The Best Marijuana Strains for 20 Medical Maladies

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and causes dementia symptoms to worsen over time.

Can Marijuana Treat Alzheimer’s Disease?

Medical marijuana has proven helpful managing some key symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including irritability, appetite loss, sleep problems, and anxiety. Different cannabis strains are better at treating different aspects of the disease.

What Are the Best Marijuana Strains for Alzheimer’s?

Sativa strains are known to arouse brain function, which can help energize and stimulate Alzheimer’s patients. Sour Diesel (sativa) is a top notch strain in general, but it can also be great for treating Alzheimer’s – packing an uplifting boost of energy while also helping manage stress and pain.

Indica strains generally help maintain appetite and a good sleep routine, but they can play larger roles too. A major force behind the development of Alzheimer’s disease is inflammation of the brain, and marijuana is a tremendous anti-inflammatory. The OX is an indica strain in particular that is known for its pain and inflammation reduction.

Some other medicinal strains that could help treat Alzheimer’s disease are White Russian (hybrid), Acapulco Gold (sativa), and Green Crack (sativa).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a nervous system disease that progressively targets nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that manage voluntary muscles.

Can Marijuana Treat ALS?

Marijuana can undoubtedly improve the lives of ALS patients. ALS Symptoms including appetite loss, depression, muscle spasms, and chronic pain can all be treated with cannabis. Once again, different symptoms are better addressed by a variety of strains.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for ALS?

A good indica-dominant hybrid that is known to help manage muscle spasms and pain is Arctic Blue. However, if a patient doesn’t enjoy the psychoactive nature of marijuana, ACDC (hybrid) is a high-CBD strain that is very effective in treating muscle spasms.

The extreme emotional toll of a terminal illness like ALS can also be helped with uplifting strains like Lemon Haze (sativa) and Granddaddy Purp (indica).

Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder, generally caused by a distorted view of one’s body. The central symptom is low weight caused by starvation or lack of appetite.

Can Marijuana Treat Anorexia?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the cell-signaling biological system that the compounds in marijuana interact with. The ECS just so happens to exist throughout the whole body, regulating many of our key functions – like appetite. Marijuana is an excellent appetite stimulant, and it is very helpful for patients that are recovering from anorexia.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Anorexia?

There are a lot of strains that are known to stimulate appetite – midnight munchies didn’t become a stereotype without reason. Some medicinal strains that can help keep patients hungry during anorexia recovery are Purple Kush (indica), Thin Mints (hybrid), and GigaBud (indica).

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is the body’s natural trigger response to external stressors, but anxiety disorder is characterized by particularly strong feelings of fear and apprehension that are severe enough to interfere with a patient’s daily life.

Can Marijuana Treat Anxiety?

Yes. Feelings like anxiety are a defense mechanism that is thought to be regulated in part by the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The amygdala, the part of the brain often connected with anxiety, houses many cannabinoid receptors connected with the ECS. However, marijuana’s success in treating anxiety is dependent on the strain and dosage that are administered.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Anxiety?

When it comes to anxiety disorder, marijuana is bidirectional. This just means that high-CBD, low-THC strains seem to treat anxiety, while high-THC strains can increase feelings of anxiety. If you’re keeping an eye on THC levels, Elektra (hybrid) might be what you’re looking for. This CBD-dominant strain is known for its mellow, relaxing effects that are sure to quell anxious feelings.

If, however, you find that THC doesn’t stir up feelings of anxiety for you, it’s worth checking out Amnesia Haze (Sativa), Chocolate Chunk (Indica), and Northern Lights (Indica) for treatment as well.

Arthritis

More than 3 million U.S. citizens are diagnosed with arthritis each year. Characterized by the inflammation of the joints, generally getting worse with age – arthritis can lead to debilitating levels of pain and inactivity.

Can Marijuana Treat Arthritis?

Marijuana has well documented anti-inflammatory effects, and it has been used to treat arthritis for thousands of years. Recent research even shows that cannabis can even be used as a preventative measure for arthritis, managing inflammatory agents that could cause long-term tissue damage.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Arthritis?

There are a lot of wonderful weed strains known for their anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Burmese Kush (hybrid) is known to be long-lasting in its effects, so it has potential to provide some relief in your joints as your day goes on. Blue Diesel (hybrid) carries similar traits, making it a good daytime medicine for your arthritis.

Some other strains that are known to provide some relief from arthritis are Harlequin (sativa), Canna-Tsu (hybrid), and Master Kush (indica).

Cachexia

Cachexia – also known as wasting disorder – is an extreme state of ill health, characterized by symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, lack of appetite, and weakness. It is often seen as a sign of disease or chronic illness, such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.

Can Marijuana Treat Cachexia?

Marijuana, a known appetite stimulant and anti-nausea medication, can help patients with cachexia by increasing caloric intake while also reducing nausea and vomiting.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Cachexia?

