According to a new study[1], tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), a compound found in cannabis, may be useful in treating neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.
“While the biological effects of decarboxylated cannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been extensively investigated, the bioactivity of Δ9-THCA is largely unknown, despite its occurrence in different Cannabis preparations”, states the study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology. “The aim of this study was to determine whether Δ9-THCA modulates the PPARγ pathway and has neuroprotective activity”.
For the study; “The effects of six phytocannabinoids on PPARγ binding and transcriptional activity were investigated. The effect of Δ9-THCA on mitochondrial biogenesis and PGC-1α expression was investigated in N2a cells.” The neuroprotective effect “was analysed in STHdhQ111/Q111 cells expressing a mutated form of the huntingtin protein, and in N2a cells infected with an adenovirus carrying human huntingtin containing 94 polyQ repeats (mHtt-q94).” In vivo neuroprotective activity of Δ9-THCA “was investigated in mice intoxicated with the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP).”
After conducting the above-mentioned research, researchers conclude that; “Δ9-THCA shows potent neuroprotective activity, worth consideration for the treatment of Huntington´s Disease and possibly other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.”
The full study can be found by clicking here[2].
Read more https://thejointblog.com/study-thca-may-treat-neurodegenerative-neuroinflammatory-diseases/
THC – (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
What it does: THC (THC IMAGE one that gets you “high.” It is created when the plant matter is dried and heated as a result of smoking, cooking, or extracting. THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system and the immune system, resulting in relaxation, reduced pain, and increased appetite.
What it treats: THC is helpful for treating many, many ailments. Studies have shown that it has medicinal benefits for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s, anxiety, arthritis, chemotherapy side effects, Crohn’s Disease, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, HIV-related peripheral neuropathy, Huntington’s Disease, incontinence, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, pruritus, sleep apnea, and Tourette Syndrome, among others. THC has even been shown to kill cancerous tumors!
Patients report that THC helps reduce nausea and vomiting, which is particularly helpful for those undergoing chemotherapy. Patients suffering from AIDS often experience a lack of appetite, which THC may be helpful in counteracting. Some patients also use THC for glaucoma relief.
THCa – (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid)
THCA ImageWhat it does: Prior to drying, the chemical that becomes THC is known as THCa (tetrahydrocannibinolic acid). In its fresh form, THCa is non-psychoactive. A growing number of patients and caregivers, led by Dr. William Courtney of Mendocino County, are learning the benefits of juicing raw, fresh cannabis. Dr. Courtney believes THCa has medicinal properties that are lost when the plant is dried, and it can be metabolized in much larger doses than THC, making it potentially more effective. THCa is reported to have anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory abilities, which show potential to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. Its anti-spasmodic properties that help subdue muscle spasms may explain the success some of our patients are reporting controlling seizures.
What it treats: THCa appears to help with chronic immune-system disorders. Dr. Courtney’s wife, Kristen Peskuski, found juicing cannabis to be the only effective treatment for her chronic Lupus. She had been on over forty medications and suffered terrible side effects before she discovered THCa. Read more about juicing cannabis here. Patients also have reported that THCa’s anti-inflammatory effects range from arthritis to endometriosis and even menstrual cramps. Some patients report energizing effects from its use.
reference: https://unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/2014/04/11/thc-thca-cbd-cbn-the-chemicals-in-cannabis