CBD has tremendously gained its popularity for being used as medicine. Out of 113 identified cannabinoids, it is the one that constitutes of 40% of plant’s extract. Many publications and researches have shown the medicinal value of CBD and more Pure Cbd Manufacturers joined the market. Depending on the amount used, it possesses the capability to alleviate pain, treating childhood epilepsy and other therapeutic disorders.
Out of hundreds of cannabinoids, THCA is the one that also possesses some medicinal values in treating various issues in the human body. Many people get confused between THCA and THC as they sound similar but there is a lot of difference in their properties and how they create an effect on treating diseases. THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. When the plant gets dried, THCA (that is found in raw & live cannabis) gets converted into THC. If we get deeper into the chemistry of THCA, the structure of this compound is defined by the presence of a carboxylic group (-COOH). The carbon and oxygen atoms are removed by heating which we called as decarboxylation. This process causes the conversion of THCA to THC under intense heating like by cooking the cannabis.
THCA: What makes it useful?
Though there are still certain prohibitions regarding the use of the drug, researchers are trying to explore all the possible uses of this magnificent plant named cannabis. THCA is the precursor of THC that does not produce any psychoactive effect in comparison to THC. As stated above, leaves of cannabis are dried, combusted and then the material obtained is the psychoactive called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. The process of combustion is carried to induce heat and remove the carboxylic group of THCA or Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, i.e. decarboxylation. THCA is thus nothing but THC in its acidic and non-psychoactive state.
THCA is helpful in measuring the potency of Cannabis
The two tests that are required to measure the potency are Gas Chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Gas Chromatography (GC) is used to test the compound or component that can be vaporized without any decomposition. This process uses heat that causes the conversion of THCA to THC. And this is how the process helps to pick the value of THC in measuring the potency. However, this process is needed to be handled in a critical way as 70% of THCA get converted into THC. Another method is High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This process gives more precise information that requires little calculation and formula usage. The values embedded on the back of the packaging of cannabis come from these laboratory measurements. Since, from a medicinal point of view, it is essential to know the values of content or the product information, these values are referred directly to the consumers that are accurate and imperative.
Benefits of THCA
Generally, cannabis produces cannabinoids which are acidic and the same is for THCA. These acids do not make you feel high on consumption rather they provide various health benefits. Although a lot of research is still needed to understand the benefits of THCA, some of its potential health benefits or in its link with THC follows:
- Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
The compound is beneficial to treat lupus, arthritis, muscular pain, menstrual cramps and other auto-immune conditions in which immune system attack its own cells.
- Anti-Proliferative Benefits
Recent studies have shown that cannabinoids are helpful in reducing the rapid growth of cells. In certain cases, like cancer especially prostate cancer, where the cancer cells compete with the cells of the body for growth and space in the body, THCA has been found useful in creating a balance between the cells’ growth.
- Anti-Emetic Benefits
Anti-emetic property is found in those drugs which are beneficial in treating nausea and vomiting. Natural cannabis has been found useful in treating all types of nausea. This evidence has come from the strain containing a certain degree of THC. However, in order to treat a particular cause, THC is combined with different ratios of cannabidiol or CBD. If you are looking to get more cannbidiol, you can check out this Cbd Wholesale Company. And it has been studied that when THCA synergizes with CBDA, the compound thus obtained possess strong anti-emetic benefits.
- Neurodegenerative Disease
Although more research is needed to confirm this benefit of THCA, certain discoveries have shown that THCA is helpful in treating a neurodegenerative disease that is caused by oxidative stress.
