CBD Hopes for Coronavirus Treatment

Even the global stock markets reacted with glee to the news that Pfizer has developed a COVID-19 vaccine that is 90% successful but there are some big gaps between the vaccine and its widespread distribution. Many countries, South Africa included, don’t have the infrastructure or investment capacity to roll out the distribution of a vaccine that has to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius in order to work.

What is also evident is that our species is increasingly under threat for future pandemics as we continue to encroach on animals.  BBC describes it as the ‘perfect storm’ with Coronavirus being the bullet we didn’t dodge after ducking a global outbreak of SARS, MERS, Ebola, avian influenza and swine flu.

We also need to enrich our understanding of the havoc that virus’ cause to the human body and CBD drawing a lot of interest as researchers work to understand how medicines can fight off these harmful effects.

A recent study conducted by Augusta University in Georgia suggests CBD might help manage the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 including the now infamous cytokine storm which is essentially an immune system reaction that runs out of control. CR SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) has been found to adhere to cells through a protein coating called ACE2. Additionally, this is the source of inflammation that can ultimately contribute to cytokine storms and the potentially fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which renders patients unable to breathe without medical support.

One of the researchers Babak Baban reported that “The natural instinct of the virus is to make more of itself. It weaves with our DNA to make the cell produce food and everything it needs.” Viruses also tend to have a tissue or tissues they prefer — some can and do go anywhere — and for SARS-CoV-2, the lungs are high on the list”, he says.

The study conducted by the Georgia university suggests that CBD might help reduce ACE2 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and as such lower the severity of the body’s reaction by lowering inflammation. It was also found to be an anti-viral. The studies were conducted on mice who were injected with the immune-stimulant POLY:IC and then monitored for lung function like levels of proinflammatory cytokines, oxygen levels in the blood and temperature, which indicates inflammation.

After administering CBD therapy, oxygen levels improved, and cytokine levels and temperature dropped. The CBD appeared to also reduce the damage caused to the lungs by the inflammation storm.

This was not the only study investigating CBD as a potential treatment for those suffering from the virus. A peer-reviewed study by Canada’s University of Lethbridge in Alberta, also found that particular high CBD strains were successful in reducing the virus receptor response.

In Israel, there are also trials looking at CBD’s efficacy as a COVID-19 treatment. InnoCan Pharma has partnered with Tel Aviv University to explore a new treatment for COVID-19 using exosomes loaded with CBD in the hope that they will target organs that have been damaged by Coronavirus.

As studies continue and the race to help those vulnerable to COVID-19 continues, scientists are not ruling out any options. There are many steps to take before CBD can conclusively be declared a cure or remedy but with positive early results, we hold our collective breaths that nature will provide us with the help we need.