Amazing Mechanism of CBD on Cough and Cold Treatment

CBD is one of the recent substances to be added to the list of best and multipurpose drugs. CBD is reported to be having effective in the management of cough and other upper respiratory infections.

This unique medicinal substance is derived from the plant of marijuana, that is, cannabis and hemp plants. Classified as a Cannabeacea, marijuana is a schedule 1 narcotic the same category where the heroine falls.

Irrespective of such categorization, extracts of marijuana including CBD still work wonders in the human body to help heal different infections and diseases including cough and the common cold. Read along to learn more about CBD and get to know how it can help treat cough.

A Quick Look at Cough and Common Cold

Just right after the delivery of a newborn, the infant has to be assessed for any abnormality. This must include assessing for reflexes. Although cough cannot be tested as a reflex, its absence in a newborn has to raise eyebrows.

Why do we have to bring in all these narrations about the newborn assessment and reflexes? Is it even important to our context? Yes. Very much important. Knowing that cough is a vital reflex in the human body may allay traces of anxiety one may develop that they’re sick. A cough is a mechanism that your body uses to keep your throat and airway clear. In many cases, it works synergistically with the entire immunity to help protect the body and heal it.

During winter, for example, throat irritation drives us to cough and have a cold. All that glitters are not gold, one popular saying goes. So even if cough may play a role in protecting your body it may also be a sign of illness.

Cough and cold are most commonly caused by viruses that may not be easy to cure right away. These viruses included respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, coronavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, and rhinovirus.

Sadly, cough and common cold is a highly contagious disease. This means that when you cough or sneeze, respiratory droplets get into the air and can spread to the next person. The common symptoms of cold and cough include runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, dry cough, and fatigue.

Cough attacks may be acute or chronic. Acute coughs in many cases have a sudden onset and last only for 2 to 3 weeks. Chronic coughs on the other hand are mostly accompanied by flu, cold, or acute bronchitis. They may last longer than 2 or 3 weeks and may mainly be caused by allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive (COPD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), smoking, chronic bronchitis, and throat disorders.

Taking sips of water may help relieve symptoms of cough. Another home remedy to cough is breathing a steamy shower or vaporizer.

For the common cold, the flu-like symptoms can be eased with taking drugs called antihistamines such as cetirizine.

How Cold Viruses Cause Symptoms

In the previous section, it was mentioned that cold and cough are highly contagious illnesses and are caused by viruses or bacteria. These viruses can be passed from one person to the other by hand-to-hand and hand-to-surface contact. The viruses can also be breathed in air contaminated with viral particles. Therefore, it is worth it and wise to cover the mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing.

Upon infecting the human host, these viruses or bacteria follow what is termed as the natural history of the disease. They start multiplying rapidly in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat. Viruses of cold do not harm the body rather they cause symptoms due to the body trying to eliminate foreign bodies.

Rhinovirus for example, which is the virus of the nose causes symptoms in the body by binding to a protein intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (1CAM-1). ICAM-1 is a type of protein that is present in some epithelial cells and only found on the outer cell membranes. The rhinovirus uses it as a conduit to gain access into the cell. Past this stage, it becomes easy for the virus to alter the reproductive system of the cell and reproduce itself.

What follows is an immune response sparked off with the ICAM-1 by releasing lots of cytokines which are pro-inflammatory cell signaling proteins. In turn, the mucous membranes of the throat and nose are inflamed. Such inflammation is what leads to the congestion of the nose and soreness of the throat.

How Can CBD Treat Cough and Cold?

Many people currently have been using CBD as an alternative medication for symptoms of cough.

Cannabidiol for Congestion

Cannabidiol possesses an anti-inflammatory characteristic. These characteristics can help an individual deal with symptoms like sinus pain, sore throat, and body aches.

It is nearly embarrassing and annoying to have a congested nose, especially in public. When rhinovirus attacks the ICAM-1 in the nasal passage, they are made to swell and inflame and overproduce mucus. When the mucus is overproduced and clogs the sinuses, pain is felt and pressure is exerted on the sinuses.

At this point, you may use decongestants to help narrow the blood vessels and reduce nasal swelling thus relieving nasal stuffiness. CBD also works in the same way as decongestants. They help reduce inflammation and offer relief from the pressure on the sinus.

Although researches are not conclusive, the available data shows that CBD may be very effective in opening up the sinus passages and improve breathing.

CBD for Bacterial Infections

As the body attempts to fight viruses such as the rhinovirus, or when there is an inflammatory response, fever may develop. A study was carried out and its results were published in PubMed. It found that CBD has the potential to inhibit the progression of fever commonly caused by a virus.

CBD oil has been found to have the capabilities of initiating an anti-inflammatory response aided by the endocannabinoid system. This eventually helps reduce fever.

Conclusion

As an extract of the cannabis plant, CBD has the potential to heal numerous illnesses cough and cold included. Cold and cough are mainly caused by viruses and bacteria. They usually present with fever, nasal congestion, and headache. CBD helps relieve these symptoms by reducing inflammation.