Can CBD Protect You Against Corona?
8 June 2021Following the recent flareup of coronavirus infections, many people wonder whether CBD might protect us against corona. We’re all hoping for a solution that can cure or even prevent COVID-19. Presently, serious research is focusing on several natural compounds. CBD is one of the prime candidates, along with a host of other natural substances found in cannabis plants with protective, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.
CBD Against Corona: A Potential Treatment?
The statistics clearly demonstrate that coronavirus is a threat that we need to take seriously. In the Netherlands and abroad, we face its very real consequences on a daily basis. Hospitals are struggling to cope with rising numbers of patients, and national healthcare is burdened to breaking point. Thankfully, researchers are working around the clock to study promising therapeutic options. Several studies focus on the potential of cannabis, with particular emphasis on its natural cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol).
The dangers posed by coronavirus infections go far beyond general malaise and flu-like symptoms. The virus can cause severe inflammation, tissue swelling, pain, and organ damage. One of the most serious escalations is known as the cytokine storm. This phenomenon involves an overreaction of the body’s immune system, which starts to attack its own cells instead of the virus. Sadly, this immune system overreaction has proven fatal for many COVID-19 patients around the world.
Research Into CBD Against Corona
At this point, the number of studies conducted into the potential of CBD against corona is limited. Nonetheless, the initial results are promising: CBD appears to reduce production of cytokines (inflammation proteins), and pure CBD can prove helpful in promoting lung recovery after cytokine storm incidents.
Researchers at Georgia’s Augusta University have investigated the possibilities of CBD in treating respiratory infections. In this study, mice were treated for ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), a condition also seen in patients suffering from severe COVID-19 infections. The mice underwent a cytokine storm that caused lung damage. When the animals were subsequently given CBD, symptoms turned out to lessen or even disappear altogether.
The Protective Power Of CBD
As it turns out, CBD can reduce the effectiveness of the cytokines that can escalate inflammations. The mice involved in the study demonstrated how CBD can help restore homeostatic equilibrium (the natural balance regulated by the body). In addition, the mice’s blood showed elevated lymphocyte counts. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help combat infections. The researchers indicated that CBD may prove helpful in treating severe viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
All in all, CBD appears promising in the ongoing search for corona treatments. Still, we have to take into account that these studies involved mice rather than people. The step from laboratory settings to real-life environments can be quite a leap. These initial results can’t simply be projected onto human coronavirus patients. Further research is needed to map the precise effects of CBD in treating corona.
Terpenes And CBD Working In Concert
Meanwhile, an Israeli study conducted by professor David Meiri, PhD, focussed on the terpenes present in cannabis plants. These organic compounds protect the plant against external threats such as fungi and bacteria. They also cause the strong scents some plants produce, such as the typical aromas of cannabis, thyme, or mint, for instance. Combining CBD and terpenes produces even better results than either substance by itself, according to Meiri. This could point at what is known as the entourage effect, in which the many natural components of hemp plants mutually reinforce each other’s effects. Meiri’s organisation developed a product intended to treat patients suffering from severe infection complications such as cytokine storms. The product contains 30 different terpenes.
These study results demonstrated that Meiri’s invention is capable of suppressing cytokine activity. Moreover, it proved more effective at the task than either pure CBD or dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid; the regular medication currently used to treat COVID-19 patients. Dexamethasone can produce serious side-effects: a big drawback compared to CBD. Treatment with pure CBD caused a 75% reduction of cytokine activity. A treatment containing only terpenes caused an 80% reduction. Intriguingly, administering a combination of CBD and terpenes brought cytokine activity down by 90%. By comparison, treatment with dexamethasone resulted in a paltry 30% reduction.
The Prospect Of Using CBD Against Corona
This is yet another example of a study with promising results, but we should note that the data was provided exclusively by Meiri´s organisation. The study has not been fully completed, and still awaiting official publication and subsequent peer reviews. Naturally, we all hope to find some form of protection against corona soon. It would be wonderful if CBD or other cannabinoids and terpenes proved helpful. Still, we have to stay cautious while we await further trial results. Of course, the same could be said for a coronavirus vaccine, so let´s stay cautiously optimistic while researchers around the world investigate multiple solutions at once.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, and can influence the immune system in certain ways. However, it has not yet been proven to work in case of corona infections involving humans. There is a big difference between effects observed in mice in laboratories and effectiveness for people in hospitals.
Fortunately, research is still ongoing and we hope that more results are published soon. In the meantime, using CBD Oil and CBD Tablets is a fine solution for anyone worrying about the present corona circumstances we are facing. The soothing and anxiety relieving properties of CBD can be very helpful in times like these. Ultimately, the best protection against corona is taking good care of ourselves: a healthy diet, a good night’s sleep and some time spent outdoors in the fresh air are great preventive measures anyone can take. On top of that, observing the rules on social distancing, hygiene, and common sense will get us to the point where we find out whether CBD is our natural ally against corona soon enough!
