Rumored to be a potential cure since the beginning of the crisis, CBD was found to help with COVID-19 treatment.
Researchers at the Dental College of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia found that cannabidiol (CBD), while not directly attacking the virus itself, could help patients with signs of respiratory distress avoid mechanical ventilation or even death from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
The calming effect of CBD
They claim that CBD can suppress cytokine storms and severe pneumonia. In simpler terms, CBD may help calm the body’s reaction of COVID-19, thus reducing the risk of inflammation and overactive immune reaction. Unfortunately for humans, it’s often the reaction of our bodies which poses a larger threat than foreign infections. This reality is why so ARDS is such a threat to people with a variety of viral infections.
CBD could help patients with signs of respiratory distress avoid mechanical ventilation or even death from acute respiratory distress syndrome.
“ARDS is a major killer in severe cases of some respiratory viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and we have an urgent need for better intervention and treatment strategies,” says Dr. Babak Baban, immunologist and corresponding author of the study in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Simulated behavior
The researchers developed a synthetic analog of double-stranded viral RNA to treat the mice, causing a cytokine storm and ARDS. Once the ARDS progressed to an analogous point to where a human would seek treatment, then the researchers gave the mice CBD. The purpose was to simulate the behavior of infected people seeking medical help only when having difficulty breathing.
“Given too early, CBD might actually interfere with a proper immune response against the virus,” says co-author Dr. Jack Yu, physician-scientist and chief of pediatric plastic surgery at MCG.
A detailed review revealed that the damage to the lung tissue had completely or at least partially disappeared.
Damage to tissues disapppeared
However, once the mice were given CBD, it rapidly improved the clinical symptoms of the disease. A detailed review revealed that the damage to the lung tissue had completely or at least partially disappeared.
The researchers’ next steps will be to conduct similar studies on organs (digestive system, heart, brain) that COVID-19 also attacks and damages.
Promising THC
Meanwhile, breaking research from the University of South Carolina found that THC can also reduce ARDS. In their study, 100% of mice treated with THC had the development of inflammation halted due to THC decelerating the release of cytokine proteins.
100% of mice treated with THC had the development of inflammation halted.
Of course, further research and review are needed before these solutions become clinical, but CBD is already available throughout much of the world without a prescription. Keep up with the developing science, but also trust that cannabis use has more behind it than many would assume.
Text: Karhlyle Fletcher
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