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CBD And Viruses: Get Ready For Autumn

30 September 2020

Is it useful to take CBD against viruses like the flu (influenza) or corona, for instance? Does CBD work preventively, protecting you from viruses? And can CBD help stop viral infections if you do get it? Autumn is here, and that means the flu season is at our doorstep. Catching the flu is bad enough, but there’s also the coronavirus, which seems about to hit us with a second wave. Nobody knows what will happen when these two viruses strike at the same time. With that in mind, making sure we are prepared is the best way to protect ourselves.

Getting Your Immune System In Shape For Autumn

That means it’s worthwhile to make sure our immune system is in prime shape as winter approaches. CBD is a natural supplement that works together with your body’s defence mechanisms, to provide support for your immunity. Having a strong immune system is your best protection against viruses and many other threats to your health. Take a minute to read all about it here.

How The Immune System Works

Our body is a complex interplay of many different processes. One of its most important systems is our immune system, a powerful and accurate protection against internal and external threats. The immune system works hard to keep intruders at bay, including fungi, bacteria, parasites, and viruses. You immune system consists of several subsystems, active in the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, the intestinal tract, and the respiratory system. These subsystems work together to make sure no harmful agents can enter the body and damage tissues in the process.

The internal defence mechanism of the body mainly revolves around white blood cells. If the perimeter of the skin, bowels, or airways is breached, these cells will respond to neutralize the threat. Your immune system is regulated by the ECS, or endocannabinoid system. Our ECS works together with so-called endocannabinoids produced by the body itself. However, it can also respond to plant-based phytocannabinoids such as CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from hemp plants. Through the ECS, CBD can help to keep your defences active and balanced.

What Exactly Is A Virus?

Viruses have never been such a hot topic as they are today. Of course, that is because of COVID-19, a new virus that we’ve never had to deal with before. The novelty of COVID-19, or coronavirus, is precisely what makes it much more dangerous than a common influenza virus. Viruses can enter the body through the air we breathe, or via saliva or blood. From there, they can enter the cells of the body. Viruses can take over the cell from the inside, forcing it to make copies of the virus and spread the infection throughout the body. Outside your body, viruses cannot survive for long. However, once a virus has taken hold of your body, it can lead to very serious consequences.

If the virus gets a chance to spread, you’ll fall ill. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. One way to combat viruses is through vaccination. A vaccine teaches your immune system how to recognize the virus, so that it is prepared to combat future infections swiftly and effectively. Beyond that, simply taking your time to recover is the general advice for many viral infections. This also applies to the COVID-19 coronavirus, even though medical staff will help you recover as well as they can. Unfortunately, the main problem with coronavirus is the fact that no vaccines are available yet. That leads us to the following question: can using CBD help prevent you from getting sick, or help you recover faster and more successfully?

CBD And Viruses: Immune System Support

Your best defence against influenza, corona, and other viruses is fairly simply: taking good care of yourself. That means choosing a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, taking time to rest, and sticking to a healthy general lifestyle. And yet, there is no way to prevent getting sick altogether. Moreover, your immune system will automatically grow less effective as you grow older. As you can see, getting some extra protection is always a good idea.

CBD is a natural supplement with properties capable of supporting your body in the following ways:

1. Influence On The Immune System

Through its interaction with the ECS, CBD woks as an immunomodulator. This means that by interacting with the ECS, it can affect the immune system (i.e., modulate its workings). The ECS can slow down the immune system when it is too active ( as in autoimmune diseases, for example), or speed it up if necessary. In case of virus infections, the immune system needs to pick up the pace to stop the virus from spreading. By triggering the ECS, CBD can influence your immune system, allowing your body to better deal with intruders and stop viruses in their tracks.

2. CBD Can Counter Inflammation

Viruses can also cause inflammation, which can express itself as anything ranging from a sore throat to full-blown pneumonia. CBD can have anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing the symptoms and allowing faster recovery.

3. Analgesic Effect On Viral Infections

Pain is another common problem with many viral infections. Headaches and bellyaches frequently occur, but painful sinusitis and aching joints and muscles are common symptoms, too. Any one of these aches can make you miserable. You could reach for regular pain medication such as paracetamol, but you could also choose to take CBD Tablets or CBD Oil instead. CBD can help alleviate aches associated with influenza and other viruses.

4. Soothing Effect

Pain can make it difficult to fall asleep, as can irritated airways or a fever. CBD can have a soothing effect and help restore your regular sleeping patterns. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for making a speedy recovery from viral infections. Getting a virus could also cause you to worry; especially in times like these, when corona is all over the news. Here, too, CBD’s calming potential can prove very useful.

CBD And Viruses: Healthy Life Choices

Unfortunately, it is too soon to claim that CBD offers complete protection from viral infections. More research is needed to build a conclusive body of proof. What we do know, however, is that CBD can help reduce typical virus symptoms like aches and inflammations. If you want to stay healthy, taking good care of yourself is still the best advice. So eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, take a walk in the open air every day, and try to keep stress under control.

CBD can be part of a healthy lifestyle. The soothing properties of CBD can help you cope with stress and anxiety, sleeping problems, sombre moods, and pain. When the days grow shorter in autumn, CBD can help you stay cheerful and optimistic. And as long as you stay optimistic, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll find it easier to handle any challenge you come across – and that includes viruses!