IN THE SPOTLIGHT
out heat applied, through exposure to oxygen or UV light, but it is a long, slow process with inconsistent results,” Raap adds.
On its own, THCA doesn’ t produce the“ high” typically associated with cannabis because it doesn’ t readily bind to the same receptors in the body as activated THC, according to Craig Hendersen, CEO and founder of Extract Labs CBD. This is why most companies heat THCA to get the desired effects.
HOW DOES THCA WORK IN THE BODY?
The“ A” in THCA refers to a carboxylic acid group that slightly alters the molecule’ s structure and makes it larger and more polar than THC, according to Scott Lynch, Hash- Dash founder and CEO.
“ That difference changes how the molecule interacts with the body, particularly at the receptor level, and is one of the main reasons THCA behaves so differently from THC,” he says.
“ There is insufficient research to determine exactly how THCA is metabolized in the human body,” Raap adds.“ While THC has been more thoroughly studied, much of the evidence still relies on animal studies.”
Rapp explains that our bodies can absorb both THC and THCA through the digestive tract. Once the compound makes its way to the liver, however, the body metabolizes THC and THCA differently.
“ The liver converts THC into 11−hydroxy-THC( 11−OH- THC), which is even more psychoactive than THC,” she says.“ Some research suggests THCA remains largely intact and does not undergo conversion into another compound.”
An article written by Dr. Dustin Sulak suggests that THCA can be effective in relieving pain, with Dr. Sulak stating how his patients have found that products containing some THCA along with THC are the most effective for pain and other symptoms.
“ Interestingly, one study found
Scott Lynch, HashDash founder and CEO. that THCA acts as a positive allosteric modulator( PAM) of the CB1 receptor. This means that while it doesn’ t stimulate the receptor directly, it can amplify the effect of molecules that do, such as THC and our bodies’ own endocannabinoids. This is one explanation why THC products that contain some THCA may be more effective; another possibility is that THCA may slow the breakdown of THC, and another that the direct physiological effects of THCA compliment those of THC,” the article states.
While more research still needs to be done on THCA, Caleb Chen, founder at The Highest Critic, says the current research that has been done on the cannabinoid is promising.
“ The current research is promising about THCA’ s anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, but research into this space has been stymied by government regulation,” he says.
“ It’ s the most prevalent cannabinoid in cannabis, with CBDA the most prevalent in hemp, and the percent of THCA is what companies use to calculate the potency of a cannabis strain.”
– Kelsy Raap, director of education and outreach at Upstate Elevator.
Agreeing with Chen is HashDash’ s Lynch, stating that most of the research that’ s currently out there is from early“ pre-clinical” studies.
“ These studies suggest THCA does deliver anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective( as well as anti-nausea) properties that operate through bodily mechanisms that are separate from THC,” he notes.“ However, much of this work has been done in lab or animal models. Human research is still very limited, so these findings should be viewed as promising but not conclusive.”
According to Upstate Elevator’ s Raap, research from 2017 suggests that THCA has a stronger ability to activate PPARy( a protein that switches genes on & off) than does THC. When THCA activates PPARy, it triggers several protective effects in brain cells:
• Increases mitochondria- gives brain cells more energy factories
• Reduces inflammation- calms down overactive immune cells in the brain( microglia and astrocytes)
• Protects cells from dying- helps neurons survive stress
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