Mr-Bud-Paranoia

Im new so please don't beat me up for asking this Q. I don't know any veteran tokers. Searching answered some of my Q's but just generated more Q's and confusion.... so yeah lemme begin.

Cannabis will increase the heart rate - this is just one side effect that cannot be avoided. An increased heart rate without strenuous activity can be unnerving to some and can cause anxiety.

If Indica dominant strains have the ability to relax and stone you with couchlock, do they also increase the heart rate? I would consider that unpleasant and definitely counteractive to the soothing/relaxing "stone" one might be looking foward to experiencing after smoking a strain with supposed effects. Couchlocking strains relax the muscles and mind but not the heart because cannabis increases the heartrate anyway, mind over matter doesnt have any meaning after you have puffed potent Indica?

That's kinda creepy - being near paralyzed (if that's what couchlock really means) but have your heart pounding, not being able to really get up and do anything to get your mind off of it. Ive smoked weed before, oblivious to strain but still good stuff I guess and all it did was make me zip and zoom because I had to do SOMETHING to counter the anxiety.

I have been looking for a strain that could keep me calm - an all natural botanical "downer" from God that could induce sleep -- from what I've read so far, the only type of weed that could do that is some type of Indica strain. I've been looking around and considered trying one of the following - Highland Afghani (?), Nutcruncher (and some "hashplant" strain also from RMS) and Indica/Sativa hybrids. I've also read that those particular strains are beginner grower friendly. I am looking for a truely tranquilizing strain.

Cassius

No, couchlock does not mean you are paralyzed, or anywhere close to it. I'd say the best way to describe it would be to say that you are so comfortable, feeling so good, that you don't feel like getting up off the couch. But you are perfectly capable of getting up. Your body just feels more relaxed with indica than with sativa (called a body-high versus a head-high), and so you normally feel like just chilling and watching something or listening to some good tunes.

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Mr-Bud-Paranoia

I've read about that body high, it's what sounds most pleasing. This body high induces comfort, relaxing the body, the soul - so where does the heart rate go? Would one be so relaxed and comfortable that he would not notice his heart pounding or does couchlock slow the heart rate down a little too? I'd like to at least get an erowid type "Experience Testimonial" from an Indica smoker before I try this high potency stuff again. I'm hyperactive and anxious, I need some serious couchlocker.

cb007sax

I for sure have sampled the varieties of various indica/sativa strians, and it's actually somewhat simple.

If you smoke a sativa, for most people, you will feel 'faster' in mind and body, with sensations rapidly pulsating and small to medium amount of movement is observed. It gives you a feeling of a shockra or embrace on the inners of your body.

An indica will do that slightly, but usually what happens is a more heightened sense of relaxation and reduced movement. Brain patterns are more casually observed, and thought progresses at a much slower pace, although many ideas at once is a likely scenario to happen.

In short, Indica and sativa meet at opposite ends of a 'weed like spectrum'. They have a loose median point, at which many hybrid strains take advantage of, offering near half and half of both plant chemicals. Both will get you high, and events on both sides of the spectrum are likely to occur.

Buzzby

All varieties of marijuana will increase your heart rate. THC is a vasodilator, i.e. it increases the inner diameter of blood vessels. This in turn lowers your blood pressure. Your heart has to beat faster to maintain the same rate of flow.

Most experienced users are so accustomed to this that they only notice it if it's brought to their attention for some reason.

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Mr-Bud-Paranoia

Dang. Instant email notification isn't working for some reason. I did not want to "bump" this thread after it had been inactive for so long. sorry.

Anyway, thank you for answering my questions. This ends all questions I had about anxiety and heart rate (im sure there are some out there who see these type of questions a lot and dont want to be bothered with them). Usually my anxiety is triggered by unexpected or sudden jumps in heart rate. I need to remember that this is GOING to happen - with this in mind, maybe I can learn to enjoy being stoned. cb007sax, buzzby and cassius, thank you.

One last question. I've been told that for "sensitive smokers" like me that one could ease into smoking more potent bud. To this, taking one tolerable hit per day for a few days and gradually increasing dose can better prepare you, mentally and physically for cannabis. People who usually take large hits and one too many for the first or second time experience "bad highs". Any opinions?

Once again, thanks.

Buzzby

My advice for people who are concerned about overindulging is this:

1) Take a hit.
2) Wait 10 - 15 minutes for the high to develop.
3) Decide if you're as high as you want to be.
4) Repeat as needed.

Where most inexperienced people go wrong is in not realizing that smoked marijuana takes 10 - 15 for the effect to fully develop. They take several hits in a row and then find themselves overwhelmed after 10 minutes have passed.

I can't think of any good reason to take a hit a day for several days and build from there. You're not going to develop a tolerance from one hit a day so it wouldn't make any difference in how it would affect you over time.

Mr-Bud-Paranoia

buzzby, cb007sax and cassius, thanks. *End of Thread*