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OG Kush

OG Kush Type: 55:45 sativa:indica Ancestry: Chemdawg (that has been disputed) and Hindu Kush Creators: Famous grower Matt “Bubba” Berger first created it, then carried it from Florida to Los Angeles in 1996 and passed the torch to legend cultivator Josh D., who cemented its place in cannabis mainstream. THC Levels: 20-27% Terpenes: myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pine Appearance: medium-to-large, dense, yellowish-green, very sticky buds, courtesy of the generous white trichome coating, respectively courtesy of the high THC count. Some phenotypes can manifest purple hues if the pigments have been unlocked by cold weather during cultivation. Aroma and Taste: OG Kush is like forest hug of pine, wood, and earth, with strong citrus undertones. The harsh smoke will likely make you cough.   Trivia: OG, as you may know, stands for original gangster, and OG Kush certainly deserves this title, as it has become the genetic foundation of many West Coast staples, including GSC and Headband. Recreational Effects Being just off the 50:50 mark and packing such a solid THC punch, OG Kush is not just a true intersection of the best of both the sativa and indica world, but it’s almost like two vastly different cannabis strains within a single, coherent, complete cannabis experience. Of course, the sativa side always comes first, and the first impression of OG Kush is reminiscent of the person who is the life of the party without occupying the spotlight or dictating the energy. On the contrary, OG Kush is, in Bruce Lee’s metaphor, like water, ever-fluid, taking the shape, so to speak, of its surroundings and amplifying them. It makes conversations and social events livelier and buzzier, video games and other art and entertainment more engrossing, turns giggles into belly laughs, and can even help you make good on a workout promise (during the sativa stage). In that spirit, while the initial rush of euphoria is strong, the divergent thoughts that usually accompany this state aren’t as racing and potentially disorienting as they can sometimes be in sativa-heavier hybrids. With that being said, keep in mind that the indica side doesn’t stay too far behind, so this potent strain is better suited for relatively mellower gatherings and/or rather than full-on parties. After a while, the euphoria morphs into a calmer sense of bliss and joy, and after a while longer, a sedated , floaty couch-lock sets in, and it’s popcorn (and lots of other treats) and movie (or video and board games, etc) time, if you don’t fall asleep mid-way through. Medicinal Benefits OG Kush is considered one of the most medically versatile strains. The combination between euphoria and relaxation helps people not only find respite from negative thoughts, but also open up to others; the body high, powered by the high THC count, can numb strong chronic pain and alleviates soreness, inflammation, and neuropathic discomfort; perhaps most of all though, especially in higher doses, OG Kush is a powerful sleep aid. Keep in mind, however, that due to OG Kush’s potency, higher doses can backfire and stir the high toward anxiety and paranoia.

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Ocimene

Ocimene’s Therapeutic Potential (Revealed In Scientific Studies) Ocimene might not be among the better known terpenes, but that’s because of its rarity in cannabis and not any lack of quality or character. Ocimene’s scent is universally beloved despite being somewhat unusual. It’s sweet and woodsy, with floral, herbaceous, and earthy notes. Being that the word “ocimene” itself comes from ocimum, which is Ancient Greek for basil, it’s safe to say that the terpene’s scent is best described as basil-like. However, ocimene is hardly the sole ingredient in basil’s aroma profile. Besides basil, in nature, ocimene is found in various plants and fruit, including mango, mint, parsley, lavender, kumquats, bergamot, orchids, hops, pepper, and more. But when it doesn’t occur spontaneously, the terpene is often targeted for its pleasant odor and practical benefits and infused into everyday products that span various industries, including perfumes, shampoos, soaps, fabric softeners, hard-surface cleaners, and more. Ocimene is particularly popular among insecticides, as it seems to be a natural repellent and a key factor in the defense mechanism of certain plants. But beyond ocimene’s more trivial properties, let’s dive into some scientific studies, in which we catch glimpses of the terpene’s therapeutic potential. Anti-Inflammation For starters, ocimene, or 2-beta-ocimene, appears to constitute 5.6% of the essential oils from Citrus unshiu flower that was investigated in a study, with other terpenes, such as terpinene, pinene, and limonene, being some of the other major constituents. This is noteworthy, as the aforementioned essential oils have exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, including the ability to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines that can otherwise trigger a cytokine storm when left unchecked. Cytokine storm is a common physiological reaction, in which the immune system goes overboard in its attempts to curb infection and instead causes severe inflammation, characteristic of autoimmune diseases. While 5.6% may not seem like much, ocimene was one of the key ingredients listed, not to mention the synergistic “entourage effect” that must have occurred between the terpenes probably played a role in the anti-inflammation activity as well. Furthermore, on the note of essential oils, Oenanthe crocata is another one that has displayed ant-inflammatory properties in a controlled scientific environment. Even though sabinene, another terpene, seems to be the main topic of discussion along with Oenanthe crocata, ocimene should get its fair share of the credit, as it accounts for almost half of the essential oil’s composition – trans-β-ocimene makes up 31.3% and cis-β-ocimene does 12.3%. Sabinene constitutes 29%. Besides anti-inflammatory activity, Oenanthe crocata was found to have antioxidant and antifungal potential as well. Antifungal Speaking of antifungal potential and essential oils as always, the ones from Angelica major displayed antifungal activity against Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species in a study, published in the Journal of Natural Medicines. Ocimene and pinene are the stars of the show, accounting for 30.4% and 21.8%, respectively. “The activity, displayed by Angelica major essential oil and its main components, associated with low cytotoxic activity, confirms their potential as an antifungal agent against fungal species frequently implicated in human mycoses, particularly cryptococcosis and dermatophytosis,” the researchers conclude. Antiviral And to continue the conversation on essential oils, but with an addition that is relevant to any conversation nowadays – coronavirus, a study examined how the essential oils of seven Lebanon species stacked up against SARS-CoV, a coronavirus (not to be confused with COVID-19). “L. nobilis oil exerted an interesting activity against SARS-CoV. This oil was characterized by the presence of beta-ocimene, 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene as the main constituents,” the researchers note. This will hopefully spark the scientific community’s curiosity enough to investigate if ocimene’s antiviral potential holds up beyond the in vitro stages. Ocimene may not have as wide of a range of therapeutic applications as some of the more famous terpenes, but on the flip side, it appears alongside some of them in essential oils with a lot of therapeutic mystic around them, mystic that is being backed up by science. Not only does this suggest that ocimene has some noteworthy powers of its own, but also reveals it as a team player that works great in concert with other terpenes, like pinene.

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