What Are the Benefits of Cannabis Concentrate?
Article written by
Tina MagrabiSenior Content Writer
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis JasseyMedical Director - Pediatric Medicine
Today we’re looking at the benefits of cannabis concentrates. Fruit juice made from concentrate doesn’t have the best reputation. Concentrated fruit juice strips away essential vitamin C and fiber while retaining high levels of sugar. However, cannabis concentrates merit a better reputation. Cannabis concentrates get rid of unnecessary materials and serve up the crown jewels of the plant: therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes.
Personalized Cannabis Guidance
Meet with a counselor and get personalized guidance to the right types and doses of cannabis for your unique needs.
Book an Appointment
What Is a Cannabis Concentrate?
Cannabis concentrates are potent, THC-rich, and excellent for medical marijuana patients under a doctor’s care. Aromatic and flavorful terpenes are present in dense amounts in cannabis concentrates, as are cannabinoids which serve medicinal purposes.
Creating a cannabis concentrate involves distilling the most valuable part of the plant – the trichomes. Cannabinoids and terpenes thrive inside these frosty white structures that coat the whole plant surface but are most prevalent on the buds. As the trichomes go through the distillation process, the pulpy plant material is discarded.
The result is a smooth, golden-hued cannabis concentrate sky-high in psychoactive THC. For perspective, ordinary marijuana contains up to 25% of the cannabinoid, while THC concentrate levels can climb as high as 80 percent. By some accounts, THC levels could even skyrocket to 95 percent! Indeed, cannabis concentrates offer the mother lode of THC.
Download Free Guide to THC
How Do I Use Cannabis Concentrates?
The traditional consumption media of vaporizers, edibles and topicals are all good ways to enjoy cannabis concentrates. In addition, you can experiment with dabbing, a method that delivers the most powerful THC hit.
Start with a dab rig, which resembles a bong, and spread some concentrate onto the surface nail or banger. From there, heat, vaporize and get ready for a wallop of temporary mood-altering effects. Go slowly, as less is definitely more with the intense dabbing method.
Types of Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates come in many varieties and are made through different methods, such as solvent and solventless. Here are some of the most popular kinds to sample:
Hash: Short for “hashish,” made with a solventless method using ice water, then compressed into a ball
Rosin: Another solventless concentrate in pure form, extracted as oil directly from the cannabis plant
Budder: Whipped waxy extract, sometimes called badder or frosting for its creamy texture
Crumble: Wax that’s not as whipped as budder, has a sandy consistency
Shatter: Thin, glassy, brittle, made from raw extract
What Are Cannabis Concentrates Good For?
Cannabis concentrates provide many distinct advantages over other consumption methods. For instance, if you would prefer a smokeless experience, cannabis concentrates can be integrated into many recipes including peanut butter and ghee. For those who are concerned with the potential health consequences of long-term vaping, cannabis concentrates may offer a safer alternative.
Because cannabis concentrates are so high in THC, they can work wonders for those seeking transient psychoactive effects. Plus, because of the condensed form of concentrates, you only need a small amount to produce a strong effect.
If your physician recommends cannabis concentrates, you may find these products beneficial to your mood. THC is known for infusing some users with energy and even bursts of creativity. Beyond mood boosting, THC has been shown in numerous studies to provide physical health benefits.
THC for Pain Relief
Relief from chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people apply for a medical cannabis card. While both CBD and THC have shown in studies to have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, the latter is of particular interest. But levels of pain relief vary, with moderate amounts of THC appearing to lead to better outcomes than higher amounts. THC-rich cannabis products like concentrates may also help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients achieve pain reduction.
Download Free Guide to Marijuana and Chronic Pain
THC for Nausea
Several studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids like THC may help regulate nausea and vomiting in certain individuals. Cannabinoids in moderation may be especially useful for cancer patients who are experiencing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
THC for Migraines
Migraine headaches frequently involve both pain and nausea, which means that cannabinoids may offer double relief for chronic sufferers. The potential effects of cannabinoids like THC on serotonin in the central nervous system could spell relief for migraine patients. Between 2010 and 2014, two Colorado-based marijuana clinics tracked the effects of medical marijuana on adult migraine patients. Physicians at the clinics reported that patient migraines were reduced by more than 50% in a given month after daily medical marijuana usage.
These are just a few ailments for which THC-heavy cannabis concentrates may be beneficial. Research has also indicated that cannabis in general, not necessarily in concentrated form, may benefit diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s to sickle cell anemia.
More Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates
Whatever symptom or ailment you are experiencing, cannabis concentrates may offer additional benefits. For example, since concentrates are so targeted, you can apply a drop of a topical or take a nibble of an edible and feel deeply potent effects. Using cannabis concentrates sparingly encourages a safe experience while also helping you adhere to a modest budget.
With an abundance of terpenes and cannabinoids, cannabis concentrates may be viewed as possible preventative therapy. Cannabinoids are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties, thus potentially offering protection against diseases linked to inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with a range of serious diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s disease.
Of course, cannabinoids alone cannot prevent these diseases, as there are many other causative factors involved. Furthermore, scientific evidence is essential before we can make any assertions. But under an experienced physician’s care, cannabis concentrates may be an integral part of a holistic health regimen.
Enjoying the Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates
Precise dosing is more crucial with concentrates than perhaps any other cannabis product. High THC levels mean that you need a cannabis physician to prescribe you the right individualized dosage. Then, sit back and enjoy some potent budder or shatter. Experience the benefits of cannabis concentrates by applying for a medical marijuana card through Leafwell today.
Get Your Medical Card
Connect with a licensed physician online in minutes.
