Private: Can CBD Help Fight the Common Cold or Flu?

Studies on CBD has shown to be effective in treating some of the symptoms of the common cold and flu, such as nausea, insomnia, anxiety, immune function, and pain. In this article, we want to discuss how CBD affects the endocannabinoid system which maintains our biochemical and physiological balance AND share the science behind CBD’s benefits including how it can fight the common cold or flu.

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

Roughly 30 years ago, researchers found that we have an endocannabinoid system within our body. This system is an integral part of helping us sleep, eat, digest, manage our moods and pain, fight off illness, and much more. It is comprised of the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found in the nerve cells, brain, spinal cord and other organs. CB2 receptors are found in reproductive organs, immune system, and peripheral nervous systems. CBD activates these receptors and helps us manage all the bodily processes listed above. It is these processes that helps us regulate our sleep, pain, digestion, immune function, and more. In other words: CBD and the endocannabinoid system are a match made in heaven. Here is our helpful guide to better understand how the two work together and how important our endocannabinoid system is for overall balance.

CBD and Nausea

The most common symptoms of COVID-19, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, symptoms can look different in each individual, and it’s not uncommon for those who are sick to experience nausea and digestive issues. In fact, the very first COVID-19 patient in America had a “2-day history of nausea and vomiting.” Treating nausea is one of the main science-backed benefits of continual CBD use. In a 2010 study titled “Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids,” published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, researchers found that “both preclinical and human clinical research suggests that cannabinoid compounds may have promise in treating nausea in chemotherapy patients.”

CBD and Insomnia

One of the most researched and lauded benefits of CBD is its ability to help with sleeping issues. Several studies have shown that CBD helps ease anxiety and pain, two of the leading causes of sleeping issues. In addition, studies have shown that CBD can assist with REM sleeping disorders and sleep apnea.

CBD and Anxiety

As mentioned above, CBD activates the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The CB1 receptor is found in the brain and nervous system, and when it’s triggered by CBD, it can affect our serotonin levels. Serotonin helps regulate anxiety, and there is a lot of positive science behind CBD treating anxiety. According to the National Institute on Drug Use, “CBD has shown therapeutic efficacy in a range of animal models of anxiety and stress, reducing both behavioral and physiological measure of stress and anxiety.” Studies have also shown that CBD is beneficial for individuals who suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

CBD and the Immune System & Pain

There is a lot of promising research surrounding CBD and our immune system, specifically with treating inflammation. However, research is still minimal and mostly anecdotal. One 2009 study published in the journal Future Medicinal Chemistry found that CBD helped ease the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disorder where “the immune system produces antibodies that attach to the linings of joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain.”

CBD and Bacteria

In 2019, a study performed at the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia found that CBD is excellent at killing bacteria. The senior researcher of the study, Mark Blaskovich, was quoted as saying, “In every case, CBD had a very similar potency to that of common antibiotics.” This study was in regards to CBD treating superbugs specifically, and while the findings are promising, Blaskovich warns that research is too early to use CBD as a superbug killer.

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