What is Delta 8-THC, and what are its Health Benefits? Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. There are no affiliate links included in this post. All thoughts are my own and no other. This post is now in the guidelines of the FTC. Photo by Micheal Fisher on Pexels Delta-8 THC is a term one may come across when buying cannabis products. It is prevalent in the cannabis world and can be found in various products such as soft drinks, gummies, vape cartridges, and tinctures. But, the Cannabinoid itself is quite mysterious. There has not been a considerable amount of research into it compared to other cannabinoids. It flies under the radar. One of the questions to ask is what is Delta 8-THC, and are there any benefits? What is Delta 8-THC? Many consumers are becoming familiar with the range of cannabinoids that grow on cannabis due to increasing usage; in hair and health care products, for example. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that users may be familiar with as this is the compound that produces the high sensation. However, there is another variation that possesses psychoactive effects, and one of these is Delta-8. This is an emerging Cannabinoid in the cannabis landscape and contains interesting effects. Delta 8-THC is one of the hundred cannabinoids available in the cannabis plant. It has a unique molecular structure that responds to the cannabinoid receptors’ endocannabinoid systems throughout the human body and provides a specific effect. Specifically, Delta 8 has a double bond on the eight carbon chain, which provides all the positive THC effects but lacks the psychoactive ones. Without going into the scientific jargon of CB1 receptors and CB2, this causes Delta 8 THC’s health benefits stand out while minimizing its psychoactive effects.  According to the National Cancer Institute: Delta 8-THC is: “An analog of tetrahydrocannabinol _THC) with antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic and neuroprotective properties.”  To break this down into layman’s terms: An antiemetic is a drug used to combat nausea or vomiting. An anxiolytic is a drudge that fights anxiety or panic.  Appetite -stimulating is pretty self-explanatory; this is the compound that gives a cannabis user the so-called munchies. Analgesic is a class of drugs used to relieve pain; this is a mild form of a pain killer.  Neuroprotective provides support for nerve cells.  This is an impressive list of medicinal benefits from a relatively unknown compound, whilst more research needs to be done to verify these products, the outlook looks bright so far. Whilst Delta 8-THC does have some psychoactivity; it’s only minuscule. It is also known as a ‘weed-light’, it can still energize or relax the user, and it can even cause feelings of euphoria but could provide a more stable and more comfortable experience. Photo by Yash Lucid on Pexels What are the Benefits of Delta 8-THC? The health benefits are numerous due to Delta 8’s structure. One of the obvious ones is that it will still get high, but it is far less psychoactive and a lot milder. It can also increase physical health; it reduces inflammation and alleviates various types of pain. It is often used to stimulate appetite and treat extreme nausea which is especially helpful for people who have HIV or are going through chemotherapy.  It can also have memory-boosting effects.  Delta-8, because of its psychoactive effects, is an excellent choice for improving mood, treating anxiety and combating depression without side effects. It provides a clear-headed experience every time. It seems as if there are many benefits that it almost seems too good to be true, and scientific research may not have gone a lot under the surface but what has been done is hugely beneficial to public knowledge of the Cannabinoid.  According to the National Library of Medicine, they conducted a study to discover the less psychoactive effects of Delta-8. It was found Delta-8 had a beneficial impact on people fighting cancer as it combated various chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and vomiting.  Further studies showed an increased appetite stimulation Delta 8 THC has in a series of experiments conducted on mice.  However, there are a few side effects of Delta 8-THC; the first is expected, which is the problem of red eyes. This is a side effect that any cannabis user will be familiar with, and it can be a problem with Delta 8 being consumed in larger doses. However, when you compare these side effects to Delta 9 THC, a more extreme cannabinoid, which includes dry red and itchy eyes, a dry mouth, exacerbated feelings of anxiety, increased depressions systems, and feelings of paranoia. Looking at these side effects, which Cannabinoid would be the most preferred? To conclude, Delta 8-THC is relatively new, but its health benefits have generated interest in scientific and medicinal sectors unsurprisingly. People can enjoy the numerous health benefits Delta 8 may have to offer without any side effects often connected to Cannabinoids. Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. There are no affiliate links included in this post. All thoughts are my own and no other. This post is now in the guidelines of the FTC.