Does CBD help in the fight against COVID-19?

Last update: November 20th, 2023

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As of March 11, 2020, there is a pandemic declared by the WHO. And this is all due to the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus. The Covid-19 disease has taken over the lives of the whole world in many ways, not only those of physical health, but also mental health. We are experiencing the effects of the pandemic all the time, both materially and in every other possible way. For 2 years now, the world is no longer the same as it used to be, and we all live in a new reality. Therefore, it’s not hard to imagine that the main goal scientists have is to find a solution to this global problem and restore the world to pre-pandemic order. It turns out that…cannabis can help with this!

Latest research

A team from Oregon Health & Science University in the United States conducted a study on the effects of cannabis on the Sars-Cov-2 virus and came to some very interesting conclusions. They were published in the Journal of Natural Products under the title “Cannabinoids block the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells and its emerging variants.” Forbes magazine was the first to write about the effectiveness of phytonutrients against new variants of the virus. What does this actually look like and what does it consist of?

The study says that to complement vaccines in the prevention and treatment of Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, other small-molecule therapeutic agents are needed to prevent the acute respiratory failure that is characterized by Covid-19 disease. The researchers found that cannabinoid acids from Cannabis Sativa, and therefore from fiber and Indian hemp, prevent infection of human epithelial cells. How does this happen?

Well, the cannabinoid acids, CBGA and CBDA, prevent the virus from entering the cell because they can attach to the virus spike and prevent it from infecting the cell.

What is noteworthy is that both CBDA and CBGA were effective against the Alpha variant and against the Beta variant of Covid-19!

The conclusion of the study is as follows: CBDA and CBGA can potentially prevent but also treat SARS-CoV-2 infections! Sounds promising?

Covid-19 and cannabis – research is starting!

Long COVID, also defined as “post-COVID-19 syndrome,” is a common outcome following SARS-COV-2 virus infection, and there is growing recognition of the need for treatment and ongoing support for those experiencing long COVID, including through the creation of dedicated treatment units. Although symptoms and their severity can vary widely from person to person, some of the common symptoms associated with postcovid syndrome include fatigue, shortness of breath, pain, sleep disturbances and dysautonomia.

Researchers want to test the feasibility of the predominant broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) preparation, MediCabilis Cannabis sativa 50, to treat these symptoms in people diagnosed with the syndrome. CBD is the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis and is increasingly being used to treat symptoms similar to those associated with Long COVID. In addition, there is some evidence that CBD can effectively reduce inflammation associated with COVID infection, as we wrote above. All of this evidence suggests that CBD may be an effective treatment for people diagnosed with Long COVID.

The study will involve prescribing 30 people a prescription for CBD-dominant medical marijuana. Patients will take the drug daily for 21 weeks (2-week increase, 18-week fixed dose, 1-week dose reduction), followed by 3 weeks without the drug. The researchers will thus be able to collect monthly reports of typical symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, mood, cognitive function and pain, via a smartphone app, as well as real-time data on heart rate, physical activity and sleep using wearable technology. They will also focus on collecting daily self-assessments of key symptoms (mood, pain, fatigue and shortness of breath) via a smartphone app for seven days over 28 days. The study will determine whether it’s possible to recruit and retain patients with a long COVID diagnosis for the CBD-predominant medical marijuana trial. Of course, whether there are any side effects will also be monitored to assess the safety and tolerability of CBD-dominant medical marijuana. The results will determine the feasibility of medical marijuana in treating long COVID and whether it is safe to use.[1]

The value of full spectrum products

That full spectrum hemp products are important is something we repeat all the time. CBGA and CBDA acids can be found in full spectrum hemp phytonutrient products. They are abundant in fiber hemp, the very hemp that can be legally processed into CBD oils in Poland. It’s important to read full studies on hemp products, to bet on products with at least a broad spectrum of cannabinoids. And don’t take the seller’s “word for it” that the product contains all cannabinoids. Especially when only two are often listed on the study: CBD and THC.