The cannabis plant and its compounds (cannabinoids) stand out as natural alternatives to addictive and dangerous pain medications. THC and THCA, in particular, have been studied extensively as treatments for chronic pain conditions. But when it comes to nerve pain, THC may be superior.
This blog explores THC and THCA’s chemical and medical properties and discusses their differences in relieving nerve pain. It also discusses consumption methods and the experience of using either therapeutically. With this information, patients can work with their doctors to decide which cannabinoid might offer more effective relief.
Main differences Between THC and THC A
THCA, or Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid, is the most abundant major cannabinoid in Cannabis Sativa plants. It is an acidic precursor to THC, primarily occurring in young and freshly harvested varieties. When marijuana plants become exposed through curing, smoking, or lighting, THCA molecules degrade and transform into THC. Also known as Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is famous for its psychoactive effects.
The main difference between THC and THC A is that THCA is not psychoactive and doesn’t mentally impair users. Despite this distinction, both compounds exhibit similar therapeutic benefits.
THCA, like THC, has documented benefits for treating pain, muscle spasms, and nausea. Both tetrahydrocannabinols are also potent anti-inflammatories, making them interesting to explore for medical purposes, including nerve pain.
Nerve Pain
Nerve pain is a health condition that occurs when damaged nerves carry painful sensations to the brain. Nerve pain feels different from other kinds of pain, often like a shooting, stabbing, or burning sensation. It can feel sharp and out of nowhere.
Common nerve pain causes and conditions include:
- Brain, spine, or nerve damage
- Phantom pain after amputation
- Insufficient blood supply to nerves
- Medications
- Vitamin B1 or B12 deficiency
- Neurological complications from diseases like shingles and HIV
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Other nerve pain conditions include fibromyalgia, sciatica, and other autoimmune diseases.
People with neuropathic pain are often sensitive to touch or cold and can experience discomfort from harmless stimuli, like light brushing against the skin. Other symptoms include muscle cramps, weakness, and spasms.
Nerve pain patients often struggle to sleep, work, exercise, and function normally, constantly under threat from intense, shocking sensations. Unfortunately, medicines for nerve pain are often addictive, damaging with long-term use, and otherwise undesirable.
THC for Nerve Pain
THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system, a vast communication network regulating moods, sensations, and receptors for pain management. Several studies have demonstrated THC’s efficacy in treating neuropathic and other chronic pains related to nerve damage.
- The Canadian Medical Association Journal published a study in 2010 analyzing smoked cannabis for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. Patients consumed one of four THC potency formulations (0%, 2.5%, 6.0%, and 9.4%), reporting pain levels, sleep quality, and mood. In the end, the high THC group reported the most significant pain reduction and sleep improvement scores. Pain reduction was modest. However, the research team noted the significance, given the group had not found relief from traditional medications.
- A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study analyzed 16 people with agonizing diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain. Researchers gave groups doses of either placebo or low (1%), medium (4%), or high (7%) THC inhalers. After four single-dose sessions, the high-dose THC patients reported the most significant spontaneous pain relief for at least four hours after each treatment.
- A meta-analysis of 1,750 neuropathic pain patients revealed that THC extract, cannabis flower, and synthetic THC medications significantly improved pain relief compared to a placebo. With THC-based treatments, 21% of people reported 50% or more significant improvement compared to 17% in the placebo group. Additionally, 39% of THC users reported at least 30% pain reduction compared to 33% of those taking a placebo.
According to these studies’ results, THC may reduce pain associated with damaged nerves and help people suffering sleep better. Such scientific evidence shows THC could provide a much-needed reprieve from chronic nerve pain disorders.
But how does THCA compare?
THC A for Nerve Pain
THCA doesn’t act on endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and nervous system like THC. But scientific evidence suggests THC A is a powerful therapeutic agent for neuroprotection, nausea and vomiting relief, immune regulation, and inflammation. THCA’s anti-inflammatory properties mean it can protect the body from disease, combat seizures, and potentially relieve chronic inflammation-related pain.
Painful inflammatory conditions include:
- Arthritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraines
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Injuries
- Mouth sores
- Skin rashes
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus
Research indicates THCA may be more suitable for inflammatory pain than neuropathic pain. But often, pain doesn’t fall into such neat categories. For example, arthritis and migraines are inflammatory conditions with nerve-related pain. So people suffering from these ailments could theoretically benefit from THCA and THC use.
Additionally, future medical research could reveal THCA’s utility for patients with certain types of nerve damage. For instance, medical cannabis specialist Dr. Allan Frankel successfully treated facial nerve trauma patients with a combination of CBD and THCA. Dr. Frankel reported this cannabinoid blend yielded “very good results in treating neuropathic or neuralgic pain.”
One of the most significant features of THCA is that it is federally legal and readily available. Additionally, THCA also does not include potentially undesired psychoactive effects. So patients in pain that want to avoid getting high should ask their doctors about ingesting this compound.
Products
THCA
THCA products include raw cannabis flower, tea and topicals, and oils extracted from plants at room temperature. Patients who want to consume THCA must remember that heat causes the compound to convert to psychoactive THC, so smoking THCA will yield undesirable effects.
THC
Psychoactive THC products come in various ingestable forms, including:
- Smokable flower
- Vapes
- Oils
- Edibles
- Beverages
- Patches
- Inhalers
Research indicates various THC product types can be effective for nerve pain. However, most studies tested THC concentrations at much lower levels than most recreational strains, including much higher CBN levels. The evidence suggests nerve pain patients should speak with their doctors about strains with 10% or lower THC concentrations and high CBN levels.
The Bottom Line
The breadth of cannabis nerve pain research focuses on THC due to its ability to affect neural pain pathways. THCA, which acts on different internal pathways, does not exhibit the same nerve pain relief properties. However, THCA is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that may support a variety of painful conditions, including some that are also associated with the nervous system. Ultimately, patients must decide with their doctors which cannabinoid is right based on pain type, medical history, preferences, and legal access to these healing compounds.