Red Dwarf and Primus are two indica strains that are sought after for their appetite-increasing and nausea-reducing capabilities. However, with fatigue being a major symptom of cachexia too, Grapefruit Haze (sativa) has a great potency level and is known to treat a lack of appetite as well as weakness and fatigue.

Some other strains worth checking out for cachexia treatment are Purple Tears (Hybrid) and Sour Willie (Sativa).

Cancer

Cancer is a disease where the body’s cells divide uncontrollably, spreading to and destroying surrounding body tissue. Cancer comes in many different forms, and there are over 1.8 million new cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

Can Marijuana Treat Cancer?

While some cannabinoids have shown promise in signalling cell death and preventing tumor growth, there is still research needed in that area. In the meantime, marijuana has proven to be very useful in treating some of cancer symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy – including fatigue, pain, loss of appetite, and nausea.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Cancer?

Due to cancer’s wide array of symptoms, it could be helpful to use a variety of strains to maximize treatment.

Fatigue: Pineapple Express (hybrid) and Super Silver Haze (sativa) are wonderful medicinal strains to combat fatigue, providing an energizing and uplifting high.

Pain: Blackberry Kush (indica) and The White (hybrid) are two strains known for pain relief.

Nausea: Durban Poison (sativa) and Blueberry (indica) can both be used to settle a patient’s stomach.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a long-term autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten causes inflammation in the small intestine, leading to damage of the intestine’s lining.

Can Marijuana Treat Celiac Disease?

Marijuana can help treat many symptoms of celiac disease, including stomach pain, anxiety, and nausea. With celiac disease patients’ discomfort generally stemming from inflammation, marijuana can play a role in minimizing the severity of flare ups.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Celiac Disease?

Indica strains have arguably shown more promise in easing digestion, inflammation and stomach pains. Skywalker (indica) is good to relax muscles and inflammation, as well as managing appetite and nausea. Cannatonic (hybrid) can also be helpful in treating celiac disease if the patient prefers to not experience psychoactive effects.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is another condition that targets the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation that can lead to abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal distension.

Can Marijuana Treat Crohn’s Disease?

Yes. Similarly to marijuana’s use in the treatment of celiac disease, the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis can go very far in relieving discomfort in Crohn’s Disease patients.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Crohn’s Disease?

Marijuana strains like Hash Plant (indica) have shown to be very useful in relieving inflammation and easing pain, while Medicine Man (hybrid), living up to its name, has shown to pack many therapeutic, pain-relieving properties.

Some other strains known for combatting Crohn’s symptoms are Jean Guy (hybrid), Confidential Cheese (indica), and Wllie Nelson (sativa).

Depression

Clinical depression is a disorder that affects mental health, causing a chronic sadness and a loss of interest that can impair the patient’s daily life.

Can Marijuana Treat Depression?

Certain cannabinoids have known mood-boosting capabilities, leading to marijuana’s use in treating depression. While many have been self-medicating with cannabis for years, a handful of states list depression as a qualifying condition, so patients can be prescribed medical marijuana to treat their depression.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Depression?

THC-dominant strains are most associated with treating depression, due to their mood-boosting effects. Some commonly used strains to give patients an energized, uplifting boost are Jack Herer (sativa), XJ-13 (hybrid), and Cinex (sativa).

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders in which the brain’s cell activities are disturbed, leading to epileptic seizures.

Can Marijuana Treat Epilepsy?

Yes. Cannabis has shown to effectively reduce seizures in epilepsy patients. This has led to seizures being listed as a qualifying condition for 43 states’ medical marijuana programs as well as getting the seal of approval from the Epilepsy Foundation.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Epilepsy?

Generally, the marijuana strains most successful in treating epilepsy are higher in CBD content. Charlotte’s Web (sativa) is one of the most popular strains for epilepsy treatment due to its high amounts of CBD, which is known to reduce seizures. It is also non-psychoactive, which makes it a great strain for children who suffer from epilepsy.

Some other strains known for treating epilepsy are Ringo’s Gift (hybrid), Stephen Hawking Kush (indica), and 3D CBD (sativa).

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by high pressure in the eye, potentially damaging the optic nerve and causing blindness.

Can Marijuana Treat Glaucoma?

Glaucoma treatment is one of the most well-documented modern medical uses of marijuana. It’s thought that marijuana can alleviate the intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma conditions, thus lessening the effects of the disease. In addition, cannabis can certainly manage peripheral symptoms of glaucoma like pain and nausea.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Glaucoma?

Hashplant Haze (sativa), Cherry Kola (indica), and Maui Wowie (sativa) are used by glaucoma patients to lower eye pressure and make the symptoms of glaucoma more manageable.

HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that targets the immune system, making the carrier more vulnerable to other maladies. Once the disease progresses to AIDS, symptoms include weight loss, fever, fatigue, and greater risk of infections.

Can Marijuana Treat HIV/AIDS?

