Cannabis and COVID-19:

It has long been recognized that cannabinoids like THC and CBD have therapeutic effects, and they are frequently used to treat a variety of illnesses.

How does cannabis affect COVID-19, though?

Cannabis has changed from the drug only hippies used and about which your parents cautioned you. The widespread use of cannabis products has evolved along with the body of knowledge on its therapeutic benefits. Due to their wide-ranging medicinal benefits and simplicity of administration, cannabinoids like CBD and THC are widely used. It’s understandable why the popularity of cannabis products has skyrocketed given its many health advantages, such as inflammation reduction, pain treatment, and better anxiety.

Can cannabis treat COVID?

You might be wondering if cannabis can aid in the fight against COVID-19, a disease that is currently afflicting the entire world due to its outstanding therapeutic capacity. COVID-19 has blocked international borders, killed millions of people, and put economies in danger of failing. Your symptoms from this contagious respiratory illness may include exhaustion, a fever, and breathing difficulties. It might even prove lethal. Can cannabis, therefore, aid in the battle against COVID-19?

The cytokine storm and cannabis

A “cytokine storm” is one of the main biological processes that happens in individuals with severe acute respiratory distress instances from COVID-19. When the body produces an excessive amount of proinflammatory cytokines, it is known as a cytokine storm. These proteins are known as cytokines, and the cytokines present in a cytokine storm exacerbate inflammation.

Patients with COVID-19 frequently experience lung fibrosis, a dangerous and incurable illness that causes scarring of the lung tissue and makes breathing more challenging. It might be possible to reduce inflammation, avoid lung fibrosis, and put COVID-19 patients into remission if a drug could stop the cytokine storm.

In a cytokine storm study, it was discovered that the cannabis variety C.Sativa reduces the number of cytokines and pathways linked to fibrosis and inflammation. TNFa and IL-6 were two of the cytokines that C. sativa decreased, and these two cytokines are regarded to be the primary targets when attempting to stop an acute respiratory distress syndrome and a COVID-19 cytokine storm.

Numerous research back up the anti-cytokine storm effects of cannabis.

There have been other studies that support the finding that cannabis helps prevent a cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients, in addition to the Aging study.

An investigation using mice in 2020 discovered that CBD, an active cannabinoid ingredient in cannabis, decreased proinflammatory cytokines and enhanced the clinical symptoms of mice with COVID-19-like symptoms.

According to the study, CBD may help treat COVID-19 by lowering the cytokine storm and preventing inflammation in the lung tissue.

What other ways might cannabis cure COVID-19?

What other ways can cannabis benefit COVID-19 patients? Cannabis has a strong promise for lowering inflammation and scarring in people with COVID-19.

Cannabis constituents like CBD and THC have also demonstrated promise in a number of other fields, such as the treatment of anxiety and pain. Although these treatment advantages have not been studied in COVID-19 patients, they may present intriguing research topics in the future.

In light of COVID-19 symptoms such headaches, sore throats, and body pains, many patients would benefit from pain alleviation.

Cannabis has demonstrated tremendous promise as a painkiller, notably due to its capacity to enhance the effects of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can cause pain alleviation.

but they take longer to manifest than other ways such as smoking. When you apply THC topically, you’re foregoing the cannabinoid’s intoxicating effects. Consult a doctor to establish the best THC consumption technique (and dose) for you.

For patients, learning they have COVID-19 can be a difficult time. Patients are kept apart from their friends and family because of the illness’s extremely contagious nature. Your mental health may suffer greatly due to the illness’s seriousness and frightening character.

Cannabis constituents, especially CBD, have demonstrated excellent anxiety-reducing abilities. A cannabinoid called CBD may be able to lessen the signs and symptoms of stress and anxiety. CBD has the ability to reduce cortisol levels and boost serotonin activity. Since serotonin lowers anxiety and cortisol is a stress hormone frequently seen in higher quantities in individuals with anxiety and depression, reducing these chemicals is crucial for anxiety management.

Is it a good idea for COVID-19 sufferers to inhale cannabis smoke?

While smoking cannabis flower is the most popular way to ingest it, there are other ways to take use of cannabis’ therapeutic properties. The majority of cannabis research employs oil extracts, such as CBD oil.

Cannabis oil can be applied topically, vaped, ingested, or applied nasally. The lungs and other potentially dangerous substances that come with smoke inhalation are not included in many delivery techniques.

Final observations

Cannabis has demonstrated a great deal of promise in the fight against COVID-19, partly because of its anti-inflammatory qualities. According to a recent study in Aging, cannabis may dramatically improve COVID-19 patients’ conditions by lowering cytokine storms and defending lung tissue from inflammatory damage.

Research demonstrates that cannabis and its constituents also possess other important medicinal characteristics, such as those for anxiety and pain treatment. While these might provide comfort for COVID-19 patients, further research is required to determine the precise effects of cannabis’ painkilling and calming effects on COVID-19 patients before any generalizations can be made.

Despite the fact that this most current research is intriguing and demonstrates the potential of cannabis in the fight against COVID-19, you should always abide by your doctor’s recommendations when managing COVID-19.