According to the World Health Organization, there have been up to 500,000,000 cases of covid-19 worldwide and up to 6 million deaths. Even with current vaccination efforts going on globally, the occurrence of breakthrough infections even in the vaccinated has underscored the need for the development of new therapies against Covid-19.
One of the possible therapeutics that has shown promising results in preliminary studies is cannabidiol (CBD). Researchers have found that CBD potentially has antiviral inflammatory responses against Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 virus. This means that CBD could potentially block Covid-19 infection and in cases where the infection has already occurred slow down the replication of the virus.
Researchers first investigated C6BD as a potential therapy for Covid-19 since it has already been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, based on preliminary studies scientists emphasize that only high concentrations of CBD would have beneficial effects in the treatment of Covid-19. This means that high purity CBD products, which can be purchased in 2fast4buds.com or in any online stores, would be more beneficial against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.
How Does CBD Work Against Covid-19 Infection
Studies have shown that even in patients that have recovered from Covid-19 infection, there is the possibility of long-term health issues. A significant percentage of people who have had Covid-19 infection have been left with long-term breathing problems and in some cases ongoing heart inflammation.
These long-term effects underscore the need for a therapy that can limit the severity of Covid-19 infection to minimize the possibility of residual health issues. CBD has been found to do just that in the following ways:
CBD has antiviral effects in SARS-CoV-2 infection
One of the reasons that CBD has shown efficacy in reducing the severity of Covid-19 infection is its antiviral properties. Research has shown that CBD decreases the activity of certain enzymes that act as Covid-19 receptors in the lung, intestinal epithelium and other sites of infection. By blocking these enzymes CBD effectively lowers the risk of severe infection and minimizes the impact of Covid-19 in the body.
In advanced Covid-19 infections CBD has been found to effectively reverse the viral induction of cytokines. These cytokines are linked with the severe cytokine storm that is observed in later stages of Covid-19 infection. By reversing this process, CBD effectively helps to manage the severity of infection and prevent further viral replication in the lungs.
CBD effectively stops the replication of the Covid-19 virus
The Covid-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, spreads in the body by taking over the host cell gene expression machinery and replicating itself and its viral proteins. The more it replicates within the body, the more the infection spreads and increases in severity.
Trials done on humans using high-strength CBD have found that CBD effectively stops the expression of viral RNAs which stops the Covid-19 virus from replicating itself. CBD stops the virus from replicating by activating the host cell stress responses and boosting the generation of anti-viral cell proteins. This means that the infection does not progress and the severity of the infection is significantly reduced.
CBD has beneficial anti-inflammatory effects
One of the biggest defenses against Covid-19 infection is a robust immune system. CBD has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects which help to reduce lung inflammation by regulating the immune response to Covid-19 infection. This can help to limit inflammation in the lungs and the associated damage that could result from an overactive immune response to Covid-19 infection.
Recent studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD find that by mitigating against inflammation, CBD effectively helps to minimize damage to epithelial cells in the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system.
CBD has anxiolytic properties that help to boost natural immunity
CBD has been found to have a positive effect on the immune system. Studies have shown that CBD can help to stimulate the production of immune system compounds referred to as interferons. Interferons effectively serve as a first line of defense against viral infection which can help to minimize risk of severe infection.
CBD also triggers the “unfolded protein response”. This response works on infected cells helping the cells retain function under stress. This makes it harder for the Covid-19 virus to keep replicating which is crucial in stopping the progression of infection in the lungs and respiratory cells.
The preventative and immune boosting effects of CBD are also linked to its effect in stress management. Stress and anxiety have been found to decrease the body’s natural immunity which can in turn increase the risk of Covid-19 infection. CBD acts on receptors in the brain stimulating the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine which have antidepressant effects. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels helping to boost the body’s natural immunity.
What Type Of CBD has potential benefits in Covid-19 treatment
Researchers have indicated that the beneficial effects of CBD against Covid-19 infection are restricted to high concentration and high purity CBD. This means that full spectrum CBD may not have the same level of efficacy since it contains other cannabinoids including THC. Some studies have found that THC (the psychoactive compound in Cannabis) may actually reduce the efficacy of CBD in treating and managing Covid-19 infection.
While CBD oils, edibles and other readily available forms of CBD in the market have anti-inflammatory and other beneficial properties, low concentrations of CBD would likely have no significant impact on the Covid-19 virus. So far, research is still ongoing on the best way to administer CBD as a therapeutic agent in order to achieve maximum levels of efficacy against the SARs Covid-19 virus.
Outlook
Numerous studies have found that CBD has significant efficacy in stopping viral replication in SARS-Cov-2 infection. This makes CBD an effective therapeutic agent at both early and later stages of infection. However, researchers emphasize that only high-strength high purity CBD has sufficient efficacy against Covid-19 infections.
Studies into the use of CBD as a potential therapy for Covid-19 are still ongoing but there are promising findings so far. In time, CBD may potentially become recognized as a therapy for reducing the risk of Covid-19 infection and limiting the severity of the infection in cases where the patient has already contracted the virus.
