Brace yourselves — winter is coming!
Following the famous quote from Game of Thrones, it’s time to prepare for the colds and flu season.
Very few people make it through the winter without an annoying sore throat or colds.
Sure, you can go down the conventional route, get some anti-cold medications or even a flu shot that is laden with unknown chemicals, but you may just as well turn to natural remedies for help.
What many doctors won’t tell you is that it’s best to support your natural immunity while letting colds and cases of flu run their course. Natural solutions include herbs, teas, vitamins, minerals, and plant-based extracts — such as CBD oil.
In this article, we shed some light on how to use CBD to boost your immune system, preventing your body from catching infections.
The common cold is triggered by inflammation that occurs in a person’s nasal and upper respiratory tract. Although many viruses can cause a cold or flu, rhinoviruses are to blame most of the time.
Experiencing a sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, sneezing, mild fever, headaches, and body aches, are some of the most common symptoms of colds.
There is no known cure for colds, but most cases go away within two weeks when a person uses natural remedies to control symptoms.
CBD (cannabidiol) has demonstrated antibacterial and antiviral properties in many studies — showing itself as a potential therapeutic agent for colds.
Scientists found that CBD has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Together with another major compound, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it can be found in Sativex, a mouth spray used to relieve pain and spasticity.
One study concluded that CBD was able to improve the quality of sleep in patients with anxiety disorders.
Poor sleep is often associated with susceptibility to the common cold. According to one study, people with low-quality sleep are more prone to getting sick upon exposure to rhinoviruses.
Despite positive initial findings, there’s no direct scientific evidence to prove that CBD can cure colds.
Researchers have found that CBD interacts with receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a major regulatory network that modulates several vital functions throughout the body.
CBD’s relationship with the ECS is believed to be the reason for its immunosuppressant effects. Using this mechanism, CBD can improve the communication between the immune cells and selectively shut down overactive parts of the immune system — reducing inflammation.
In a 2008 study, CBD was found to modulate sleep-wake cycles through its interaction with the ECS.
The sleep-wake cycle can be modulated through the activation of the CB1 receptor. While CBD doesn’t directly bind to CB1, it signals the ECS to produce more endocannabinoids that activate it; it also slows down their breakdown, so in the end, more endocannabinoids can bind to CB1 receptors and contribute to a more restful sleep.
CBD activates the CB2 receptor, which, according to a study on respiratory viral infection, is responsible for anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
Vitamin C, probiotics, and zinc are often mentioned as potential preventive and interventional methods for the common cold.
Data on Vitamin C shows that the compound can cause a decrease in the duration of colds in subjects.
Zinc intake within 24 hours of symptom onset was found to mitigate the severity of flu symptoms and colds in participants.
Probiotics are beneficial in protecting your system against upper respiratory tract infections due to their antiviral properties.
Taken together with these aforementioned compounds, CBD can work with them in a synergy, enhancing the efficacy of your cold treatment.
You can also find many CBD products today that are infused with vitamin C, probiotics, and zinc.
There are three main types of CBD when it comes to common colds: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
The most desired type is the full-spectrum option. Such products contain all of the naturally occurring compounds found in hemp — including CBD, adjunctive cannabinoids, terpenes, and trace amounts of THC.
Full-spectrum CBD creates the entourage effect, which refers to the synergistic effects achieved by the aforementioned compounds. The entourage effect makes whole-plant extracts more effective and predictable when it comes to dosing.
Broad-spectrum CBD is much like its full-spectrum counterpart, except for the lack of THC. The intoxicating cannabinoid is removed after initial extraction to create a zero-THC product that still benefits from some parts of the entourage effect.
Finally, CBD isolate refers to pure CBD, which has been isolated from other hemp compounds and turned into whitish crystals. These crystals are then powdered and infused into a range of CBD products, such as oils, edibles, capsules, vapes, and topicals. Although isolates carry the highest dose of CBD per serving, they don’t evoke the entourage effect — making them the least desired option.
Since CBD products aren’t regulated in the USA, there are no official guides or charts for CBD dosage.
However, taking a look at human clinical trials using CBD may provide insight for a safe and relatively accurate CBD dosage range.
For example, using CBD for anxiety may require doses between 25–175 mg per day of CBD. These amounts are enough to produce a significant clinical response. However, the study’s authors used pure CBD, not a whole-plant extract, so the dosage may change depending on what kind of product you’re using.
CBD is also safe and well-tolerated in humans. Studies have shown that doses of CBD can reach as high as 1,500 mg per day without any dangerous side effects.
The best way to take CBD for cold and sore throat is through oil or tincture. CBD oils are usually administered sublingually (under the tongue) and held there for up to 60 seconds.
You can also take CBD directly — as gummies or capsules — which is a great way to use CBD for beginners. That’s because they’re straightforward and contain a premeasured amount of CBD.
Vaping is another way to get CBD into your system. It offers the highest bioavailability and the fastest onset of effects. However, this form of consumption may not be recommended if you cough because it can irritate your airways, causing more cough, sore throat, and sneezing.
This is actually a quite difficult question to answer, but most of the time, it boils down to the following triggers:
Colds and cases of flu are simply the outcomes of viruses attacking our bodies. Viruses are microscopic molecules of genetic material, covered by a thin layer of protein. Unlike the normal cells in our body, these viruses aren’t able to reproduce on their own, instead, they use the metabolism of your cells to produce many clones of themselves.
When a virus enters a cell, it will either use its constituents to copy itself, eventually breaking the cell seeking a new one, or, injecting itself into the DNA of your cell. By doing so, the virus can pass down through natural cell division (cytokinesis) and genetic duplication (mitosis).
CBD has remarkable anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties that may prove beneficial for individuals with a common cold or flu.
The cannabinoid interacts with various receptors of the ECS, which improve its ability to regulate immune response — enhancing your immunity as a result.
Not only that, but CBD can also curb inflammation and pain, which are the two common symptoms of a cold. On top of that, it can also help improve sleep in people with anxiety. Poor sleep is one of the major reasons why people have compromised immune systems.
You can add some zinc, probiotics, and vitamin C to your daily routine as preventive measures against colds. Holistic supplementation will help enhance your immune system and keep you resistant to illnesses.
Do you take CBD for colds? What other ingredients do you throw into your remedy box when you’re sick? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Nina created CFAH.org following the birth of her second child. She was a science and math teacher for 6 years prior to becoming a parent — teaching in schools in White Plains, New York and later in Paterson, New Jersey.
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