THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a cannabis compound that is beginning to demonstrate immense therapeutic potential despite the infancy of its research. You’ve heard of THC, and while they may sound similar, THCA actually has drastically different properties.
THCA is found in raw and live/fresh cannabis. As the name suggests, THCA is closely related to THC however unlike THC it is relatively non psychoactive. It is the precursor to THC1, meaning that it is one chemical reaction away from THC. THCA is the most abundant cannabinoid in the vast majority of freshly harvested, high-THC cannabis strains grown. Because the conversion from THCA to THC begins immediately after harvest, there are fewer methods of application/ingestion. The popular methods include juicing raw fresh cannabis and THCA cannabis oil, as well as other applications as listed below.
THCA has been shown to modulate the autonomic nervous system, the auto immune system, and microcirculation. It is known to relieve pain due to inflammation and to have anti-convulsant, anti-spasmodic, and antioxidant properties. It is reported to be immune supportive and be ant proliferative (anticancer) however, clinical results are currently unavailable.
Applications:
Given that THCA is relatively non-psychoactive, it can be metabolized in much larger doses than THC, making it an attractive option for medical users. Preliminary studies suggest THCA has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is especially helpful in managing the severe pain caused by inflammation in Lupus and arthritis patients.
Here are some of the potential benefits studies have started to unveil:
Other possible medicinal avenues supported by patient stories include insomnia, muscle spasms, and pain. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait for more studies to substantiate all of the above benefits before we can fully understand what THCA means for the future of cannabinoid-based medicines.
