THCA

Has the reasons why you have to smoke or heat cannabis to subscribe to its psychoactive effects ever crossed your mind? Most individuals who consume cannabis already have prior knowledge that the major psychoactive cannabinoid in the plant is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Nonetheless, THC is not available in fresh cannabis. Basically, fresh cannabis is raw cannabis that hasn’t gone through either drying, curing or heating. If at all THC is present, it is contained in negligible amounts. What happens is, the cannabinoid exists as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). At this point, the questions that will arise are what THCA is and what the essence of consuming cannabis in its raw form is.

What is Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)?

THCA is a non-psychoactive that precedes THC. THCA is quite different from THC as it does not cause a euphoric “high”. More or less, THCA has elements that ease pain, soothe an upset stomach, and is safe to use by pretty much anyone. Hemp juice is juice that has been effortlessly made out of raw cannabis leaves and buds.
Both age and heat are responsible for the breakdown of THCA into THC. This happens through a process referred to as decarboxylation. During this action, the THCA molecule is metamorphosed. It loses what is referred to as a carboxyl group, which gives the cannabinoid its acid elements. A proportion of the acid present is also lost when fresh cannabis is cut, dried, and cured.

Are there health benefits to THCA?

When the two compounds are placed side by side, THC is often described as the most “active”. However, THCA has some serious nutritional and therapeutic potential on its own. Actually, most medical cannabis patients integrate raw cannabis into their overall treatment program. While a major proportion of cannabis research focuses on the cannabinoid’s psychoactive offspring, here are five potential health uses of THCA:

1. Nausea and vomiting

Rodent research published by the British Journal of Pharmacology implies that THCA has the ability to lower the extent of nausea and vomiting. In the study, they gave the compound to rodents which exhibited nausea behaviors; the same was used on shrews who were given a substance to bring about vomiting. Some test subjects were also treated with a low dose of THC for contrast purposes. THCA successfully lessened vomiting and lowered gapping, which is how rats display signs of nausea. The raw THCA was more fruitful and effective compared to the low-dose THC. The rodents did not show signs of cannabis intoxication.

2. Anti-inflammatory

Most leading medicines are plant derivatives. One of the most popular and commonly used over the counter drugs that lowers inflammation, aspirin, was derived from white willow bark. The cannabis plant operates based on a very similar concept. A 2011 study noted that THCA blocks two specific enzymes from synthesizing pro-inflammatory compounds. Those enzymes are COX-1 and COX-2. Both sets of enzymes also serve as targets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), e.g. aspirin.

3. Antioxidan

From experimentation, incorporating some raw cannabis into your daily meal plans is very good for drain health. In a research survey conducted in 2012, THCA treatment successfully restrained the extent of disease progression in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease. The exercise was carried out in rodent cultures and scientists administered a positively charged compound on the cells. It reduces the ability to respond to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when the body cannot successfully suppress or mend the damage caused by free radicals. In this challenge, THCA successfully weakened damage caused to neurons. In Parkinson’s disease, brain cells that create the neurotransmitter dopamine begin to die. As a potent antioxidant, THCA counterbalances the damage from positively charged neurotoxins.

4. Analgesic

Green juice and smoothies are quite common especially with those seeking a natural solution for arthritis. Green juices comprise of a variety of micronutrients, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory terpenes and vitamins. Somehow, THCA can be considered as the raw cannabinoid that relieves pain. Early evidence indicates raw cannabis could be an effective analgesic. While the repercussions of taking cannabis juice might not be as evident as the psychoactive stuff, it is wiser to supplement with raw THCA. A 2008 cell line study discovered that both THC and THCA engaged a cell receptor that is presently being looked at for pain research. The receptor is TRPA1 and it is suspected to cause inflammatory, neuropathic, and migraine pain. This adds onto the fact that raw cannabis is good for your body.

5. Anti-cancer

Those suffering from cancer prefer putting themselves in a position where they can get all the nutrients they need. Research and preclinical investigations are of the opinion raw cannabis may have some anti-cancer properties. The research was published in 2013 and suggests that THCA may have some anti-proliferative effects. The survey was carried out in laboratory models of prostate cancer. THCA was not the strongest anti-cancer compound. Rather, cannabidiol (CBD) showed the most significant effects. Still, this small study prompts efforts towards further research into the preventative uses for raw cannabis.