The Real Difference Between Head High and Body High

head high vs body high. While weed can have some great effects for you, the herb can also seem mysterious at times. For example, sometimes, you might find that no matter how many puffs you take on a joint, you can’t get high. On the other hand, you may find that when you take just a small puff, you become extremely high. The reason for this is that there are many types of highs.

Effects of Cannabis

Smoking marijuana does not always have predictable results. But edibles are also complicated. Of course, if you do not use cannabis in moderation, you will feel extremely high. But for many people, the biggest issue comes when they are waiting for the edibles to take effect. That can be a big test of your self-control because you might want to keep eating until it takes effect. But that can end up making you too high to enjoy the feeling.

Of course, you also can experience different types of highs. The two most common are body and head highs. There are big differences between them. A head high can make everything look more vivid and be very fun. Often, a head high makes everything seem very interesting.

On the other hand, a body high can be more relaxing for users. The entire body relaxes and users who have pain often feel it go away. If you have been using weed for any length of time, it is likely that you have experienced both types.

Head High vs Body High. How Do You Get High?

To understand more about the different types of highs, you should understand better how the body gets high in the first place. Your body has an endocannabinoid system that includes receptors and neurotransmitters. You can think of this as how a lock and a key work. Chemicals in the brain, known as neurotransmitters, will work with the receptors. 

It is thought that some of these neurotransmitters regulate certain processes in your body. For example, dopamine is related to your reward system and serotonin is related to learning, mood, and sleep.

Some studies have found that the brain may already have a neurotransmitter that is similar to the ones that you can find in marijuana. You can find it in the peripheries of the brain, and it is known as anandamide. It comes from a Sanskrit word that means “bliss.” 

It helps your body with memory, appetite, pain management, and depression. In general, you can think of it as making you feel good. The marijuana plant has cannabinoids that bind to the receptors in your brain. That can activate your system and help you feel higher. But you might still be wondering what happens to make you experience different types of highs.

What Determines the Type of High?

The way that you use your weed plays a big role in how you get high. When you are smoking, the cannabinoids can enter your lungs. After that, they will go into your bloodstream. Then, they can enter the brain via the blood-brain barrier. 

This is different than eating a brownie with pot in it. When you eat something, the cannabinoids will not enter your blood right away. Instead, they will enter your liver, and that will convert them to THC. That gives the receptor a bit of a different effect. When the cannabinoids go right to your lungs, you will likely feel a high in your head. But when they go to your liver, you will have a body high.

The Role of Strains

However, that is not the only thing that will affect the type of high you have. The strain can also play a big role. You can find different terpenes in marijuana plants, and they can affect the smell and taste of each strain.

Various strains have different levels of terpenes in them. This can easily affect the way your body reacts to them. The main species of the plant are sativa and indica. If you want a body high, you might choose an indica strain. These may give you a calmer, more focused feeling. 

On the other hand, sativa strains can give you a head high. If you want to focus on cerebral things, you might choose this variety. Many people have enhanced senses and feel elevated. But if you take too much, you may experience anxiety or full-blown panic attacks.

It might seem like it is easy to control the type of high you get based on the strain alone. But there are many hybrids, making this harder. There are only a few strains that are either purely indica or sativa. Hybrid strains usually are either sativa or indica dominant. For example, if you get head high from an indica strain, you may have more of a hybrid than you thought.

Taking Too Much

It happens to everyone. You go a little overboard when you are eating or smoking, and you end up having a bit too much. The good news is that there are things you can do to help balance out the effects. For example, some people decide to exercise. That might make people feel like they are getting the extra THC out.

Exercise can get your blood moving. That, in turn, helps your body to remove THC. That may help you understand why you do not feel the effects of an edible if you are out moving around. No matter what type of method you use to take your THC, you will want to stay hydrated and make sure your electrolytes are balanced. Make sure that you have some water and consider getting a sports drink, as well.

Closing Thoughts

Depending on the effects that you want, you might choose to get head high vs body high. There are some methods you can use to control the type of high you get. For example, you have the option of smoking or using edibles. The type of strain you choose also plays a role in the high you get.