CBD oil can supply CBD immune system boosting power in a variety of ways, impacting anxiety, sleep, stress…
Given the rapid pace at which we are discovering data about the nature of COVID-19, the more obvious it becomes that protecting ourselves against this virus will require more than just masks and social distancing. It will also require better nutrition and weight management by Americans and in many cases nutritional supplements to help with CBD immune system boosting. As a result, you have likely already noticed an uptick of interest among your patients for supplementing their immune system, with some utilizing CBD for a CBD immune system boost.
Cannabidiol (CBD), one of two major compounds in the plant Cannabis sativa, has shown a great deal of promise over the past several years for boosting the immune system and mitigating the issues such as anxiety, inflammation, lack of sleep, etc., that negatively impact the immune system.
CBD versus THC
The C. sativa plant has two major compounds, CBD and THC. Two strains of the plant are currently cultivated, depending on which compound has the greater percentage.1,2 The strain with a higher percentage of CBD is known as hemp, which can be used to make fabric and rope, as well as medicinals.
C. sativa plants that are cultivated with a higher percentage of THC are considered to be marijuana and have psychoactive properties. While THC products do have some healing properties, they are not as strong as CBD products.
There are also legal considerations when it comes to CBD use. According to the Agricultural Improvement Act, any strain of C. sativa grown for CBD purposes cannot contain more than 0.3 % THC.1,2 This is a trace amount that is well below the threshold to show on any drug test or have any psychotropic effect on your patients, but contributes to the “Entourage Effect” with CBD and increased effectiveness.
Furthermore, individual states may ban the cultivation, production, and sale of CBD, despite its legality at the federal level.1,2 If you want to begin recommending CBD products to your patients, you should be aware of the legal status for CBD in your state.
CBD immune system boosting and CBD oil
There are a number of studies showing the benefits of CBD oil for providing a CBD immune system boost. One major marker for immune response is inflammation.
However, CBD is known to have limited oral bioavailability. A recent study sought to determine whether the absorption of CBD could be improved by using a more effective delivery system. The novel self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) used in the study makes it easier for CBD to be absorbed without the addition of oils.
A healthy inflammatory response helps protect the body from further infection or injury. A 2015 article in the journal Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology examined the effect of CBD oil on lung function in mice with irritated lungs.3 The researchers found: “CBD administered therapeutically, i.e., during an ongoing inflammatory process, has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and also improves the lung function.”3
This is particularly important for fighting off COVID-19, as it is a respiratory infection that becomes particularly deadly when it finds a host with excess inflammation.
A healthy gut is another marker of a properly functioning immune system. If the gut biome is not functioning properly, it can result in a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. A 2018 article in Inflammatory Bowel Disease examined the effect of CBD oil on a group of patients with ulcerative colitis.4 The patients all improved on several scales, including: Physician global assessment of illness severity; subject global impression of change; and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes.
Stress can also affect the immune system. Over time, stress can depress the immune response. A 2019 article in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry studied the effects of CBD on reducing mild stress for a group of 57 healthy subjects given a simulated, public speaking test.5 Subjects were given CBD at 150-, 300- or 600-mg doses, or a placebo just prior to the test. The researchers found that subjects given 300 mg of CBD prior to the test had significantly reduced levels of anxiety compared to those taking placebo.
There’s no question that having a healthy immune system will increase your patients’ chances of safely making it through the current pandemic. CBD oil has been shown to provide many immune-boosting benefits, especially when it comes to immunity-killers such as anxiety, body inflammation, difficulty sleeping and stress.
References
- H.R. 2 (115th): Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
- Congressional Research Service. Defining hemp: A fact sheet. fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44742.pdf Updated March 22, 2019. Accessed Aug.4, 2020.
- Ribeiro A, Almeida VI, Costola-de-Souza C, et al. Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology. 2015 Feb;37(1):35-41.
- Irving PM, Iqbal T, Nwokolo C, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, pilot Study of cannabidiol-rich botanical extract in the symptomatic treatment of ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 2018 Mar 19;24(4):714-24.
- Linares IM, Zuardi-AW, Pereira LC, et al. Cannabidiol presents an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in a simulated public speaking test. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry. 2019 Jan-Feb;41(1):9-14.
- States with legal cannabidiol (CBD). ProCon. Updated April 14, 2020. Accessed Aug. 4, 2020.
