Cannabis has a long history of helping decrease anxiety symptoms by providing relief to many while still enabling mental clarity and functionality. It's a beautiful natural remedy for anxiety and depression with little to no side effects for most.
Anxiety is defined as Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. There are levels to anxiety. Many appear "normal" on the outside but are fighting an internal battle daily just to appear okay. This is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. And when it does, because it will, it aint pretty. Trust.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety include but are not limited to:
Feeling nervous, restless or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Having an increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping
Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
Having difficulty controlling worry
Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
Anxiety can feel like a constant internal buzz. Sometimes the hum is soft, sometimes it's deafening. If anxiety is effecting your ability to complete and handle daily tasks, it is time to stop, reflect, and consider seeking medical attention such as a therapist or mental health provider. Cannabis aids in softening and/or eliminating the internal hum but it is not a cure all. Life style and diet changes must coincide with cannabis use for best results.
Studies have shown that high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can, for some people, increase anxiety due to its psychoactive qualities. That said, non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to successfully reduce anxiety. For best results you want to find strains that have CBD levels that are higher than, or equal to, THC levels. CBD helps counteract the psychoactive effects of THC while still having amazing effects on decreasing anxiety. Yes, you can reap the benefits without feeling high out of your mind. Although sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Let's Get to It!
Here are 11 of the Top Strains for Anxiety and Stress Relief.
1. HARLEQUIN
Harlequin is a 75% sativa-dominant hybrid that’s known for its higher CBD to THC levels. With a 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC, it typically has about 8–16% CBD with 4–7% THC. Harlequin is known to produce a clear head; patients report feeling more alert following consumption. The marijuana strain is effective at reducing anxiety because high levels of CBD provide relaxation without sedation. Harlequin is a good choice for people with anxiety due to its low THC content.
2. HARLE-TSU
Harle-Tsu is known for its extremely high levels of CBD, which is often found at rates 20 times higher than that of THC. As such, the strain has strong anxiety-relieving properties. Harle-Tsu is known for producing relaxed and focused feelings, and it’s also effective at decreasing stress levels. People often report that they feel uplifted and happy after smoking this marijuana strain.
3. ACDC
ACDC is one of the highest CBD strains around. ACDC has a 20:1 CBD to THC ratio, with CBD levels as high as 19%. This sativa-dominant cannabis strain is extremely effective at reducing anxiety, with little to no pyschoactivity due to its high ratio of CBD to THC. Patients report feeling relaxed and happy when they consume the ACDC strain. According to some reports, one possible drawback is the potential for dry mouth.
4. CBD SHARK
CBD Shark is an 80% indica-dominant strain that has an equal ratio of CBD to THC. This strain is very helpful at reducing anxiety without any overly intoxicating effects. A well-balanced marijuana strain, CBD Shark is known
to produce clear-minded, happy and relaxing effects. This strain could be a good choice for evening use or if people have anxiety as well as pain, because it has enough THC to produce pain-relieving and sleep-inducing effects with borderline psychoactivity.
5. CANNA-TSU
Canna-Tsu is a hybrid marijuana strain that’s a mix of Cannatonic and Sour Tsunami. Canna-Tsu is known for its higher levels of CBD. That said, it has a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC, which may result in some psychoactivity. Known to produce calming effects and mental clarity, Canna-Tsu is effective at reducing anxiety. And it provides anti-inflammatory benefits, too.
6. HAOMA
Haoma is a 70% indica strain that has calming and stress-relieving effects. It’s typically found at around a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC—meaning some may experience a psychoactive effect. Haoma helps to reduce anxiety because of its higher levels of CBD. Since there are a few different varieties of Haoma, each type varies slightly in the amount of CBD it contains. Because Haoma is an indica, it’s a great choice for people with anxiety who also need a marijuana strain that will help them fall asleep.
7. CANNATONIC
Cannatonic is known for its low THC content—often below 6%—and high CBD content, which can run as high as 17%, though it can sometimes be higher. The high-CBD strain is known for its relaxing and uplifting qualities with little to no psychoactive effects, depending on how much is consumed. Cannatonic remains one of the top medical marijuana strains for reducing anxiety as well inflammation.
8. TRIDENT
Trident is a high-CBD strain that helps people stay mentally focused. It usually has CBD levels hovering around 12% and THC levels under 6%. Known for its relaxing and focusing effects, Trident is very effective at helping people control their anxiety and stress. Folks may experience mild psychoactivity when consuming Trident, but people typically report feeling a more cerebral effect with this marijuana strain.
9. SOUR TSUNAMI
Sour Tsunami is a cannabis strain that’s specifically bred for its high CBD content and as a result is highly sought after for its medicinal properties. This sativa-dominant hybrid has about 10–11% CBD and a THC content typically under 10%. This strain can help relieve anxiety, and it may also help ease painful conditions, because of its moderate levels of THC. Sour Tsunami is also known to combat inflammation. People often report feeling clear-headed after ingesting this popular medicinal strain.
10. VALENTINE X
Valentine X is a 50/50 hybrid strain with a 25:1 ratio of CBD to THC. A variant of ACDC, this marijuana strain is known to induce feelings of deep relaxation—a plus for those suffering from anxiety. Named after St. Valentine—the patron saint of lovers and folks with epilepsy, Valentine X can also help ease seizures, fatigue and inflammation.
11. WILLIE'S RESERVE MANGO
Mango is an indica dominant, high CBD strain with 8.7% THC to 11.8% CBD. The strain originated in the 1960's and was then crossed with KC33 in the 1990's creating the current version today. Known to deliver a blissful, hungry high.
Great for anxiety, appetite, and mood elevation.
Note: the environment and overall mental state when trying new strains may impact the effectiveness, or experience.
If new to cannabis, using with those you trust and feel comfortable with is strongly advised.
TIP: Daily use of tinctures and/or edibles will maximize the overall calming and leveling mood effects of cannabis.
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