THCV Benefits

Cannabis and its compounds can induce a lot more than just a high. Cannabis and hemp-derived products are growing in popularity thanks to recent research highlighting the range of potential health benefits from these plans and their compounds. 

You’re probably most familiar with CBD and THC as therapeutic cannabis compounds, but have you heard about the benefits of THCV?

What is THCV?

Also known as tetrahydrocannabivarin, THCV is a cannabinoid that can be found in certain cannabis and hemp plants. THCV is as well known as other compounds like THC or CBD, largely because of its cannabinoid status. CBD and THC are classed as major cannabinoids, due to their high concentration levels in plants. THCV is found in significantly lower amounts in cannabis and hemp, so it’s classified as a minor cannabinoid. 

While you may not have heard of THCV, it holds some impressive health benefits. Research is increasing into the effects of THCV and you can expect to hear more about this therapeutic minor cannabinoid. 

How is THCV different from THC?

You’re forgiven if you’ve confused THCV with THC before. While these two cannabinoids have very similar names, they are not the same compound. 

The differences between THCV and THC include:

• Both THC and THCV induce their effects on the body largely by interacting with the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. However, once activated, there is a difference in the cascade response that results from these two cannabinoids. 
• THCV also has very slight differences from THC in its structure, which accounts for the differences in their effects. When we look at THC and THCV on a molecular level, we can see that THCV has a propyl side chain where THC has a pentyl group. This molecular difference accounts for some of the different effects that we see between the two compounds. 
• One of the main differences between THC and THCV is the levels of the compounds that you are likely to find in plant material. THCV is found in much lower levels than THC.

Potential health benefits of THCV

So, what results can you expect from THCV? Research tells us that these are some of the potential health benefits of tetrahydrocannabivarin:

Reduce food cravings 

One benefit that you may experience from THCV is a reduction in food intake. Mouse model studies have found that THCV was able to reduce the amount of food that the mice ingested and led to weight loss (1). 

Improve blood sugar levels 

Research has also found that THCV may be able to help regulate blood sugar levels by reducing glucose intolerance, restoring insulin signaling, and improving insulin sensitivity (2). 

This is important as high blood sugar levels can increase your risk of weight gain, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. 

Stimulate bone growth 

THCV also seems to play an important role in bone health. Early research indicates that THCV may help to stimulate collagen production and bone nodule formation, factors that play an important role in bone growth (3). 

Further research is needed to fully explore the effects of THCV as a bone growth stimulant. However, this early research indicates that it potentially could help in the treatment of bone degeneration diseases like osteoporosis. 

Reduce inflammation 

Inflammation can be painful and limiting, but THCV might be able to offer you some relief. Research has highlighted the impressive anti-inflammatory properties of THCV, with one mouse-model study showing that the minor cannabinoid was able to reduce inflammation and inflammatory-related pain (4). 

Can THCV get you high? 

THCV and THC are different compounds, but they do share some effects. So, can THCV get you high like THC? 

THCV can induce a psychoactive effect when consumed, but it’s unlikely to get you high at the same level that THC can. This is because THCV’s psychoactive effects are weaker. You will have to consume a large amount of THCV to feel a high similar to what a regular dose of THC will provide you with. 

If you’re looking to get high, THCV is not the most effective option. THC still reigns supreme as the most psychoactive cannabinoid. 

How to consume THCV

If you’re interested in trying THCV for its effects, there are a range of products and ways to consume THCV out there and we offer an unflavored 600mg THCV tincture. THCV can also be found as:

• Bud: This is the least refined way to consume THCV. You can get THCV into your system by consuming cannabis or hemp bud that contains the minor cannabinoid. 
• Vape: Vape liquids high in THCV are available on the market. Vaping provides a fast and potent delivery system of cannabinoids like THCV into the body. 
• Shatter: Shatter is a brittle and hard extract product that is named after the fact that it can shatter easily. Shatter is typically confused with dabbing, a process that involves heating a surface to high heat, placing the shatter on the surface, and inhaling the vapor that is then produced. High THCV shatter extracts are available for purchase. 

Where to find THCV?

Stores that sell cannabis or cannabis extract products are a good place to start if you’re looking to purchase THCV. Cannabis strains that contain relatively high levels of THCV to look out for include:

• Pineapple Purps
• Pink Boost Goddess
• Varin Harmony 
• Willie Nelson
• Durban Poison
• Jack the Ripper  
• Malawi

The bottom line

THCV is not the most well-known cannabinoid, but nonetheless, research shows us that it may hold some impressive therapeutic benefits. Further research will allow us to better understand the healing power of THCV.

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**Standard Disclaimer: CBD is not FDA-approved. We make no such claims that using our products will guarantee relief. Moreover, research regarding CBD is still ongoing and in the early stages.**