The chemical that gives marijuana its signature high, THC (or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), is one of the world’s most researched and talked-about substances. If you want to know about the effects, health benefits, and other medical uses of THCA, this article is for you.
THCA is an acidic form of THC found in raw or unheated cannabis plants. This happens because the chemical begins to break down when heat is applied during cooking, smoking, vaping, or any other process that transforms raw marijuana into medical cannabis products.
Regarding medical cannabis products such as edibles and tinctures, THCA is very important in terms of medicinal value. Here you will learn everything about the medical uses of thca, its causes of THCA breakdown, and its effects on the body.
Table of Contents
What is THCA?
It is one of the compounds found in cannabis responsible for making marijuana a popular source of medicinal value.
According to various studies, THC (or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is also known to treat pain caused by chronic diseases such as cancer and headaches without any negative side effects.
The Medical Benefits and Uses of THCA
Some of the medical benefits of THCA include the following:
1. Increases Metabolism
The chemical responsible for making marijuana a popular medicinal source, THC or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is also known to boost the metabolism so that it can go faster in processing food.
Studies have shown that when this chemical is present in your body, you will find your body going through many metabolic processes faster than usual. This includes increasing blood flow to vital organs such as the brain and heart.
2. Reduces Inflammation
Another major benefit of THCA is that it can help you reduce Inflammation in your body by reducing the number of inflammatory cells such as cytokines, plasma cells, and mast cells. These inflammatory cells are known to cause symptoms such as pain and swelling in the affected area.
3. Reduces Nausea
THCA is an excellent anti-emetic agent which works by suppressing the production of serotonin in the vomiting center, thereby reducing the feelings of Nausea and vomiting.
If you are facing Nausea or vomiting while trying to fight a chronic or life-threatening illness, such as cancer, you can use this chemical in drug form to reduce these symptoms.
4. Controls Seizures
THCA is an excellent anti-convulsant as it helps reduce convulsions by modulating the GABA receptors in the brain and central nervous system.
According to many studies, THCA is also known to reduce seizure activity in the brain and help control epileptic fits caused by illnesses such as Alzheimer’s.
5. Increases Pain Sensitivity
This chemical has been noticed to increase the pain sensitivity of the affected area. According to studies, this increased pain sensitivity is mainly caused by cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors that respond to THC or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid.
How is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid made?
THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. It originates from cannabigerol acid (CBGA), the “mother of all cannabinoids”.
Through enzymatic reactions, CBGA is transformed into tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiol acid (CBDA), and cannabichromene acid (CBCA) in different strains of cannabis. The amount of THCA present in cannabis varies.
What is the principle of action of THCA on the human body?
Each cannabinoid molecule has a specific shape that determines which receptor in the endocannabinoid system it can bind to, producing different effects. THCA is a type of cannabinoid with a large and unique shape that prevents it from binding to the CB1 receptor.
It is also made for producing the “high” associated with marijuana use. THCA has an extra carboxylic group that makes it a different shape from other cannabinoids that can bind to the CB1 receptor.
What are the difference between THCA & THC?
THC is the most potent cannabinoid. It is also the primary component that gives marijuana its potency, making it an active ingredient in the marijuana plant.
THC is responsible for many physical effects of cannabis, such as euphoria, relaxation, and sedation.
THCA has higher acidity than THC, meaning THCA has a stronger effect on the body than THC. However, THC is still an important ingredient in marijuana.
THC is responsible for most of the biological effects of cannabis use, such as its anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, and analgesic effects.
Many people have misconceptions about the difference between THCA and THC because of THCA’s low presence in marijuana plants. This is why many people have a catch-22 situation.
