The cannabis plant is one of the most misunderstood plants. It is largely culturally and religiously associated with many ills because of its psychoactive compounds and the effects they can leave on users.
However, it is worth stating that this plant has so many therapeutic benefits to offer. Furthermore, it contains a wide range of non-psychoactive compounds that offer therapeutic benefits, as well. Some of them include:
- CBD – Cannabidiol
- CBG – Cannabigerol
- CBC – Cannabichromene
- CBL – Cannabicyclol
- CBN – Cannabinol
- CBLA – Cannabicyclolic Acid
- CBCA – Cannabichromenic Acid
- CBGA – Cannabigerolic Acid
- CBDA – Cannabidiolic Acid
Considering that this plant has all of these non-psychoactive properties and is mostly associated with its psychoactive side is shocking. Information about other non-psychoactive cannabis compounds and their therapeutic benefits will also do justice to this.
Furthermore, even psychoactive cannabis compounds can have non-psychoactive precursors. This perfectly sums up what THCa is about, which is of course what many THCa hemp flower online sellers use as a major marketing point. Well, this article discusses some confirmed and reported health benefits of THCa.
What Is THCa?
It is simply THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in its raw form. For clarity, THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis plants. In simpler terms, it is the major compound that makes users experience the intoxicating (high) feeling after cannabis consumption.
So, THC perfectly fits the description of a psychoactive (cannabis) compound. However, it does not turn out to be psychoactive in its raw form – THCa. The question is then how this non-psychoactive compound turns out to be the major psychoactive compound.
This happens due to a process known as decarboxylation. Several technical jargon could be used to explain what decarboxylationis all about. But simply put, it is the exposure of THCa to enough heat that transforms it into THC, which is psychoactive.
Does THCa Offer Health Benefits?
THCa even as a cannabis compound in its very raw form offers a long list of health benefits. However, it is worth stating that many of these benefits are still being extensively investigated.
However, some reports have gathered that these benefits are real based on the experiences of people. Overall, some of the health benefits that it is said to offer includes:
1. Neuroprotective Effects
For the umpteenth time, these claims are not extensively clinically substantiated. However, several reports make this benefit worthy of being mentioned.
By the way, this is a benefit that cannabis consumption at large has been reported to offer. To see how cannabis consumption can help mitigate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, you can watch: https://www.tiktok.com/.
People with other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s are also known to enjoy these benefits. However, psychoactive tendencies are one of the major concerns, which is why THCa comes in very handy. This is because it offers many of the said benefits without leaving adverse hallucinogenic impacts.
However, this is provided it is consumed appropriately. The reason is that certain consumption methods would ultimately convert it to THC, which is psychoactive.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Inflammation is what many chronic health conditions such as arthritis, autoimmune conditions, and inflammatory bowel disease have in common. Victims are left with a wide range of pain to deal with, depending on the condition and its intensity. THCa has certain anti-inflammatory properties that also help prevent or reduce inflammatory-associated pain.
Furthermore, its anti-inflammatory tendencies are even at the core of why this compound may be capable of doing many of the amazing therapeutic things it is reported to do. For example, the chances of being able to mitigate or even prevent neurodegenerative diseases would be due to a reduction in oxidation stress levels.
However, it could only be possible if inflammation is reduced in the brain, which further highlights this benefit as the root of many other notable benefits. With THCa, it is once again good to know that this would not require exposure to psychoactive tendencies.
3. Pain Relief
The aforementioned point did passively discuss its pain-relieving benefit. However, this is worth being discussed as a sole point.
THCa as with many other cannabis compounds has analgesic effects. This offers a chance for people going through intense pain, especially those caused by chronic pain issues to get over their pain as easily as possible. People with conditions such as neuropathy and fibromyalgia perfectly fit this description.
4. Appetite Stimulation
Malnutrition and general health deterioration can set in as a result of appetite loss caused by certain health conditions. Prime examples of such conditions include:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Dementia
- Heart Failure
- Depression
- Crohn’s Disease
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Liver Disease
The irony is that people with these health complications and more need the nourishment that certain foods can offer them. Thankfully, THCa can help with appetite stimulation without leaving psychoactive tendencies.
5. Disease Prevention
There are several reasons for disease development. It could be a result of genetic tendencies, for instance.
However, there are natural factors that further fuel disease development and oxidation stress is one such. This is because it exposes body cells to the wrong conditions, leading to various adverse health possibilities.
The good thing is that THCa – despite being a compound in raw form; offers antioxidant properties. As a result, several health complications that can set in as a result of oxidation stress and its effects on body cells can be prevented and even mitigated.
6. Anti-Proliferative Effects
One question you may be asking is why discuss a benefit when it is not extensively confirmed. For starters, this is because there are already preliminary studies that back up certain claims.
Furthermore, the process of extensive clinical confirmation takes time, and in between; there could be many successful experimental treatments and research. These success stories also need to be accounted for, which is why some of these benefits are discussed here, despite the non-extensive confirmation status.
Having made this clear, you should know that certain credible preliminary studies have gathered that THCa contains anti-cancer properties. This finding can significantly positively revolutionize the medical and pharmaceutical industry.
Conclusion
THCa offers many therapeutic benefits as with many other cannabis compounds. Unlike THC, it does not leave users with psychoactive side effects. However, this is down to the usage method as some usage methods can result in decarboxylation, which converts it to the psychoactive
