Healthy living and a good lifestyle means eating a varied diet. It is important to eat more than one food and take more than one vitamin. The same thinking can be applied to cannabinoids. It was never intended that patients just take pure THC; we need to take a complete variety of cannabinoids to fully benefit from the plant.
How is THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) different from THC? There are tremendous benefits of THCV, and it acts the opposite of the highs produced by THC. THC helps you sleep, be more creative, and feel less pain. However, the benefits of THC do have a price. THC is linked to adverse effects like increased anxiety, psychosis, depression, and increased appetite. THC is known to bring on the “munches.” Long-term use of THC has been linked to a reduction in concentration, decreased short-term memory, and impaired motor skills.
The Entire Spectrum
THC used without any other cannabinoids is harmful. Note that THC does not naturally occur by itself. THC is one of the more than 100 different cannabinoids that are in the cannabis plant. There are cannabinoids like CBD, CBDV, CBG, CBN, and THCV in full-spectrum cannabinoid products. Each of these cannabinoids works together to produce beneficial effects.
All other cannabinoids have unique health benefits. These cannabinoids help balance out the neurotic and psychoactive negative effects of THC.
Balancing THCV and THC
Unfortunately, cannabis growers are growing hybrid cannabis plants to create the most mind-blowing products. Harmful THC levels have risen while the beneficial aspects of CBD have lowered. Studies have shown that the ratio of THC to CBD has increased as much as 14 to 80 times since 1995. The result has provided less CBD and other cannabinoids and more THC in the cannabis product.
Do note that THC compounds are only in cannabis or weed and hemp is the plant used to make CBD. How do you know which product is best and which one will be harmful? THC is not legal everywhere, and it is essential to learn how to gain the natural boost of CBD without the highs of THC.
What is THCV?
THCV oil is rare and has wonderful benefits. Decrease your anxiety, enhance focus, and produce creative energy by using THC, but remember that THCV oil does not have the side effects of THC or the highs that are felt but does have the benefits of THC.
THCV is an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic. It protects the nervous system, plus it is anti-nausea-promoting. THCV helps with bone health and bone formation. It is sleep-promoting and anti-epileptic.
Suppliers and growers report that THCV is about 25% as intoxicating as pure THC but does offer a clear-headed high. Products with high levels of THCV are often prescribed for patients with PTSD or those who experience extreme anxiety or paranoia.
The benefits of THCV include being an appetite suppressant. In contrast to THC, THCV calms the appetite. However, if you are a patient being treated for appetite loss or anorexia, avoid THCV. THCV helps with diabetes. THCV can regulate blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. If you experience panic attacks, THCV may mitigate those attacks. It curbs anxiety in PTSD patients but does not suppress emotion.
Alzheimer’s is a painful disease with tremors, motor control, and brain lesions associated with this disease. Alzheimer’s appears to be improved by THCV, but research is still ongoing. THCV also stimulates bone growth. Osteoporosis sufferers have found that THCV helps with their pain and disability from osteoporosis.
Where can THCV be Found?
If you are looking for the effects of THCV, this cannabinoid will be difficult to find. Most plant strains only contain a trace of THCV and trying to extract THCV from the cannabis plant is difficult. However, it is worth the cost to receive the therapeutic effects. More THCV-rich products are being introduced but if you want to find THCV, look to companies that provide a full spectrum of cannabis products.
Why is THCV So Special?
Continuous use of THC destroys your concentration and increases your anxiety and appetite. Using THCV simultaneously actually increases your mental concentration, decreases your appetite, reduces your anxiety, and may have the neuroprotective benefits to help relieve Parkinson’s and other antipsychotic effects. THCV also has some promise as an anti-acne agent.
THCV balances the opposing portions of THC and sharpens your mind and soothes anxiety. THCV also seems to have the potential for weight loss because this cannabinoid suppresses the appetite. THCV has also been shown to regulate insulin levels in diabetics.
Finding THCV Oil
THCV oils are scarce cannabinoids. THCV is found in some types of cannabis and hemp, but THCV is not an isolate because of its limited supply and the high cost of extracting THCV from the plant.
Now there is a company that has CDB, DBDV, CBG, and THCV in one formula. In addition to CBD and THCV, all-inclusive formulas also contain CBG, a great anti-inflammatory, and CBDV that is neuroprotective and has antibacterial effects.
Plants that contain high levels of THCV include:
- Doug’s Varin
- Durban Poison
- Power Plant
- Willie Nelson
- Jak the Ripper
- Durban Cheese
You can find these strains in extracts, oils, and edibles. To ensure you are receiving the full spectrum of cannabinoids, read the labels on products and discuss your choices with professionals. THCV is difficult to find, but it can be found in some strains of cannabis (as listed above) and hemp. Still, it is not an isolate because of the limited supply of THCV and the prohibitive cost of extracting the cannabinoid.
If you want to decrease anxiety, receive more energy, and enhance your weight loss efforts, buy THCV.