Earthy
Pineapple
Sweet
Tropical
Chronic pain
Depression
Lack of appetite
Nausea
Sleep
Stress
Upset stomach
Body high/numbing
Calming
Euphoria
Happy
Relaxation
Sleep/Sedation
Uplifting
The marijuana industry is oversaturated with recreational strains, combining exciting flavor profiles with energetic effects to help you enjoy the weekend. While this is great as you can never have too much choice, it can also make it difficult to find strains with a more medical focus. While there are a number of extremely effective medicinal strains, they can easily become hidden behind those with flashy names.
Chemo is one of those strains. Having been around for decades, it still remains somewhat hidden in the shadows of strains such as Cherry Pie and Sherbet OG. Chemo, as its name suggests, is very much a medicinal strain that was bred to serve a purpose, while still providing an enjoyable experience.
What can you expect from the Chemo strain, and could it be the answer to your health concern?
What Is the Chemo Strain?
It is thought that the Chemo strain was originally created in the 1970s in Canada by a doctor looking for a way to make chemotherapy a slightly easier process for his patients. Very little is actually known, however, about the strain’s exact origin and its lineage, and the majority of its history has been pieced together based on its name and when it first appeared on the market.
Chemo is sometimes sold under the name UBC Chemo, with the UBC being added as a reference to the university in which chemotherapy was originally invented. The strain’s dual name can sometimes cause confusion with people mistakenly believing that UBC Chemo is descendent of Chemo and thus has different effects. This is not the case, however, and the name very much depends on where you are purchasing the strain and which name the grower prefers.
Chemo is a powerful indica strain with effects that are focused on the physical. Most noticeable is the full, deep-bodied relaxation that takes hold shortly after smoking your first puff. This relaxation is responsible for the strain’s popularity among those who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Chemo allows your body to reach a place of peace and tranquility, free from the aches and pains of daily life. It is used as a recreational strain by those who find it difficult to wind down after a long and stressful day.
The effects of Chemo are not completely limited to the physical, with most people experiencing a sense of euphoria as part of the high. This in part, comes from the strain’s high THC content, as well as the fact that when all of the persistent aches and pains of our body are removed, we tend to feel much happier.
Chemo also acts as an appetite enhancer, causing the ‘munchies’. It’s the perfect strain to help you enjoy a relaxed evening with a cheesy movie and a pile of junk food at the ready. The effects of Chemo are particularly fun with a few close friends, ordering a few pizzas and chilling out to your all-time favorite shows and movies.
While Chemo can be used at any time of day to help ease the negative effects of treatment, it is a strain that really comes into its own during the evening. Being an intense indica strain, Chemo leaves you feeling physically relaxed, ready to drift off into a deep and refreshing sleep.
Aroma
Chemo has a very natural aroma to it which seems fitting given that it was a strain bred for its effects rather than its aroma and pure enjoyment. That is not to say that Chemo does not have a pleasant aroma to it and that it cannot be enjoyed; just that if you are looking for complexity, Chemo might not be the right strain for you.
Chemo buds have a strong earthy smell to them, almost leaving your hands feeling as though you decided to do the gardening with bare hands and have mud caught between the small dents on your palms. As you break Chemo buds apart, you start to notice a woody aroma come from within. In particular, a dense forest filled with pine trees.
As Chemo buds burn, the air is filled with a warm, woody scent, which reminds you of being a child standing around a bonfire on a cold autumn evening. As the memories flood back, you are filled with a peaceful and comforting smoke. You may have a desire to curl up on the sofa with a thick blanket and enjoy the effects of Chemo.
Chemo leaves a pungent smell in the air, making it difficult to cover up. Nevertheless, it may be enjoyable for those who know what it is.
How does the flavor profile of Chemo compare to its natural, warm aroma?
Flavor
Chemo has a very interesting flavor profile, mixing the taste that you would expect from its aroma with a slight tropical undertone which comes as a pleasant surprise at the end.
At first, Chemo feels as though it has a very basic taste, filling your mouth with a woody flavor that has no real spark to it other than the fact that it feels natural and healthy. As the smoke settles in your mouth, however, you start to notice that Chemo has a slightly sweet taste which helps the earthy flavors travel smoothly down to your lungs.
The aftertaste of Chemo is where the flavor profile really kicks it up a level, and it can feel quite shocking if you do not know what to expect. Your mouth is left feeling fresh, almost as though you have just finished a glass of tropical juice.
The combination of sweet citrus and pineapple is the last thing that you would expect from such an earthy, raw strain; but it makes for a pleasing treat to round off the experience.
Appearance
Chemo plants tend to easily blend in among other plants, somewhat due to their height but also due to their washed-out, almost muted coloring. Plants grow to around 3 feet, meaning that they can be kept indoors without too much space.
Buds are a dull green color with a thick layer of white trichomes that gives the plant its washed-out appearance. Some buds have a very faint purple tint to them which can be seen when looking at Chemo plants up close.
Chemo plants have large leaves that stand out from the rest of the plant and are a very rich, deep green color. Chemo’s leaves are one of its only obvious physical features and one of the main things to look out for when trying to spot a Chemo plant.
