THCA Flower for Pain Management and Inflammation: How it Works

Contents show

One of the most popular alternative treatment plans is the THCA flower. THCA flower is an excellent choice for those looking to try hemp flower’s therapeutic benefits without being intoxicated by THC. The flower offers a high concentration of THCA, providing people with an ample supply of the cannabinoid.

In this article, we will explore how the THCA flower works and its potential benefits in alleviating pain and inflammation.

What is the THCA Flower?

The THCA flower is the raw, unheated, and unprocessed flower of the cannabis plant. It contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). THCA is also the precursor to THC – the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect we experience when we consume cannabis.

However, while THCA is always associated with THC, it is vital to point out that THCA is non-psychotic due to its extra carboxylic acid molecule. So you would not get high when you consume the flower in its raw form. But if you expose it to heat from smoking, vaping, or cooking, the flower undergoes decarboxylation. This eliminates the carboxylic acid group. As a result, the cannabinoid gains a smaller molecular shape and becomes able to bind with the endocannabinoid system’s receptors.

How THCA Flower Relieves Pain and Inflammation

People seeking a more holistic approach to their health can benefit from THCA flower. THCA has been proven to relieve pain and inflammation through different mechanisms of action. For starters, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system – a complex network of nerves, receptors, and endocannabinoids that regulates the body’s psychological processes. The interaction with the endocannabinoid system modulates the activities of the receptors to produce pain management and anti-inflammatory effects.

Pain Management Effects

THCA can provide analgesic effects, meaning it can reduce pain. Its effects on the endocannabinoid system influence how our brain interprets pain. The cannabinoid blocks the pain signaling network in the body to reduce pain sensation. This helps us feel better.

It also increases anandamide production in the body. Anandamide is a natural endocannabinoid, also called the internal bliss molecule. It binds to the CB1 receptor when the body senses pain to activates it to nullify the pain. However, this effect doesn’t last. THCA can influence the level of anandamides in the body so that it binds with the CB1 receptors for longer periods.

THCA can also influence the release of dopamine and serotonin – two neurotransmitters that play essential roles in physiological and psychological processes including pain perception, sleep, mood, and cognition. This helps the person relax and gain relief from pain.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

THCA is effective against anti-inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to injury, infection, or irritation. However, when inflammation lasts for a long time, it can cause tissue damage, pain, and neuroinflammation.

THCA has been found to hinder the activity of enzymes and immune cells which contribute to the inflammatory process. According to a 2017 study in The National Library of Medicine, THCA inhibits the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. For context, the COX-2 enzyme is responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, prostaglandins. By inhibiting COX-2, THCA can reduce inflammation in the body.

The cannabinoid also reduces oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species in the body. Inflammation might arise as a result of this imbalance. THCA offers antioxidant properties, which can reduce the impact of the oxygen species, and subsequently mitigate inflammation.

Using THCA Flower for Pain Management and Inflammation

THCA flowers can be consumed in various ways depending on your personal choice and whether you prefer to get the cannabis high. If you want the health benefits without the psychoactive effects, you should juice it to make a smoothie or put it inside your salads or other foods. But you should know that this method of consumption takes a while for the effect to manifest.

On the other hand, if you want the high, you could vape or smoke the flower. to put your You can also infuse it into your beverages or use it to make edibles. This method of consumption typically requires heat and eventually decarboxylates the THCA molecule to THC. It is also much faster than ingestion as you will feel the effects within minutes.