Does CBD protect against coronavirus?
There is a reason why a lot of research into the health effects of medical cannabis has been underway for many years. It is clear that cannabis and its various compounds (CBD and THC in particular) are increasingly recognized as an effective treatment to relieve certain diseases: What about the coronavirus in 2021?
Despite the advent of the vaccine, as it becomes urgent to curb the growing global pandemic caused by the new SARS-CoV2 coronavirus, new avenues of therapy and prevention strategies are being explored every day by researchers around the world. If the therapeutic virtues of cannabis are widely put forward by many researches, in particular CBD (cannabidiol) as an immunity booster, it may be relevant to ask the question: Does CBD have a protective action against Covid?
Therapeutic cannabis
The
cannabis
like all plants, consists of a large number of more or less active molecules. They are essentially distinguished into 3 groups:
- cannabinoids: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), CBN (cannabinol)…
- terpenes
- flavonoids
Among the most known and studied cannabinoids for their therapeutic virtues, we find :
– the famous but very controversial tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) responsible for the psychoactive effects of hemp,
– and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic molecule that has become very popular in recent years.
The therapeutic cannabis is authorized in France since October 9, 2020. This use is done in a controlled and limited setting with patients suffering from serious diseases (1) :
- certain forms of epilepsy (Dravet and Lennox Gastaut syndromes)
- multiple sclerosis
- neuropathological pain
If the specifications limit the use of this cannabis, it is exclusively because of the THC contained in this plant. On the other hand, unlike this illegal psychotropic molecule, CBD as a pure compound is available over the counter.
The effects of CBD and the coronavirus
The craze that CBD hemp (hemp without THC) has immediately known in France and in all countries open to cannabidiol has its reasons. In addition to the organoleptic qualities (taste and smell) of this plant that make it a gourmet product and the positive treatments on patients suffering from the serious diseases seen above, many other health benefits have been put forward by its consumers:
- helps to reduce anxiety
- relieves certain chronic muscular and articular pains
- helps you fall asleep
- reduces inflammation
- …
Since CBD’s side effects are almost non-existent and its benefits are so versatile, could its consumption play into our immune system’s ability to fight the coronavirus?
CBD, coronavirus and immunity
Our immune system is indirectly influenced by factors such as stress or lack of sleep. In fact, people who are depressed, tired or stressed on a daily basis are much more susceptible to viruses than people in perfect health.
In France, to physically fight against the worldwide pandemic due to the Covid-19 virus (coronavirus), many restrictions are put in place (confinement, closing of stores, curfew, limitation of travel). In addition to the fear of the disease, these restrictive measures inevitably reinforce the economic and social problems. This results in stress, fatigue and depression for many people. The immune system of the latter is then at half-mast. As a result, they are more vulnerable to the corona virus.
CBD can then be of effective help to fight against these difficult moments and thus offer a better immune protection thanks to its relaxing effects. In addition to the beneficial properties of this molecule, its various possible modes of absorption allow a personal approach and enhance this moment of relaxation:
- massage with
CBD oil
- vaporization of
varieties of CBD flowers
with bewitching flavors (Amnesia Haze, Hindu Kush, …) and Moonrock - cooking resins or CBD flowers with gourmet and spicy flavors (Banana Kush, Strawberry Haze, …)
CBD, coronavirus and lung inflammation
On October 15, 2020, researchers from the Dental College of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia (USA), publish in “Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine”, their study on: the “Modulation of apelin by cannabidiol (CBD) in acute respiratory distress syndrome” that Covid can cause (2).
- Apelin is a peptide naturally present in the body. It is made by cells in the heart, lungs, brain, fatty tissue and blood. Apelin has the effect of reducing inflammation and blood pressure.
According to this study conducted on mice, we note that:
- Patients with coronavirus who develop lung damage have abnormally low levels of apelin in their bodies.
- Taking CBD significantly increases the level of apelin in the blood and in the lung tissue.
- CBD moderates the cytokine shock responsible for the overreaction of the immune system generated by the infection with Covid-19.
These results are very promising in the fight against this pandemic. However, further studies will have to ensure that the benefits obtained with CBD on mice are also valid for humans. Indeed, if it is still too early to claim that CBD cures Covid, many parallel researches have nevertheless revealed the numerous benefits of this molecule.
CBD, coronavirus and prevention
A Canadian study, published on April 19, 2020 in its final version, provides valuable data regarding some effective cannabis varieties to protect against Covid-19. Indeed, it reveals that CBD cannabis intake helps reduce the “cytokine storm” (or cytokine shock) that precedes severe cases of acute respiratory distress caused by Covid-19 (3).
To infect its host, the corona virus Covid-19 attaches to the ACE2 receptor present on the surface of certain cells. This ACE2 receptor is involved in the regulation of cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal functions. Therefore, it acts on the regulation of blood pressure. In their study, the researchers show that CBD has a natural tendency to regulate ACE2 gene expression and thus ACE2 protein levels. As a result, the propensity of the coronavirus to attach to cells and thus infect them can be greatly reduced.
