California was the first state to legalize the use of medical cannabis, back in 1996, and a lot of things have changed since then. More and more states followed the examples of sunny California and opened their arms and hearts to this peace-bringing herb. It interacts with the human body in many ways, including interacting with the immune system.
At the time of writing, there are 40 states in which cannabis is legal to some extent. In 11 of those states, marijuana is entirely legal for both medical and recreational use.
But fun and high times aren’t the only thing cannabis legalization brought. For the first time in US history, researchers in the field of medicine and pharmacology have the liberty to study the herb and its components.
CBD and the Immune System
CBD is one of the 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants. Along with the THC, it’s one of the main chemical compounds of the herb and accounts for up to 40 percent of the plant’s extract.
But unlike THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive and doesn’t produce a high as THC does. And while CBD is a vital compound in medical cannabis, it’s derived from the hemp plant, which is relative to the marijuana plant. Apart from that, both CBD and THC have a significant number of proven health benefits. Today we’re going to cover how CBD metabolizes in the body, rather than THC.
The medical benefits of CBD and CBD-based products are scientifically proven and are now known facts. CBD is effective in treating or relieving pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, nausea, seizures, and several other conditions.
CBD favorably affects our health. For starters, it alleviates stress, and we already know that stress is the number one proxy killer disease of modern time. So, it stands to reason that it also has beneficial effects on our immune system.
Research data suggest that CBD is a potent antimicrobial substance that positively interacts with our immune system. CBD is known to work well against many types of bacteria and fungus; it can even fight MRSA superbug, a bacterium that is resistant to most antibiotics.
Besides that, CBD fights fungal infections, like Candida, and even some viral infections. However, with viral infections, things might take an unexpected turn.
CBD and the Virus Season
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and having a solid piece of information can save lives. This is especially true when it comes to CBD.
As we said, CBD has beneficial effects on the human immune system and overall health condition. But when it comes to viral infections, those effects might be detrimental to our health. The problem lies with the type of viral infection our immune system fights, and the manner it fights.
Our immune system causes inflammation when something’s out of order, like an injury or an infection. It’s a natural response when something harmful or irritating affects the body, and inflammation is a part of the immune system’s response to remove the irritant. Unfortunately, in some cases, inflammation might cause more harm than benefit.
Viruses are microscopic germs, made of genetic material inside of a protein coating. They invade healthy normal cells and use their resources to multiply and produce more copies of themselves. And that’s when the immune system kicks in and begins the defensive, usually by causing inflammation and raising the body’s temperature.
CBD is known to reduce inflammation, which can be good or bad, depending on the case. Some viruses use inflammation to spread through the body, in which case CBD helps by reducing the “means of transportation” for the virus.
But there are cases in which the CBD acts as an immunosuppressant, reducing inflammation needed to kill off some viruses that are causing the infection. In those cases, CBD is helping the virus, more than it’s helping you.
There’s another detrimental side of CBD – it inhibits the enzymes necessary and responsible for metabolizing more than half of currently prescribed pharmaceutical drugs. It’s imperative that you consult with your physician and doctor about the use of CBD and prescribed pharmaceuticals.
CBD and COVID-19
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the recognized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic. So far, it’s the biggest pandemic of the 21st century, followed by the swine flu pandemic that happened in 2009.
And while COVID-19 rages across the globe, researchers around the world are working together to find a cure or a vaccine. Naturally, many medical and pharmacology researchers turned to cannabinoids looking for an answer, due to their numerous health benefits, and their effects on the immune system.
Unfortunately, despite all the efforts, the information about the current COVID-19 is still scarce, and tests are still being conducted. Past research has concluded that CBD has the potential to affect beta coronaviruses, which are relative to the family of coronavirus.
It’s still unknown whether or not the coronavirus causes, or needs, systematic inflammation. For that reason, the potential effects of CBD are still unknown. For now, at the time of writing, there are no recognized cures, treatments, or vaccines for COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus.
Conclusion
CBD, one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, does have clinical interactions with the immune system. Unfortunately, as various research data indicates, those interactions aren’t always beneficial to human health.
Until more scientific research is conducted, we advise you to refrain from the use of CBD if you’re suffering any of the symptoms associated with viral infections. We will also encourage you to consult with your doctor about the use of CBD if you’re using any prescription drugs.
