CBD and COVID-19: What You Need to Know
There are a lot of questions swirling around as COVID-19 spreads through communities around the globe, but one question in particular is getting a lot of attention: How might cannabidiol (CBD) help with COVID-19 infections?
If you are looking to find ways to help with the coronavirus pandemic, you’re not alone. Covid-19 has infected millions of people worldwide. This crisis is affecting almost every aspect of our lives. People are scared, confused, and anxious about what will happen next. Many are trying to understand what they can do to help. And, most importantly, people are turning to CBD oil as a potential solution.
We all know there are plenty of benefits to CBD – but what does it have to do with the coronavirus? Learn what the science says, and what it doesn’t say.
Background on CBD
I’m not going to bore you with a bunch of scientific jargon here because if you don’t know what CBD (cannabidiol) is, it might make it difficult to follow along. But, if you want to learn more in-depth about CBD and how it works, read my post about CBD and the endocannabinoid system here. Simply put, CBD is a cannabinoid (a plant chemical specific to cannabis) found naturally in cannabis plants. It can come from either the hemp plant or marijuana plant. This particular cannabinoid has been touted for its medicinal properties and the research continues to show promising results.
CBD oil derived from the hemp plants, unlike marijuana oil, contains little to no THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and therefore isn’t intoxicating (does not get you high). The endocannabinoid system in the body has an essential role in regulating many physiological functions such as sensing pain, inflammation, mood, appetite, and sleep, to name a few. Cannabinoids like CBD can interact with the human body and produce positive benefits. CBD may play a role in reducing inflammation in conditions such as joint pain, blood sugar issues, inflammation of the nervous system, and some movement conditions. CBD may also help to reduce anxiousness, lower blood sugar levels, decrease pain, and promote better sleep.
Because of CBD’s many roles in the human body, it is also being studied to see if it may be helpful in fighting covid-19.
A Quick Overview of the Coronavirus and Covid-19
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. According to the CDC, there are four main subgroupings of coronavirus, called alph, beta, gamma, and delta, and there are seven strains that can infect humans. These include the ones that cause the common cold.
COVID-19 is caused by a new strain of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is a type of beta coronavirus. The first known instance of SARS-CoV-2 was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the number of people who have been diagnosed with the new virus has been increasing. The disease that SARS-CoV-2 causes is called COVID-19.
In order to diagnose someone with COVID-19, a physician needs to conduct tests that look for the presence of the new virus in a person’s body. A common test for people who have COVID-19 is called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. This test requires taking a sample of blood, sputum, stool or nasal swabs. These samples are put into a special container and sent to a laboratory for testing. Another test that can be used to diagnose COVID-19 is called a reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR test. This test detects the presence of the new virus in a patient’s body by analyzing the patient’s blood, sputum, nasal swabs or throat swabs. This test is done in a laboratory.
Most people will experience mild cold-like symptoms with a fever and a cough. However, in some cases, the virus causes the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs to fill with fluid. A person who gets infected with COVID-19 may become very sick. In some cases, the illness can cause severe problems with the heart, brain, kidneys, and liver, and even lead to death. More than 50% of people who get infected with the coronavirus get better within 1 month and around 80% recover. People with severe illness have a higher risk of dying.
The best way to prevent getting sick is to take steps to avoid being exposed to the virus. This includes avoiding people who have been exposed to the virus and washing your hands often. You should also avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay away from places where others are gathering. For more information on COVID-19, visit the website of the World Health Organization.
How CBD Can Help with COVID-19: What the research shows
There are a lot of reasons to think that CBD could help people who are suffering from COVID-19. First, people have reported using it to fight infections and reduce inflammation. Second, it may provide pain relief. Third, it may reduce stress and anxiousness. Fourth, it may help with poor sleep. Last, but not least, it may help with respiratory problems. However, this is not enough to conclude that CBD is effective against COVID-19. And, although more studies need to be conducted to determine its effectiveness, some people are already using CBD oil to manage their symptoms.
So, what does the research show?
In 2020, researchers from Canada published a study titled “In Search of Preventive Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Issues. ” They found that CBD decreased the amount of ACE2 receptors on our cells, which the COVID-19 virus uses to gain entry into our cells to infect them. By decreasing the amount of the ACE2 receptors available, CBD could have a role in COVID-19.
A small clinical trial study published in October 2021 in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research tested whether CBD could be effective to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in people. The researchers gave people with mild to moderate COVID-19 300 mg of CBD daily and compared that to a placebo group. Unfortunately, the study found that 300 mg of CBD daily did not change the severity or duration of the COVID-19 symptoms. The authors did suggest further research is needed and possibly trying to study higher doses of CBD.
Another research study published in January 2022 in Science Advances by a team of researchers from the University of Chicago showed that although CBD didn’t prevent the coronavirus from entering human cells in a test tube, CBD and its metabolite 7-OH-CBD, but not THC or other related cannabinoids, could prevent the virus from making copies of itself (replicate). The study also found that giving CBD to mice before being infected with covid-19 led to less of the virus being found in the lungs and nasal passages, which suggests it might have a role in humans too.
