The Use of CBD for Autoimmune Diseases

A lot of people dealing with autoimmune diseases are turning to CBD for the treatment of symptoms and potentially provide relief. The immuno-suppressant properties present in cannabinoids suggest CBD may alleviate the symptoms triggered by autoimmune disorders.

In this article, we will explore the role of CBD in possibly easing the symptoms of many common autoimmune health conditions.

Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disorders refer to conditions where the human body experiences an abnormal immune response. These responses can appear as either too little immune activity (immune deficiency disorders) or too much (autoimmune disease). In case of too little immune activity, the human body becomes vulnerable to fighting infection and disease, while in case of an overactive immune system, the body attacks its tissues thereby leaving them damaged.

CBD for Autoimmune Diseases

A healthy immune system defends the human body against infection and disease, but when a malfunction occurs, T-cells bring the body back into homeostasis which is the root of all autoimmune conditions.

Conventional treatments include slowing down the immune system to avoid the auto-aggressive response. In effect, long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs compromises the immune system, making one more susceptible to infections. This is why there is a dire need for holistic treatment support. This is where CBD plays an important role in autoimmune diseases.

Cannabidiol therapies as well as proper dietary regulation can support treatment for alleviating symptoms of autoimmune diseases. This works in two ways:

• By modulating the immune system.
• By decreasing inflammation.

The Three Types of CBD

• Full-spectrum: Full-spectrum CBD THC oil consists of all the compounds from the cannabis plant, including THC. Due to the entourage effect, according to which CBD works better with THC instead of individually, a full-spectrum product is more likely to give noticeable results.
• Broad-spectrum: Broad-spectrum CBD is THC-free CBD oil, but it contains a few cannabis plant elements like terpenes.
• Isolate: CBD isolate is a good option in case someone wants to avoid the intake of THC. It contains no additional cannabis plant elements. However, there’s always a chance that trace levels can be found in the final product, so it’s best to avoid the use of CBD in case you are drug-tested.

Immunomodulatory Effects of CBD Usage

Clinical dieticians recommend the consumption of herbs and foods that produce modulatory effects in the immune system for people suffering from autoimmune diseases. Cannabis therapy and dietary changes are less expensive, safer, and possibly more effective for treating the symptoms as well as for addressing the root cause as compared to pharmaceutical medications.

Cannabis compounds such as CBD are known to modulate the immune system. They act as regulators, bringing an over or under-reacting immune system back to normal. It’s commonly agreed that people dealing with autoimmune conditions are better off without taking anything which boosts the immune system.

1. According to researchers, cannabinoids offer a beneficial strategy to treat autoimmune disorders. If your immune system’s response is exaggerated, an immunomodulatory element will downregulate it. On the other hand, if your immune system has difficulty identifying potential threats, it will increase immune function to fix the deficient response.
2. According to researchers, cannabinoids offer a beneficial strategy to treat autoimmune disorders. If your immune system’s response is exaggerated, an immunomodulatory element will downregulate it. On the other hand, if your immune system has difficulty identifying potential threats, it will increase immune function to fix the deficient response.

Cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2) regulate several pathways of the immune system. Studies have shown that activating CB2 receptors can suppress the immune response, which can further be helpful for those dealing with autoimmunity. CB2 is also known to block the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and boost the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines thereby CBD balancing the immune system.

CBD has been found to modulate the immune system in case of autoimmunity diseases. It also suppresses immune system memory and slows down T-cell production, due to which it reduces the likelihood of future autoimmune breakouts.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of CBD

• Inflammation is triggered due to several illnesses. Medical researchers have mentioned the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD and other cannabis ingredients.
• Regulating inflammation reduces the possibility of an autoimmune attack. Cannabis therapies are known to aid people dealing with autoimmune conditions by curbing inflammation with little to no adverse reactions.
• According to preclinical studies, CBD can reduce autoimmune responses on top of decreasing the gene transcription that promotes inflammation.
• Patients with autoimmune diseases report that they have been able to improve their condition by taking cannabis-based medicine into their regime.

CBD Dosage for Autoimmune Diseases

1. Every human is different, thus the effective dosage range varies greatly between individuals. If you want to get a better understanding of CBD dosage, you should consult your doctor as it will also help you avoid potential interactions with other medications.
2. The general recommendation is to start low and slow dosage. One should take the minimum dose based on their weight: 2–6 mg per every 10 pounds of one’s body weight. While following this schedule, one must observe the effects over one week.
3. CBD can be well tolerated even in doses as high as 1,500 mg. However, there are a few mild side effects that might occur when you consume too much of it at a time. These side effects include dry mouth, appetite fluctuation, lowered blood pressure, fatigue, diarrhoea, etc. Luckily, since cannabinoid receptors aren’t found in the brain stem area that controls respiratory function- it is impossible to fatally overdose on CBD.

Please Note: CBD can interact with a wide range of medications. It uses the same mechanism as grapefruit juice, so any medication with a grapefruit warning shouldn’t be consumed along with CBD oil. Taking CBD with other medications can cause dangerous side effects or, on the contrary, even substance toxicity.