While marijuana can certainly treat some symptoms of HIV/AIDS, it’s shown to be more important in providing patients more ease in complying with their treatment, curbing the uncomfortable side effects of antiretroviral therapy. These side effects include appetite loss, nausea, depression, muscle aches, and more.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for HIV/AIDS?

Depending on the symptoms that need addressing, there are a lot of marijuana strains that could be helpful in treating HIV/AIDS. Girl Scout Cookies (hybrid) is a wonderful strain known for producing a euphoric high while treating pain all over the body. If that’s not exactly the type of treatment you’re looking for, some other strains known to assist HIV/AIDS treatment are Diamond OG (indica), Critical Sensi Star (indica), and The Sauce (hybrid).

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by chronic issues falling asleep and remaining asleep. It can stem from a variety of circumstances, such as depression, anxiety, chronic illness, medication side effects, etc.

Can Marijuana Treat Insomnia?

Yes. Certain strains of cannabis are very effective sleep aids, and they can be very helpful in restoring patients’ sleep cycles.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Insomnia?

Medicinal strains high in CBN (cannabinol) and THC are generally the most effective in treating insomnia. However, the patient’s insomnia stems from anxiety, it might be wise to go with an option lower in THC content.

Some strains that are known for their calming and sedative effects are God’s Gift (indica), Tahoe OG (hybrid), and Ogre (hybrid)

Migraines

Migraines are recurring headaches of varying intensities, often paired with additional symptoms like light sensitivity and nausea.

Can Marijuana Treat Migraines?

Yes. While there are preventative and pain-relieving medications on the market to help treat migraines, smoking marijuana can provide relief much quicker and more effectively.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Migraines?

There are a lot of marijuana strains that can be helpful for someone suffering through migraines, but a couple of the most popular options are: Purple Arrow (hybrid), Bubba Kush (indica), and Blue Dream (sativa).

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease targeting the central nervous system in which the body’s immune system eats away at the protective sheath of the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and body.

Can Marijuana Treat Multiple Sclerosis?

There are many multiple sclerosis symptoms that marijuana can treat, including chronic pain and muscle spasms – leading to a better quality of life and more muscle control. But marijuana’s main ability in treating MS has to do with its anti-inflammatory properties. For autoimmune disorders resulting in inflammation like MS, cannabinoids can act as an immunosuppressant, potentially slowing the progression of the disease.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Multiple Sclerosis?

The right medicinal strain to treat MS is really dependent on the patient’s past medical history and the type of MS they’re diagnosed with. However, some medicinal strains that have been effective for other MS patients are Sour Tsunami (hybrid), Critical Mass (indica), and One to One (hybrid).

Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions and cramps or muscles, generally caused by inflammation. Muscle spasms can range from unnoticed to uncomfortable to extremely painful.

Can Marijuana Treat Muscle Spasms?

Yes. With muscle spasms usually being due to inflammation, marijuana – a known anti-inflammatory – is a great route to take for treatment.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Muscle Spasms?

There are hundreds of medicinal strains that can help relieve muscle spasms and cramps. A few of them are Head Cheese (hybrid), Snoop Dogg OG (indica), and Face Off OG (indica).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a mental health condition often characterized by anxiety and flashbacks triggered by memories of a traumatic event.

Can Marijuana Treat PTSD?

Yes. The suppression of harmful memories and feelings of anxiety are both connected to the endocannabinoid system. There is research showing that cannabinoids like CBD can effectively quell painful memories and help manage anxiety.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for PTSD?

There’s a lot to take into account when medicating mental health disorders. In the case of PTSD, you have to wonder if anxiety is a key aspect of the condition for the patient. If so, strains that are lower in THC content might be the way to go. Generally, high-CBD medicinal strains have proven to be effective for PTSD patients, lowering anxiety and stabilizing mood.

Some medicinal strains that PTSD patients have found relief with are Dakini Kush (indica), Cannatonic (hybrid), and Headband (hybrid).

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell is a group of inherited disorders affecting the way red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body. The disease causes cells to be misshapen and often die early, leaving a shortage of red blood cells – and oxygen – in the bloodstream. Some common symptoms of sickle cell disease are anemia, chronic pain, inflammation, and swelling.

Can Marijuana Treat Sickle Cell Disease?

Research has shown that cannabis can significantly help ease chronic pain and inflammation in patients with sickle cell disease. However, smoking isn’t the recommended option of consumption, and the best management of sickle cell-related pain is prevention through healthy lifestyle choices.

What are the Best Marijuana Strains for Sickle Cell Disease?

While there are a lot of medicinal strains that can help with symptoms like pain and inflammation, some popular choices among sickle cell patients are AK-47 (hybrid) and Harlequin (sativa).

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, usually causing pain and tenderness around joints.

Can Marijuana Treat Tendinitis?

Yes. Due to marijuana’s strong anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, it has proven to be a helpful treatment for people suffering from tendinitis.