Chemo Strain Grow Info
Chemo is an excellent plant for beginners, easy to grow both indoors and outside. Chemo plants are resistant to most molds and pests, meaning that they are easy to grow from seeds and should present very few problems during their short growth cycle.
Chemo plants are at their happiest when grown in cool climates and tend to struggle in hotter settings. This makes sense given that Chemo is thought to originate in Canada and is therefore not used to the high temperatures that some other strains may require. For those who live in hot climates, it is recommended that you keep plants indoors to avoid them being exposed to extreme heat.
Chemo has a short growth period and can be harvested in as little as 7 weeks, although some plants can take slightly longer and may need a few extra weeks to reach their full potential. Given the short growth time of Chemo plants, they manage to produce a surprisingly large yield, which packs a real punch due to the strain’s high THC content.
When grown outside, Chemo plants are normally ready to be harvested between early and mid-October and can yield up to a massive 25 ounces per plant. Indoor plants tend to produce varying yields and seem to depend on the environment they are kept in and how much light they receive. Some plants can yield as little as 15 ounces per square meter, while other people have reported yields as high as 30 ounces.
THC Content – Highest Test
Chemo has an extremely high THC content, with an average of 29%. This places it firmly at the top of the THC scale. It is because of the strain’s high THC content that those who use Chemo experience such powerful and effective results.
How does the CBD content of Chemo compare?
CBD Content – Highest Test
The exact CBD content of Chemo is not known, but a good rule to follow with all strains is that when there is a higher than average level of THC present, it is rare to find anything more than 1% CBD. This appears to be very much the case with Chemo, as it has almost undetectable levels of CBD.
Given the recent popularity of CBD oil as a health and wellness supplement, most believe that when a strain has a low CBD content, it should logically follow that it has minimal health benefits. This is not always the case – Chemo is predominantly a medical strain with several different benefits.
So, why should you consider using Chemo as a medicinal strain?
Medical Benefits of the Chemo Strain
Chemo is a strain primarily for those in the process of chemotherapy, and as such, its effects are very much tailored to treat the negative effects of such treatment. Chemo is often recommended for those who are looking to ease the negative effects of chemotherapy without having to fill their body with even more artificial chemicals.
One of the main benefits of Chemo its ability to suppress nausea. This can be a huge problem for people who are in the middle of chemotherapy, making it difficult to eat a full meal and keep their spirits up. As the effects of Chemo start to take effect and your body relaxes, the feeling of constant sickness disappears, giving you a few hours to chill.
Chemo also enhances your appetite, making it easier to follow a structured, healthy diet. The nausea-suppressing, appetite-enhancing effects make this the perfect strain to take before dinner, allowing you to stock up on important nutrients and vitamins.
Chemo can be used to treat aches and pains and is especially useful for numbing a general feeling of weakness and full body ache that takes hold when you are run down. Chemo can also be used as a natural pain killer by those who are not undergoing chemotherapy but simply prefer to use natural wellness ingredients rather than pharmaceuticals.
Being a particularly powerful indica, Chemo works as a sleep aid, allowing you to drift off to sleep with ease. This is particularly useful when you are feeling stressed or anxious, and sleep feels almost impossible. The mix of pain relief and drowsiness helps you to mentally block out physical problems and get a peaceful and rejuvenating night’s sleep.
Some people have found that the uplifting mental effects of Chemo can help to numb the effects of depression, especially when this is linked to your physical health. While not the best strain to tackle depression due to its strong sedative effects, Chemo may help during the evening when you are done with the day’s chores and just need a few hours of true relaxation.
Possible Side Effects of the Chemo Strain
A common side effect of Chemo is dry mouth. This is, unfortunately, a common side effect with most strains and is not something that Chemo has managed to avoid.
Making sure that you stay hydrated helps to reduce the effects of dry mouth, although when compared to all of the positives that come from smoking Chemo a slightly dry feeling in your mouth for a few hours can sometimes be a welcome change.
Given that Chemo can be used to treat pain, you might be surprised to learn that headaches are actually a negative side effect of Chemo. This is due to the strain’s high THC content, which can be difficult to process in larger doses and as a result can cause adverse reactions such as headaches. This is more likely to be a problem if you are someone who has a low THC tolerance.
Less common effects include dry eyes and feeling dizzy; most people find that these negative effects wear off within a few hours and do not cause any long term health concerns.
When smoking Chemo in large doses, some people find themselves experiencing anxious thoughts; this is again something that is more common among those who have a low THC tolerance. The effects can be somewhat negated by ensuring that you are surrounded by people who you feel comfortable with and that you are in a safe environment.
Final Thoughts on the Chemo Strain
Chemo is first and foremost a medical strain with a number of positive health effects that can make a living with difficult conditions that little bit easier. This is not to say that it cannot be used and enjoyed for recreational purposes, but that if you are looking for a relaxed, full-body high, there are a number of other strains available which are likely to offer a much more calming and fun experience.
Chemo is an extremely useful strain for those who are undergoing chemotherapy as it is able to suppress many of the negative effects that come with treatment. A few puffs of Chemo during the evening might be all that you need to feel like your old self and enjoy a few hours of relaxation and peace.
While Chemo will not be winning any awards for its aroma and flavor profile, it still manages to pack a pleasant taste that leaves your taste buds tingling and is definitely more flavorful than traditional medications.
