How CBD can improve the immune system
Cannabidiol, or CBD, which is the component of the cannabis sativa plant that doesn’t have psychoactive properties (it will not get you high), has been credited with a variety of benefits, including strengthening the immune system. While research on CBD is still limited, the substance is immune-modulating, meaning that it can balance an over- or under-reactive immune system. Read on to find out more about how CBD can help to improve your immune system.
Anti-inflammatory properties
While our knowledge of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is still fairly limited, what we do know is that the ECS helps to maintain a balance between the various body functions, including anxiety, sleep, memory, pain sensation, and the immune system. CBD oil can help to reduce inflammation by interacting with the body’s ECS receptors. This, in turn, can help to treat conditions such as Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel syndrome, which can be caused by a malfunctioning immune system.
CBD is also believed to interfere with the release of cytokines, or proteins that are released by the immune system in cases of physical stress or trauma. Cytokines can be responsible for acute and chronic inflammation.
Bolstering the immune system
CBD can boost a weakened immune system, making it more ready to defend the body against infection. A number of studies of cancer patients whose immune system was diminished by the illness found that their immune systems were better able to fight the infection when taking CBD. A study published by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology showed that taking CBD may reduce tumor growth associated with certain cancers. According to studies on Hemppedia.org, taking CBD in high doses increases the body’s ability to kill cancer cells through apoptosis, a process triggered by the presence of infectious cells in the body.
Managing autoimmune diseases
CBD is believed to be beneficial in the management of autoimmune diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS. Autoimmune diseases occur when an individual’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, mistaking them for foreign invaders. While traditional medications for autoimmune conditions can help, these generally affect the entire hyperactive immune system, leaving patients more susceptible to infection. CBD, on the other hand, is said to only suppress specific parts of the immune system in such situations.