Apart from CBD, THC or even CBC, there are other cannabinoids that are not as well-known, but that also possess interesting therapeutic benefits. In this post we will talk about the other components of the plant.
THCv – Tetrahydrocannabivarin
THCv acts together with cannabis, however it does not possess any psychoactive properties unlike THC. Among the therapeutic benefits, these are the most significant:
- Anti-inflammatory: One study tested THCv in mice that suffered from chronic pain. Thanks to its high interaction with the CB2 receptor, it has a large influence on any inflammation in the body, by being able to decrease pain.
- Antipsychotic: Since 2015 it has been recorded that THCv can act as an anti-psychotic, thus being able to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia and other diseases with altered cognitive and behavioural conditions.
- Anti-epileptic: A study from 2010 confirmed the anticonvulsive and antiepileptic effects of THCv in vivo as it regulates the state of excitation in the central nervous system.
- Induce weight reduction: This cannabinoids has proven very useful for decreasing body fat and restoring balance in the body’s metabolism.
CBDv – cannabidivarin
Although cannabidivarin has not be studied extensively, it does possess therapeutic properties. The CBDv is the slightly more degraded the version of the CBD, so it has similar benefits to those of cannabidiol. This cannabinoid causes the following effects:
- Anti-epileptic: In 2014 they tested the effects of CBD and CBDv for the treatment of neuronal hyper excitability.
- Antiemetic: along with THCv, the University of Ontario has discovered that CBDv was effective against the feeling of nausea in mice.
Delta (8) – THC
It is another one of the lesser known cannabinoids. It is very similar to THC in terms of its therapeutic benefits, however it is not as psychoactive as THC:
- Antiemetic: In a study done by researcher E.B Russo, they noticed that Delta (8) – THC had an antiemetic potential associated with chemotherapy, whose effects can be alleviated with medical cannabis. Within the framework of a study by Abrahamov and Mechoulam in 1995, this cannabinoid was administered to 8 children (aged 2 to 13 years) with haematological malignancies. Delta (8) – THC preceded vomiting without any psychoactive effect.
- Appetite stimulant: As with Delta (9) – THC, this cannabinoid stimulates appetite, even more so than other types of THC. In addition to stimulating hunger and eating foods, it also regulates body mass.
The “raw” cannabinoids: THCa and CBDa
Both are found in the raw cannabis plant and can be eaten as a dietary supplement or even for topical administration. These two cannabinoids cannot be smoked or inhaled as they are acidic. The option of consuming the raw cannabis plant for its nutritional properties is still being evaluated. There are raw cannabis-extract drinks (hemp milk and raw cannabis juice), which concentrate THCa and CBDa, two non-psychoactive cannabinoids.
According to the study by Dr. William Courtney, raw cannabis and thus THCa with CBDa would have the following therapeutic properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, improves intestinal and neuronal functions and prevention of cancer.
If these cannabinoids have particular therapeutic properties, you can also speak of a certain harmony of effects through the entourage effect.
References
[1] British journal of pharmacology. Volume 160, Issue 3. Pages 677–687. D. Bolognini, B. Costa et al. The plant cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin can decrease signs of inflammation and inflammatory pain in mice. (June 2010).
[2] British journal of pharmacology. Volume 172, Issue 5. Pages 1305–1318. M. Grazia Cascio et al. The phytocannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin, can act through 5-HT1A receptors to produce antipsychotic effects. (March 2015)
[3] Epilepsia. Volume 51, Issue 8. Pages 1522–1532. A.J. Hill et al. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin suppresses in vitro epileptiform and in vivo seizure activity in adult rats. (August 2010)
[4] Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques. Jun et al., J Anal Bioanal Tech (2015), 6:6. A Preliminary Understanding of Cannabis Medicine and the Need for Further Characterization.
[5] ACS Chemical Neuroscience. Volume 5, Issue 11, 19 (November 2014), Pages 1131-1141. Iannotti et al. Nonpsychotropic plant cannabinoids, Cannabidivarin (CBDV) and Cannabidiol (CBD), activate and desensitize Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels in vitro: Potential for the treatment of neuronal hyperexcitability.
[6] Br J Pharmacol. Rock EM et al. (October 2013);170(3):671-8. Evaluation of the potential of the phytocannabinoids, cannabidivarin (CBDV) and Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), to produce CB1 receptor inverse agonism symptoms of nausea in rats.
[7] J.M. McPartland, E.B. Russo. Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts? (2001)
[8] Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. Volume 77, Issue 4, (April 2004), Pages 675–684. Y. Avraham et al. Very low doses of Δ8-THC increase food consumption and alter neurotransmitter levels following weight loss.
[9] Kym Kemp. High Times Medical Marijuana. Raw Medicine.