In recent times, Delta 8 has become mainstream as people have started realizing its immense benefits. Delta 8 also owes its increasing popularity to the increase in the popularity of Delta 8 THC Gummies.
These Gummies, from the house of Delta 8 Hemp, have a delicious taste. They come in various flavors and hence are popular among users. But what exactly is Delta 8 THC? If you are still unaware of it, then worry no more we have got you covered. Here we explain everything that you need to know about Delta 8 THC.
Delta 8 THC: Overview
Delta 8 THC is an effective natural cannabinoid. It has psychotropic properties derived from hemp. More than 100 cannabinoids exist in nature, and most of them mix up with delta-8. Delta-9 THC is highly popular for its psychoactive effects. Delta 8, on the other hand, has other unique features.
It has more calming and relaxing qualities when compared with delta-9. It is a psychotropic compound and an isomer of CBD. CBD is a derivative of hemp. In a nutshell, THC is a middle ground between hemp, CBD, and THC-Delta-9.
Studies indicate Delta 8 THC reduces anxiety, calms the body’s reaction to stress, improves mood and motivation, increases appetite, and relieves aches and pains.
The National Cancer Institute defines Delta 8 THC as an analog of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It has antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties.
The National Cancer Institute also suggests Delta 8 THC exhibits a lower psychotropic potency than Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC), the primary form of THC found in cannabis. The Delta 8 THC is extracted from delta-9 THC molecules in a solvent-free distillate.
Benefits Of Delta 8
Researchers are discovering more things about delta 8 THC and understanding how it works with constant studies. The benefits of Delta 8 vary individually, and it is generally known for its reduced psychoactive qualities.
Researchers have stated that Delta 8 THC is beneficial for fighting nausea (antiemetic), anxiety (anxiolytic), and relieving pain (analgesic).
Delta 8 THC helps in stimulating appetite. It is also known to protect brain cells courtesy of its neuroprotective effects.
Fusing Delta 8 with live cannabis terpenes helps to limit the THC’s psychotropic activity. It eventually creates a more relaxed experience for consumers and patients. Moreover, Delta 8 connects to CB1 and CB2 receptors, and the resultant bond gives you a more full-body effect. Delta 8 is often not as dominant as delta-9 that produces a calmer experience compared to standard THC.
Many users claim Delta 8-THC gives a more clear-headed high, while some users claim to feel energized and motivated after taking Delta 8-THC.
Key benefits linked to Delta 8-THC include:
- Enhances appetite
- Soothing pain and inflammation
- Decreasing nausea in cancer patients
- Experiencing clearer-headed high compared to ordinary THC
- Can work topically (applied to the skin) or orally
Pain and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
According to a preclinical study conducted in 2018 and published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Delta-8-THC diminishes pain and inflammation in mice’s corneal injury. The research found that applying Delta-8-THC on the skin assists in reducing pain and inflammation.
Anxiety
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has observed that Delta-8-THC has anxiety-reducing qualities similar to delta-9-THC. There isn’t a massive clinical literature investigating delta-8-THC’s anti-anxiety potential. However, anecdotal reports claim the consumption of delta-8-THC results in a very calm and focused high, without the anxiety that users sometimes experience with consumption of delta-9-THC.
Anti-Nauseant Effects
A 1995 study published in ‘Life Sciences’ reported Delta-8-THC’s nausea fighting abilities. The study scrutinized eight pediatric cancer patients over twelve months and revealed that patients experienced no vomiting after ingesting Delta-8-THC before and for 24 hours after cancer treatment. The study also reported very few side effects.
Appetite Stimulant
Delta-8-THC also helps to stimulate the appetite. Research conducted on mice and published in the 2004 edition of ‘Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior’ stated that when the researchers administered a low dose of Delta-8-THC to mice over 50 days, the results indicated a 22% increase in food intake compared with controls.
The research mentioned that Delta-8-THC increased food intake significantly when compared with delta-9-THC, a popular appetite stimulant.
How Long Do Delta 8 THC Effects Last?
The length of Delta 8 THC’s effects differ individually. High purity vapes last 1-5 hours on average and tinctures and edibles last five to twelve hours. Larger doses are known to have long-lasting effects, especially with tinctures and edibles.
Delta 8 THC has a natural onset. So it is hard for an individual to completely understand where their baseline is or was before and after taking D8 THC. Hence, judging the length of effects of Delta 8 THC is difficult.
The difficulty is more visible in individuals who feel a boost in their mood but do not feel ‘high.’ The mood change can be subtle. Hence it is unnoticeable to the individual themselves at times.
So the user ends up thinking they had no effect of D8 THC. It is a common situation in sampling sessions when the individual states they feel nothing. However, people around them inform them how much more pleasant the individual becomes in the last few minutes.
Several studies base their reports on the ‘peak’ and hence do not consider an ample amount of time that users spent above baseline after feeling the peak effects. Delta 8 THC effects do not peak and disappear. Instead, there is a gradual phase-out of the Delta 8 THC’s effects.
In general, the effects of vaporized Delta 8 THC are shorter than D8 THC that users eat.