Then, the researchers looked at over 1,200 patients who were being treated with a purified CBD medication approved by the FDA for treating rare seizure disorders. The study found that those patients taking the CBD medication tested positive at significantly lower rates for COVID-19 than those not taking CBD. The researchers also made it a point to say that they were using high quality, purified CBD, and that taking CBD from your local bakery probably isn’t going to do anything. So, if you decide to try CBD, it is important to get high quality CBD.
There is also a study in Israel that is trying to see if CBD can be helpful in people with severe COVID-19, but they are having trouble getting patients for the study because the most recent Omicron variant usually causes milder infections.
CBD is Not a Panacea
While many people claim that CBD has proven to be extremely useful in managing the symptoms associated with the current pandemic, the World Health Organization has said that there is no evidence to suggest that it can treat covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Although the research studies above seem hopeful, there needs to be large, well-done studies in humans to prove that CBD actually does have a role in COVID-19 in people. This means that while CBD may provide some relief to those who are suffering from symptoms related to the illness, it can’t be relied upon to prevent or cure the disease itself. Therefore, CBD is not a cure for the coronavirus, but it could be a helpful addition to manage associated symptoms.
The best way to combat Covid-19 is to first go see your medical doctor if you are sick and that you suspect you have Covid-19, so that you can be diagnosed and a treatment plan can be made. Stay home as much as possible. Social distancing will reduce the spread of the disease. If you are sick, stay home and rest. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after you use the bathroom. Make sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wear a mask when you go outside. Keep your distance from people and try to limit contact with others. If you have to go out, wear a face mask to protect yourself from getting infected. Avoid crowded places such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and shopping malls. It is not recommended that people who are sick go to work.
How to Start Using CBD
Many people are interested in using CBD oil for their own health and wellness needs but may find they are unsure of how to begin. Here is some information to help you get started.
The first thing to do is to choose the right type of CBD product for your needs. There are so many types of CBD oil that it is difficult to choose which one to use. First, you need to decide whether or not you want to use CBD made from marijuana or hemp. CBD made from marijuana has higher amounts of THC, which will get you intoxicated (high). So, it is not the best choice if you want to take it during the day, work, drive, operate machinery, or basically function. Also, with CBD made from marijuana, you can only get it at a licensed marijuana dispensary. CBD made from hemp contains little (up to 0.3%) to no THC. Therefore, it will not get you high, and you can buy it at any retail store or online.
Next, you need to choose what route to use CBD. CBD comes in a variety of preparations, from sublingual (under the tongue) oils, flower (plant material), topicals, edibles, capsules, and vapes. There are positives and negatives about each.
Topicals, such as creams, lotions and salves, do not get absorbed in your body. So, they are best used to help with issues where they are applied. These are great for rubbing on a painful joint or tendon, or addressing a skin issue, but not so great if you want to use it for something inside the body, like anxiety, sleep, etc.
A benefit to vaping CBD or smoking CBD flower is that it can start to work quickly. But, a downside is that the benefits wear off quickly, too. Another negative is that you won’t know exactly how much CBD you are getting, since how deep you inhale and how long you keep it in your lungs before exhaling can affect how much CBD gets absorbed. And, vaping or smoking CBD, like cigarette smoking, could have negative health effects on the lungs or may worsen respiratory symptoms, like coughing. So, for most people, vaping is not the best choice.
Sublingual oils are oils that you hold under the tongue so it gets absorbed through the mouth and works throughout the body. The benefit of this is that you can measure out how much oil to take, so you know how much CBD you are getting, and therefore receive consistent doses. Also, holding it under the tongue allows the CBD to be absorbed without having to be processed through the liver first, so more CBD is available for your body to use, up to 35%. For example, if you take in 100 mg of CBD, 35 mg of it will be available for your body to use. For most people, this is the most ideal and cost effective way to take CBD.
Capsules, or edibles like gummies, brownies, cookies, are an easy, convenient and potentially tasty way to take CBD. The downside, however, is that any CBD that is swallowed, gets absorbed through the intestine and then travels to the liver to be processed first, before the body can use what is left. So only about 6% of what you swallow is able to be used by the body. For example, if you swallow 100 mg of CBD, only 6 mg of it is available for your body to use. Therefore, a lot of the CBD is wasted, and it is not a very cost effective way of taking CBD.
Next is to decide where to buy CBD. There are a lot of reputable companies that sell high quality CBD. But, there are some not-so-reputable companies out there that even sell hempseed oil as CBD oil, which contains no CBD at all. So, it is important to get your CBD from a reputable company that tests their products and makes those lab tests readily available, so you know what you are getting. Check out our high quality products at CBD Oil of Dayton!
Conclusion
In conclusion, CBD has been gaining attention because of its potential to help with a range of health conditions. Some people have turned to using it to help with COVID-19 symptoms. Although the preliminary research shows promise, the data is inconclusive, and we need more studies before we truly know if CBD can be helpful in COVID-19.
Check out our high quality CBD products at CBD Oil of Dayton. Feel free to come see us in person, or call to have any questions you may have answered by one of our CBD experts!
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease (in humans or animals). These products are not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 18. This product should be used only as directed on the label. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing. This website is not offering medical advice. Consult with a physician (or veterinarian for pets) before use if you (or your pet) have a medical condition or use prescription medications. A Doctor’s advice should be sought before using this and any supplemental dietary product.
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