Why can’t we mention prescription medications by name?
In accordance with guidelines and regulations set out by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), we are unable to disclose the names of our treatments until you have completed a consultation with a Polln doctor and have been deemed eligible for treatment.
Here at Polln, we prioritise your safety and well-being. These measures have been put in place to ensure that you are able to discuss all treatment options with a qualified medical professional who specialises in the prescription of natural medicines and can help tailor your treatment plan to suit your individual needs.
All medications prescribed by our Polln doctors have been approved for use in Australia.
It is common for prescription natural medicine products to be broken up into three distinct groups:
- Indica plants
- Sativa plants
- Hybrid plants
Many prescribing doctors and patients utilise these classifications to predict the effects that the medication will have, but just how accurate are these classifications?
In this article, we’ll explore these three different types and the new ways that patients and prescribing doctors are classifying prescription natural medicine products.
The History of Prescription Natural Medicine Plants
Prescription natural medicine plants are historically believed to have originated in Central Asia and to have migrated to almost every continent across all reaches of the planet – adapting to countless different climates in the process.
These adaptations (along with selective breeding of the plants) led to variations in the natural medicine matter, resulting in landrace strains.
Landrace strains are named after their region of origin and were collected from their native habitats and brought to the Western world, where they were later crossbred with one another in horticultural attempts to explore the plant’s potential.
The process of crossbreeding different strains of natural medicine (also commonly referred to as hybridisation) has given rise to the thousands of different varieties of natural medicine treatments that are prescribed all around the world today.
In 1753, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (known as the ‘father of modern taxonomy’) published Species Plantarum, a book listing every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. Linnaeus classified all natural medicine matter under one group, ‘Cannabis sativa L.,’ with ‘Cannabis’ as the genus, ‘sativa’ as the species, and ‘L.’ indicating Linnaeus’ system. ‘Sativa’ comes from the Latin ‘sativum,’ meaning ‘cultivated.’1
Later, in 1785, French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck became the first person to classify the differences between two distinct species of the plant: indica and sativa. Lamarck’s classifications were based on the physical characteristics of the different plants, and his own experience when testing them. Sativa was found to be a taller, slimmer, and more fibrous plant, while Indica was found to be shorter, wider, and possessing greater psychoactive properties. The name Indica means ‘from India,’ which is where the plant was thought to originate.
The three main strains of prescription natural medicine include:
- Indica plants
- Sativa plants
- Hybrid plants
What Is the Indica Plant?
Typically known for their relaxing properties, Indica plants originally grew in cold, northern climates. They grew shorter and stockier because of these environments, with a shorter life cycle that allowed them to be harvested before the colder weather hit.
The indica plant is native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Plant properties
Indica plants are shorter and stockier than sativa plants with bushy greenery and broad, dark green leaves. Indicas grow faster than sativa plants, and also produce more flowers (buds).
Commonly Associated Effects
Based on anecdotal feedback, Indica plants tend to be associated with a relaxing, sedating effect, which may assist with anxiety symptoms and sleep issues.
What Is the Sativa Plant?
Known for their uplifting, stimulating effects, Sativa plants are found primarily in hot, dry climates.
The sativa plant are indigenous to warmer parts of the world, such as Eastern Asia and Central and South America.
Plant properties
Sativa plants are taller and slimmer than indica plants, with thin, light green leaves. As they can exceed 3m in height, sativa plants typically take much longer to mature than indica plants.
Commonly Associated Effects
Based on anecdotal feedback, the sativa plant is known for its stimulating effects. It is often said to produce a 'mind high' that may increase creativity and focus and reduce anxiety.
How to Recognise Differences Between Different Strains of Prescription Natural Medicine
The main difference between the two different strains of prescription natural medicine is their distinct appearances.
While the sativa plant is a tall, slim plant with light green leaves, the indica plant is a short, bushy plant with dark green leaves.
Nowadays, instead of having two definitive strains for prescription natural medicines, most strains are hybrid strains; a combination of two strains.
What Is a Hybrid Strain?
Hybrid strains are created from the cross-breeding of different combinations of other natural medicine matter.
Often grown to target specific symptoms and conditions, hybrid plants are known for their potential to deliver a wide range of varying effects. Hybrid plants are typically grown on farms or in greenhouses from a combination of existing strains, each with their own unique ratios of active ingredients.
What Are the Main Effects of Hybrids?
The effects of a hybrid strain are dependent on two factors:
- Which plant is more dominant in the hybrid strain’s lineage (indica plant or sativa plant)
- The terpene and active ingredient content found in the medication
Active Ingredients in Prescription Natural Medicines
- Research has found that prescription natural medicines can produce anywhere between 80-100 active ingredients
- Active ingredients are naturally occurring components that are responsible for producing many of the effects associated with prescription natural medicine
- Knowing what active ingredients are present in your treatments is one of the most effective ways to predict the effects it will have on you and your symptoms
Terpenes in Prescription Natural Medicines
- Terpenes are the organic, aromatic compounds found in plants in the form of oils
- Essentially, they are what gives a plant its unique flavour and aroma
- Terpenes are responsible for the aromatic diversity of the wide range of strains and cultivars available
- Beyond just influencing the unique taste and smell of your prescription natural medicine, terpenes also play a significant role in the therapeutic effects of the medication by interacting with other active ingredients to create subtle differences in our experience
Which Strain of Prescription Natural Medicine Treatment Is Right for Me?
The best way to find the strain that works for you and your symptoms is to get a valid prescription for natural medicine from a licensed healthcare professional.
A doctor who is well-versed in the prescription of natural medicine and treatments will assist in finding a medication that works for you by taking the following points into consideration:
- Your individual needs and symptoms
- The types of prescription natural medicines that are available
- Terpene and active ingredient content
- Different formats and delivery methods of the medication
It’s important to note that any natural medicine that is grown or obtained without a valid prescription is illegal in all states in Australia, except for the ACT.
A natural medicine prescription from a qualified doctor is the best way to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of your medication for optimal results.
- C. Linnaeus, “Species Plantarum,” Vol. 1, London, 1753, pp. 392.
- https://scienmag.com/thc-amounts-identical-in-most-cannabis-strains-ubc-study-finds/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334252/
- Russo, EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol, 2011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21749363/
- https://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/cannabinoids
The information on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and not intended for use as medical advice. Polln is not promoting the use of medicinal cannabis. Medicinal cannabis in Australia is scheduled medication and regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Details about medicinal cannabis as a scheduled drug can be found on their website. If you would like to explore medicinal cannabis for your chronic condition, please consult with a doctor.
Our caring doctors are here to help every step of the way.
Appointments available same day, after hours and weekends.