How CBD Is Useful in the Phase of Corona Virus Pandemic

Research on CBD's effectiveness on coronavirus suggests that pure cannabidiol can help inhibit the SARS-Cov-2 virus replication, preventing cell infection.

People have different views concerning coronavirus. Some are skeptical about the use of vaccines which are still in research. Many scientists find a solution to how the virus can be managed as the health organization continues researching the possible cure for the disease. The pandemic makes the world standstill since everyone feels the impact. Many want to try many natural remedies to help curb the spread of the virus. The disease is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2). The virus spread widely and caused a high mortality rate. There are many coronaviruses, and SARS-Cov-2 is the 7^th to infect human beings whose symptoms are similar to the common cold.

What Is CBD

Cannabinoid, commonly known as CBD, is an active compound derived from hemp and cannabis plants. It is associated with many health benefits, including pain relief and anti-inflammatory. The compound cannot cause a high feeling, unlike THC, the most known marijuana compound known for its psychoactive effect.

Hemp-derived CBD is legal because it has more CBD compared to cannabis which leads to the THC percentage. The legal THC amount is 0.3%; this is the approved amount and cannot result in high feelings.

CBD and Coronavirus

Many studies have been conducted on the health benefits of CBD to the human body, but its biological action is unclear. Therefore, many claims do not have physical proof of the impact. However, the food and drug administration approved only one CBD drug. According to Teitelbaum (2019), CBD can treat epilepsy under the name epidiolex; it has been used in the US for two years and proved effective since most patients showed reduced seizures.

Research

Research shows that high-quality CBD can inhibit the replication of SARS-Cov-2 in human lungs. It was noticed that CBD could prevent virus replication under non-toxic conditions with a moderate concentration. The study above also showed that CBD could prohibit the virus from infecting the cells. The study suggested a need to use high-quality CBD  for more effect to be observed. The one used was about 97% pure CBD. CBD is extracted from the plant; sometimes, it can be hard to get the pure compound, which is the nature of the natural components. CBD can be extracted from the plant using chemicals and  CO₂. According to Rochfort et al. (2020), CO₂ is the best method of CBD  extraction from the plant since it does not expose the compound to harsh chemicals, affecting its quality since the chemicals can contaminate the product. Zero-contaminated CBD can be used to prevent viral infection.

CBD and THC are interconnected since they are derived from the same plant. It is best to have THC on the product used against the virus. CBDs efficacy and consistency are significantly suppressed by competitive prevention by THC.

CBD   works well in inhibiting viral entry; it can help prevent further infection approximately 51 hours later.

How CBD Works

CBD is believed to interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the body. The receptors enhance the functioning of the immune system of the body. CBD bind the CB1 and the CB2 to provide relief. Endocannabinoids are found in the skin, nerves, and brain.

Health Benefits of CBD

Anti-Inflammatory

According to Pellati et al. (2018), CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can be due but internal and external swelling. Therefore, it is used in treating different health conditions characterized by inflammation, including respiratory problems such as asthma, where the airway is blocked by dead cells. Since coronavirus affects the respiratory system due to inflammations making it difficult for the patient to breathe, CBD can reduce, thus preventing more effects from the virus.

Pain Relief

CBD is widely known for its ability to reduce and ease different forms of pain. Pain can affect your daily life and lower productivity. There is no sweet pain; they all hurt. Over-the-counter drugs have many painkillers, but most people have used natural remedies to relieve pain. CBD can relieve not only muscle pain but also nerve pain. According to Linher-Melville et al. (2020), CBD can relieve sciatic nerve pain, which is triggered by the slip and resting of the disc on the nerve, causing much pain. Athletes mainly experience pain since they exercise more to keep fit. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body.

Additionally, Sativex, the CBD drug, is used for treating arthritis and multiple sclerosis, characterized by severe pain. CBD helps patients by easing pain and reducing inflammation.

Alleviate Anxiety and Stress

The lifestyle change has landed many people having different mental disorders. Some are a result of life circumstances. There are medicines proscribed for easing the symptoms and relaxing the mind, but they tend to have side effects, including headaches and increased fatigue. According to García-Gutiérrez et al. (2020), CBD can alleviate mental disorders such as stress and anxiety, which are the most experienced. CBD has a soothing and relaxing effect and thus can relax the body and the mind.

CBD Dosage

CBD is the golden new specimen in the lab. It is associated with many health benefits and is based on diverse research. CBD is not medically approved for use, although it has shown significant potential for different health effects. It is advisable to consult your doctor before using CBD for any health condition. Most CBD comes with the dosage and how to use however people react to CBD differently, and thus it is advisable to start low and gradually increase the amount to your contentment.

Conclusion

CBD is associated with many health benefits, including pain relief and anti-inflammatory. The compound cannot cause a high feeling, unlike THC, the most known marijuana compound known for its psychoactive effect. CBD is researched and found to affect the body during the pandemic since it can inhibit viruses from infecting the body cells. Also, it can help the fasts a few hours after infection to prevent coronavirus replication. However, the research is limited and needs more to validate the claims. Additionally, CBD has other medical benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, pain relief, and stress and anxiety alleviation. CBD dosage will depend on the personal tolerance to the compound.

References

García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: A Potential New Alternative For Treating Anxiety, Depression, And Psychotic Disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575.

Liner-Melville, K., Zhu, Y. F., Sidhu, J., Parzei, N., Shahid, A., Shankar, G., ... & Singh, G. (2020). Evaluation Of The Preclinical Analgesic Efficacy Of Naturally Derived, Orally Administered Oil Forms Of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), And Their 1: 1 Combination. Plus One, 15(6), E0234176.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis Sativa L. And Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoids: Their Chemistry And Role Against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, And Cancer. Biomed Research International, 2018.

Rochfort, S., Isbel, A., Ezernieks, V., Elkins, A., Vincent, D., Deseo, M. A., & Spangenberg, G. C. (2020). The Utilization Of Design Of Experiments Approaches To Optimize Supercritical Fluid Extraction Of Medicinal Cannabis. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-7.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019). A Hemp Oil, CBD, And Marijuana Primer: Powerful Pain, Insomnia, And Anxiety-Relieving Tools. Altern. Ther. Health Med, 25, 21-23.