Delta 8 THC benefits is a psychoactive cannabinoid. It is found in cannabis Sativa but in low amounts. It has higher medical benefits than CBD and is also more beneficial to the body as a whole.
Please note that this article is based on what is available in scientific literature at the time of writing. As soon as new studies on delta 8 THC surface, updates will be made to this post.
1. Pain relief with no psychoactive effects
A study conducted back in 2008 showed that delta 8 THC showed analgesic properties through its ability to bind with CB2 receptors present in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Evidence also shows that delta 8 THC benefits can reduce pain related to inflammation, neuropathic pain, and cancer pain. This makes it a promising pain relief option for sufferers of fibromyalgia, diabetes, arthritis, or cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of delta 8 THC are believed to be due to its ability to block prostaglandin production thereby reducing inflammation and swelling in affected areas.
2) Relieves Multiple Sclerosis symptoms
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who smoke cannabis have had a good response to symptoms of fatigue and spasticity caused by the condition when treated with delta 9-THC. This was highlighted by a study conducted where researchers discovered that selective CB2 agonism exerted significant analgesic effects on rats without inducing relevant CNS-related behavioral changes [7]. This supports claims made by patients who use marijuana for treating MS related symptoms such as muscle spasticity and fatigue. Though it isn’t yet clear how delta 9 THC works on the brain, scientists believe it may involve endocannabinoid system activation through CB2 receptors resulting to potential improvement in cognitive functions [8].
3) Treats Parkinson’s disease
Marijuana is commonly used as a treatment option for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease. This is because delta 8 THC has been proven to be able to inhibit or slow down the progression of the disease [9]. When delta 8 THC comes in contact with CB2 receptors, dopamine levels in the brain are regulated. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps the brain communicate with various neural regions in the body which if out of balance leads to poor motor control and muscle coordination.
4) Helps fight cancer
Delta 8 THC works by blocking cancer cell growth by inhibiting epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV-1). This effectively reduces inflammation and increases the survival rates of tumor cells without causing any harm to healthy cells. Research conducted shows evidence for its role as an anti-tumor agent as it reduces tumor size [10]. It can therefore be used for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment as palliative therapy.