The current situation, with covid-19 spreading throughout the world, has prompted many people to look for alternatives to improve their immune systems. We still know relatively little when it comes to CBD and the immune system. However, there are promising studies about CBD and its positive impact on our immune systems.
Cannabis Sativa has been consumed for thousands of years for medical and nutritional purposes. The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, a Chinese treaty of medicine from the 2nd century CE recommends marijuana and hemp plants for various medical therapies. Even in ancient Greece and Rome cannabis was used relieve pain and as an entheogen. Back then nobody knew how or why cannabis relieved pain, it was just helpful and that was all that mattered.
Nowadays, we know that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the immune’s system inflammatory response. This is important for people who suffer from autoimmune diseases.
How Does the Immune System Work?
The immune system is the body’s defense against infections by attacking germs and helping us keep healthy. White cell or leukocytes play an important role in the immune system. In addition, other cells like phagocytes phagocyte (cells that are capable of absorbing-engulfing-bacteria and other small cells) invading organisms while lymphocyte (natural killer cells, t-cells and B cells).
Natural Killer Cells or Large Granular Lymphocytes are very aggressive, and they don’t have immunological memory, which means they attack any pathogen that enters our system. Furthermore, they also attack tumor cells.
T-cells provide immune-mediated cell death. T-cells have immunological memory and are responsible for cell immunity and for the activation of macrophage cells (cells that engulf unwanted particles and phagocyte them).
Another important type of lymphocytes are B cells, which are responsible for the secretion of antibodies. They are fundamental for the activation of humoral immunity, i.e. antibody production.
CBD and the Immune System: How to Boost Your Immune System?
We don’t know exactly how lifestyle interacts with our immune system. For the moment, there are not scientific proven links between lifestyle and immune system. We know, however, that certain habits can help us improve our immune system. CBD and the immune system could be one of these good habits. But, how does CBD or other substances interact with our immune system and why do they help to boost it?
As previously mentioned, we know that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. These anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce our immune system anti-inflammatory response.
The immune system is a complex system and to improve its efficacy we need to have a balanced lifestyle. Food, lifestyle vitamins can contribute to boost it. However, scientists are still trying to prove how exercise, age, food or any other factors can contribute to improve our immune response. According to Harvard University, there are some healthy strategies that can boost your immune system:
1. Don’t smoke (you can switch to vaping, a safer nicotine intake alternative).
2. Eat fruit and vegetables.
3. Healthy weight.
4. Moderate alcohol consumption.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Good hygiene to avoid infections.
7. Try to reduce stress.
Conclusion
As you can see, good sleeping habits and reduce stress are also two important factors to improve our immune system. CBD can help us reduce stress and also to deal with insomnia.
CBD is an excellent supplement (thanks to its stress relief properties and as a treatment for insomnia) to help you boost your immune system combined with a healthy lifestyle and food habits.
In conclusion, CBD and the immune system could help us improve the body’s response to infection. There are many theories, but the only evidence is that both reduce stress and good sleeping habits boost your immune system. CBD helps us to deal with anxiety and stress, which are two factor that have a very negative impact on our immune systems.