CBD has been breaking headlines over the past decade, and for a good reason: health. Since its legalization in 2012, it has suddenly become a goldmine of health benefits, with the Internet exploding with infinite claims and wonders. With so much talk surrounding the cannabis compound, it’s difficult to weed out the truth. If we narrow CBD down to the facts, there isn’t much evidence and research to suggest its impact on the immune system. Regardless, we can’t deny its effect on the endocannabinoid system and what that potentially means for an enigma of autoimmune or drug-induced illnesses.

Dissecting the Endocannabinoid System

The Endocannabinoid system (ECS) is like no other—it’s almost a forgotten piece of anatomy that helps us understand the absorption of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids in the body. But did you know that endocannabinoids, a compound derived from cannabis, are already naturally found in the human body? If endocannabinoids were not meant to be broken down, why were we born with systems to process them?  

The ECS is a cell-signaling system that binds with endocannabinoid receptors to transfer messages throughout the body. CBD (a component broken down in the ECS) is known to be a stress and pain reliever, which works to ease anxiety in mind and relax the muscles. Using the central nervous system’s CB1 receptors and the peripheral nervous system’s CB2 receptors (also found in immune cells), the ECS system regulates many critical bodily functions, including:

• Sleep
• Mood
• Digestion
• Cognition
• Reproduction

Three Major Illnesses CBD Can Fight 

The versatility of CBD means endless possibilities for health. With CBD’s mind and body relaxing powers, you can take some stress off your immune system as you fight many different illnesses. It’s important to note that CBD is used to aid your usual treatment, not cure your issues entirely on its own. Once you open your mind to CBD, you may gravitate towards a more natural, health-conscious solution.

Cancer Nausea

Specifically used in cancer immunotherapy, studies suggest that anticipatory nausea develops in 25-59% of chemotherapy patients. When doing a trial on rats, two non-psychoactive cannabinoids found in cannabis, CBD and CBDA, were shown to interfere with acute nausea-induced conditioned gaping without obstructing their locomotive abilities. Though just an animal study, it concluded that the endocannabinoid system played a key role in regulating nausea, and with the induction of CBD and CBDA, it significantly reduces acute and anticipatory nausea without psychoactive effects. CBD for cancer immunotherapy has become a huge alternative treatment in patients today.

COVID

A new 2022 study found groundbreaking evidence that pharmaceutical-grade CBD has a significant negative association with SARS-CoV-2 replication. This means that, with the help of CBD, you can stop COVID virus development before it matures. “CBD has anti-inflammatory effects, so we thought that maybe it would stop the second phase of COVID infection involving the immune system, the so-called ‘cytokine storm,’” said Marsha Rosner, University of Chicago’s professor of cancer research and senior author of the study. “We just wanted to know if CBD would affect the immune system. No one in their right mind would have ever thought that it blocked viral replication, but that’s what it did.” The study specifically administered CBD oil, which can be used topically.

Opioid Withdrawal

Opioids have sadly become counterproductive in today’s society, with the opioid epidemic illustrating a horrifying 38% jump in overdose deaths since the start of the 2020 pandemic. Originally used to help with pain relief in patients, they have overtaken around 240,000 lives yearly. CBD, a non-addictive, pain-relieving, non-impairing compound, can replace the common over-the-counter drug.  

2021 research conducted 44 in-depth trials to study CBD’s effects on insomnia, anxiety, and pain. Along the way, they discovered that the compound reduced cravings in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) during withdrawal. Over the 1-2 weeks of withdrawal, common OUD sufferers endure the following reactions:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Pain
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle spasms
• Blood pressure problems

When introduced to CBD, all withdrawal symptoms were reduced. This hypothetically suggests that CBD oil for pain relief can be used as a more holistic withdrawal alternative and, more importantly, stop overdoses.

Make the Switch as Nature Intended. Choose CBD as a Natural Immunity Booster

When you choose to feed your body natural, pharmaceutical-grade solutions over hardcore synthetic drugs, you’re bound to feel the positive aftereffects. At The Hemp Pharmacist, we plant the seeds of change with our full-spectrum, hemp-derived CBD formula. With our oil infused with CBD, CBD gummies, or CBD hemp oil for pain relief, you can build a strong immune system and a greener future.

For dosage assistance or more CBD expertise, contact our professionals or visit our website here.