Is THCa a Medical Solution That Can Help You?

Cannabis has been around for thousands of years and helps humans with a variety of problems. Yes, there is not enough research to realize the full potential of the plant. While marijuana is a “fun plant” that gets people high and relaxed, it has proven medical benefits that are recognized by the American Medical Association, the British Medical Association, the US government, and other scientific and data-based institutions.

Science says medical marijuana can help with cancer treatments, anxiety, nausea, pain, and more. It’s not a panacea like aspirin, but it can help with many things. More studies need to be funded to realize its potential.

An essential component of marijuana is THC, a crystalline Compound that is the main active ingredient in cannabis. THC provides the “high” while providing medicinal benefits. Recently there has been discussion about TCHa, the most common non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis.

THCa is the acidic form of THC found in the raw cannabis plant. In general, cannabis produces all cannabinoids in the acid form. It is one of the most abundant cannabinoid acids and the precursor to THC. Cannabinoid acids alone do not provide the high. Instead, these acids provide some health benefits, but without altering consciousness.

When one consumes THC, a decarboxylation process usually takes place first. Decarboxylation is the heating of a compound by smoking or vaping. In order to convert THCA into THC, raw cannabis must first be dried, aged, and heated by smoking or vaporizing. Overall, THC is a breakdown of THCA and does not produce any psychoactive effects until heated through decarboxylation.

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Although research on THCA is still in its infancy, there is already a lot of research on several of its medicinal benefits. Now that we have learned about THCA and its connection to THC, let’s discuss the medical and therapeutic benefits of this compound. Various studies have been conducted on THCA in recent years, which have discovered the following potential benefits of the compound:

In addition, THCA consumption also shows promise as a treatment for epilepsy and seizures. In one particular study, taking two milligrams of THCA daily resulted in a 90 percent reduction in seizures in a subject. When certain terpenes in a cannabis strain are combined with THCA, this combination can also contribute significantly to the anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects of THCA in patients.

RELATED: THC-A from Marijuana as an Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Agent

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A 2013 study found that THCa has antiproliferative properties. In animal models and cell structures, THCA inhibited proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Additionally, a study conducted a year earlier (2012) found that THCA neutralized damage caused by oxidative neurotoxins. Although more research is needed to confirm this finding, this discovery represents the potential of THCa consumption to treat neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress.

RELATED: How THCA from Marijuana Can Effectively Treat Your Worst Pain

Finally, Erin Rock and other scientists at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada found that extremely low doses of THCa could prevent nausea in rats. It has also been discovered that THCA successfully synergizes with CBDA, thus acting as a powerful antiemetic compound.

While more research needs to be done, the effects and properties already discovered indicate the significant potential of this compound. If you wish to consume THCA, it is recommended to look for high THC strains that have not yet been decarboxylated. You can also juice or blend raw cannabis parts like leftover fan leaves, buds, and/or stems to reap the potential benefits.