In this blog Curakind looks at the studies into CBD for coronavirus and asks: could cannabis help in the fight against Covid 19?
Research shows:-
- CBD improves oxygen levels and reduces inflammation: Study results from the Medical College of Georgia
- CBD is a potential replacement for steroid treatments in Covid 19 severe patients: Study underway at Stero Biotechnologies in Israel
- CBD speeds Recovery of Covid 19 patients: ICU, Klagenfurt Clinic, Austria
Speeding recovery of Covid 19 patients
Doctors at the ICU unit at Klagenfurt Clinic have been studying how CBD could help treat fifty Covid 19 patients.
They found that patients given CBD rather than morphine showed reduced inflammation and recovered more quickly from symptoms such as fever, cough, and headaches than those given morphine.
They also test negative in PCR tests much faster than those that receive other drugs.
Dr. Likar first administered 200 milligrams of cannabidiol CBD per day, then upped the dose to 300 milligrams a day, and found ongoing success with that protocol.
“We have seen that the inflammation parameters in the blood go down, and these patients leave the hospital faster than the comparison group,” Likar said. “CBD supports the immune system.”
Likar suspects the cannabidiol in CBD oil blocks ACE2 receptors on cells, preventing Covid 19 virus access and replication.
It seems CBD oil offers the best relief from inflammation because it easily crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and helps protect against the damage to nerve cells commonly caused by chronic Covid 19.
The study of the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD oil is ongoing at the Klagenfurt Clinic, but after these promising results, CBD oil may become a routine treatment option in patients with Covid 19.
New insights from Israel
For decades, Israel has been a world leader in cannabis research, with many government-sponsored clinical trials investigating new indications for CBD and THC.
Stero Biotechnologies, based in Israel, have been conducting trials that show how CBD can reduce the need for steroids, reducing the associated side effects: They are confident that it can replace steroid treatment in over 130 autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Their current trial with twenty Covid 19 patients investigates the potential use of CBD as a treatment for this and other conditions.
Results from the Medical College of Georgia
In a recent study, Georgia-based scientists from the Dental College of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia found that CBD helped improve oxygen levels and reduce inflammation relating to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The researchers demonstrated that levels of the peptide pelin’ increased in the lungs of rats administered cannabidiol, which in turn increased lung function.
Apelin levels are dramatically reduced in Covid 19 patients , so if CBD can help normalize those levels and improve lung function, this could be a major breakthrough.
Cannabis and cytokine storm
One of the primary biological targets of CBD is a group of proteins that regulate the immune system called cytokines. These are released in response to infection or trauma and can cause inflammation, pain, anxiety and other symptoms. A cytokine storm is a dangerously exaggerated immune response in which the immune system creates too many inflammatory signals, which can lead to organ failure and death.
COVID patients are often left with untreatable lung conditions, making it difficult for them to breathe. If the severe cytokine storm-related inflammation triggered by SARS COV2 could be suppressed, it could prevent these patients from getting worse.
This is where CBD seems to help, reducing the cytokine storm that damages the lung tissue by increasing the levels of apelin, a natural peptide that is known to reduce inflammation, and ultimately saving lives.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition where too much fluid builds up in the small, elastic air sacs of the lungs and the lung tissue excrete inflammatory molecules.
This fluid prevents these sacs from trapping enough oxygen, which means less oxygen reaches the bloodstream.
It can happen after certain surgeries, trauma including heart attack or near drowning, and viral infections such as influenza and pneumonia. It is one of the main causes of death in people infected with Covid 19..
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of ARDS depend on the severity, cause, and presence of underlying heart disease or lung illness. They include:
- Severe shortness of breath
- Laboured and unusually rapid breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion and extreme tiredness
Recent clinical reports show that cytokine storms associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are the leading cause of death in severe cases of some respiratory viral infections including Covid 19.
As the research in Israel has shown, CBD could fight lung inflammation and offers a potential treatment for COVID 19.
CBD as anti-inflammatory treatment
Cannabidiol is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid. This means that treatment with CBD can help reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of pain, anxiety, and other inflammatory conditions such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
COX2 enzymes lead to inflammatory responses in the body. Ongoing inflammation is the reason that people suffer from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. CBD can inhibit COX2 enzyme activity, which in turn reduces inflammation.
In many studies CBD has been shown to significantly affect essential molecules that contribute to inflammation. When given in proper doses and formulations, CBD can be used as an inflammatory treatment for COVID 19 patients.
Research so far has included how marijuana can block viral access to cell receptors, slow down replication and inhibit pathological changes induced by COVID 19. CBD is especially promising as a potential therapeutic agent because it has shown the ability to inhibit virus replication in cell culture and animal models of infection while sparing healthy cells.
Cannabis as treatment for covid-related anxiety disorders
Use of CBD for stress and anxiety is not uncommon. CBD is a natural relaxant which interacts with receptors in your body that affect mood, stress levels and pain.
This can help to reduce anxiety symptoms as the CBD binds to the same places as anandamide, a cannabinoid which reduces feelings of fear and contributes to relaxation. When you use CBD it helps your brain and body to naturally reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
It can also ease generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Social Phobia, PTSD and other anxiety disorder symptoms by reducing chronic inflammation of the body’s immune system, a common cause of these types of disorders.
There is also strong anecdotal evidence that cannabidiol improves sleep quality: Proponents say that CBD calms the mind, and makes them more able to relax, relieving the fear of another sleepless night, tossing and turning and being bombarded by negative thoughts.
CBD for covid-based depression
There is strong scientific evidence that CBD can provide antidepressant-like effects on the brain’s natural hormone serotonin. It can act as a replacement for prescription drugs such as SSRIs, atypical antipsychotics and benzodiazepines which are often prescribed for depression and anxiety and come with frequent and severe side effects.
Even medicines that may not have such severe side effects can become ineffective over time, and high doses may be necessary for relief or protection against withdrawal symptoms.
In contrast, the only common adverse reactions associated with medical cannabis treatment recorded in clinical trials are tiredness when taken on awakening, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and photosensitization
It is important to reiterate that CBD does not produce the euphoria you will get from cannabis. Despite being a compound of the hemp plant or cannabis, it won’t heighten your mental state like cannabis does.
CBD for coronavirus pain-relief
The therapeutic effects of cannabis have been known for centuries, and research continues to show that medical marijuana can be used as a safe alternative for pain relief without the risk of addiction or overdose associated with opioids.
In Israel’s Asaf Harofe Medical Center emergency room, COVID patients who were given CBD oil saw an average reduction of 32% in their need for additional medications.
Over half the patients treated had been using prescription opiates before switching to CBD treatments and being discharged.
While these findings offer some relief to patients with COVID 19, more research is needed in the pain-relieving and anxiety-reducing properties of cannabis, specifically on COVID patients, before any conclusions could be drawn.
The conclusion
There seems to be strong evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis sativa can be helpful in the treatment of Covid 19 patients both in stopping cytokine storm reaction to severe lung inflammation, and boosting immune response, however, research is ongoing and the jury is still out about using it in critical care situations.
The use of CBD to treat depression and anxiety, both general and Covid 19-based, is well documented and studied. CBD can be a great alternative to prescriptions that often come with side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness.
There are many different options available, so If you feel this might help you, we would always recommend speaking to your doctor or medical professional first.
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