Forbes: CBD / coronavirus
Forbes is an American business magazine founded in 1917 by Bertie Charles Forbes. This journal publishes numerous articles based on scientific research. These studies must be deepened before being able to claim that CBD is the panacea against the coronavirus. However, they highlight the various benefits of taking CBD to support this pandemic:
- The study published on January 19, 2021 “Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19?” (4) shows that: cannabis reduces inflammatory “storms” caused by Covid-19 (5).
- The study published on March 29, 2021 “In Vitro Evaluation of the Activity of Terpenes and Cannabidiol against Human Coronavirus E229” (6) concluded that: Cannabis compounds show promise as a treatment for coronavirus infections (7)
Our CBD farm and the coronavirus
More research is needed to confirm all these promising studies regarding CBD as a truly relevant treatment for curing coronavirus. Despite this, this molecule is still a valuable aid in the current context since it :
– helps you fall asleep,
– relaxes its consumer,
– and therefore, boosts its immune system.
Our online store, Bistrot CBD, offers many CBD products to help you through this difficult time :
– varieties of CBD cannabis flowers with various flavors
– a full spectrum oil with different CBD content.
– resins with bewitching flavors
– greedy candies…
All our products (oil, resins and flowers) come from our CBD cannabis farm which practices sustainable agriculture in order to offer a premium quality plant. In addition, we boost our CBD flowers to optimize their effects (anti-inflammatory, relaxing, anxiolytic, …) without altering the original product.
Charlotte, CBD and coronavirus
It was unthinkable to talk about CBD and coronavirus without mentioning the little
Charlotte Figi
Colorado native, a symbol of the global CBD movement since 2013. Indeed, CBD allowed him to live a real childhood by considerably decreasing his epileptic seizures, when conventional drugs were ineffective. Unfortunately, in April 2020, little Charlotte, who was suffering from Dravet syndrome, died at the age of 13 due to complications from infections caused by her illness and aggravated by Covid-19.
To conclude…
CBD has no or few side effects. However, even if many properties are associated to it, it is impossible to affirm that CBD is an effective medical treatment against the coronavirus. Moreover, the action of CBD on an organism is determined according to the patient (morphology, age, consumption habits, lifestyle, potential pathologies, etc.) and the doses consumed. However, products containing CBD relieve some pain, inflammation and are an effective aid in reducing anxiety. These positive health effects encourage the proper functioning of the immune system. Thus, they put the consumer in a good position to face this difficult period.
Our online store, Bistrot CBD, offers products (oil, candy, resins, Moonrock and flowers) of premium quality to offer the best effects of CBD and thus allow to enjoy those relaxing moments that CBD provides.
FAQ: CBD and Coronavirus
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References:
- Therapeutic cannabis: first experiments can begin; October 13, 2020; Public Service: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A14362#:~:text=Un20dC3A9cret20paru20au20Journal,patients20suffering20from20severe20illnesses
- Cannabidiol (CBD) modulation of apelin in acute respiratory distress syndrome; Evila Lopes Salles, Hesam Khodadadi, Abbas Jarrahi, Meenakshi Ahluwalia, Valdemar Antonio Paffaro Jr, Vincenzo Costigliola, Jack C. Yu, David C. Hess, Krishnan M. Dhandapani, Babak Baban;October 15, 2020; Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Wiley Online Library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcmm.15883
- In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues; Bo Wang, Anna Kovalchu , Dongping Li, Yaroslav Ilnytskyy, Igor Kovalchuk, Olga Kovalchuk; April 19, 2020; Preprints: https: //www.preprints.org/manuscript/202004.0315/v1
- Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19? Anna Kovalchuk, Bo Wang, Dongping Li, Rocio Rodriguez-Juarez, Slava Ilnytskyy, Igor Kovalchuk, Olga Kovalchuk; January 19, 2021; Aging: https: //www.aging-us.com/article/202500/text
- New Study Shows Cannabis Reduces Inflammatory ‘Storms’ Caused By Covid-19; Lindsay Bartlett; January 21, 2021; Forbes: https: //www.forbes.com/sites/lindseybartlett/2021/01/21/new-study-shows-cannabis-reduces-inflammatory-storms-caused-by-covid-19/?sh=382250dd6d0a
- In Vitro Evaluation of the Activity of Terpenes and Cannabidiol against Human Coronavirus E229; Lior Chatow; Adi Nudel; Iris Nesher; David Hayo Hemo; Perri Rozenberg; Hanna Voropaev; Ilan Winkler; Ronnie Levy; Zohar Kerem; Zohara Yaniv and Nadav Eyal; March 29, 2021; Life: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/4/290
- Compounds In Cannabis Show Promise As A Treatment For Coronavirus Infections; A.J. Herrington; April 14, 2021; Forbes: https: //www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2021/04/14/compounds-in-cannabis-show-promise-as-a-treatment-for-coronavirus-infections/?sh=6b9229ca73b2
