic pain, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects.
Super Lemon Haze also aids throbbing pains, as users have found that this strain helps with menstrual cramps.
Other than pain relief, Super Lemon Haze also helps with tiredness, depression, and low creativity. If you haven’t dealt with this strain before, do start small, as its high THC levels could cause side effects.
Jack Herer
Named after the famed cannabis activist, Jack Herer brings out feelings of positivity and high energy in those that consume it. This hybrid has pale green leaves with contrasting orange hairs lying underneath.
Thanks to the immense THC levels, its buds look sparkly as light shines through. It has a predominantly citrusy aroma and a pleasing sweet taste to it.
You won’t lose focus with this strain, as Jack Here makes users feel energized and alert. As there isn’t any CBD within, the high can be quite euphoric. The sensation helps to distract users from chronic pain. This isn’t a particularly relaxing strain, but it is pleasurable.
The THC also helps to reduce any pain felt at sites of injury. Jack Herer is a great pain reliever, but it can also help soothe anxiety, poor appetite, and PTSD.
This website will serve as the ultimate guide and record for various different cannabis strains that are available, from melon gum and golden goat, to wookie and hog strains. There is so much to learn about each strain, and each has its own benefits and medicinal properties.
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