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Difference Between Indica & Sativa
Difference between Sativa & Indica
Overview: Cannabises are of two strains: Indica and Sativa, which have varied growing characteristics, highs and medicinal effects. Going by the effects, while sativa strains are invigorating and the ones which uplift cerebral effects, indica strains have sedating effects. In simple terms, while sativa makes you active, indica makes you passive and therefore it is important to know the difference between them to get the respective benefits.
Effect: Planning for some adventures? Sativa is great to provide an energized high and has full-body effects. If you have plans for chilling out on the couch, listening to music or simply taking a nap, Indica is one to go for. In contrast with Sativa strains, Indica strains focus on cerebral.
Traits: The sativa traits are energizing, uplifting, stimulating creativity, thoughts & appetite, promoting a sense of well-being, relieving headaches, migrainse & depression and reducing nausea. Indica traits are relaxing, relieving pain, aches, and to an extent spasms and seizures, reducing anxiety & stress, aiding in sleep and reducing inflammation. It is said that while sativa works on the mind, indica works on the body.
Relief from Symptoms: Since Sativa has invigorating, uplifting cerebral effects which provide relief from fatigue, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder and other mood disorders etc. Indica strains, on the other hand, are known for being physically sedating and can deal with insomnia and anxiety.
Leaf’s Shape: Sativa plants have slender leaves and Indica ones have broad leaves.
Plant Height: Sativa plants are tall and thin and can generally be up to 20 feet, it is often grown outdoors. Indica plants, on the other hand, are short and bushy with a height of only 3-4 feet and therefore can be grown in small spaces.
Geographical Difference: Sativa strains are grown in temperate areas near the equator (between 0 and 30 degrees latitude) for eg. Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, Southeast Asia while Indica strains are grown in the Hindu Kush region of Middle East (between 30 to 50 degrees latitude) for eg. Turkey, Morocco, Afghanistan etc.
Flowering Time: Sativa strains take 10-16 weeks to produce buds whereas Indica ones take around 10-12 weeks.
Yield Size: A Sativa plant fetches us 3 ounces to 1 pound per plant which is high compared to 1.5 to 2.5 ounces per plant we get from an Indica one.
Flavor: Sativa has more or less a flavor similar to pines and Indica has a sweet flavor similar to blueberries.
Composition: The difference is because of the composition of cannabinoid content and the balance of other phytochemical compounds like terpenes and flavonoids. Also, the fact that sativa strains have a high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content and low CBD (cannabidiol) content whereas indica strains have low THC content and comparatively high CBD content.
Photo courtesy of Leafbuyer.comConclusion: As mentioned earlier, sativa strains have strong and uplifting head high effects while indica strains have more body-centered, stoned effect and should be used accordingly. There are hybrid strains as well so as to incorporate the benefits of both sativa and indica. To make it easy to remember, have a look at this: sativa: activa; indica: in da couch. While sativa and activa rhyme, the alphabets of indica are split to make the phrase “in da couch”.