BY RUTH HILL R.N.
Scientific evidence for treating COVID-19 with Marijuana/cannabis does not exist. But that does not stop the hype in social media. Does cannabis boost our immune system? Yes. But that does not translate to treating the viral disease with cannabis. If you have a fever take Motrin, drink plenty of fluids or Gatorade, isolate at home, and do not wait too long to get medical care especially if you have comorbidities of diabetes cardiac disease or other immune deficiencies. See if your physician will assess your condition via telehealth. Many complications of the disease come from patients staying home to long.
COVID-19 is a new virus. In January and February, we did not know anything about this virus. Now after studying it the statistics show there is a 98 per cent recover without issues. Every day we get contradictory instructions but do not panic. Continue to take the usual dose of cannabis whether vaping, using tinctures or edibles. Be sure you are buying from a licensed dispensary. This way you can be assured the product is tested for potency, mold, metals, pesticides, terpenes or other microbials. All dispensary products have a certificate of analysis (COA) either in the dispensary or online.
Hemp products are not required to be tested in the same way as marijuana/cannabis. Some reputable brands do test their hemp for potency. To be labeled hemp it has less than 0.3 per cent of delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unless you see a COA online there is no way of knowing what is in the product. Most issues revolve around the unapproved additives or thinners.
According to a published study in the Journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research cannabidiol (CBD) may possess antiviral activity in the treatment of hepatitis C and Karposi sarcoma. There exists “no evidence from properly designed clinical trials to support the use of CBD for the treatment “of these or other conditions, such as the flu, West Nile virus, Ebola, or common cold viruses.
Israeli research labs are launching trials and treatments for COVID-19 — and three eye-catching ones are based on cannabis. The researchers are using “revolutionary exosome-based technology.” Exosomes, the next frontier of cell therapy, are how cells talk to each other. They are little packets of information that one cell excretes to communicate something to other cells. Every cell in your body produces exosomes and they are found everywhere from your saliva to your urine. Go to https://centenoschultz.com/ to learn more about exosome therapy.
A second study is looking at the combination of CBD and steroids as a treatment for COVID-19 patients. In August 2018, STERO Biotechs Ltd received a patent for steroid-sparing CBD-based treatment that the company said at the time, “has the potential of minimizing the devastating and sometimes lethal effects of steroids.” The third study by Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center is examining whether cannabis — because of its anti-inflammatory properties — could slow down moderate symptoms in patients with COVID-19.
Dr. Ethan Russo, a renowned researcher in cannabis science recently announced the establishment in the U.S. of CReDO Science, a new company developing and commercializing an eclectic range of cannabinoid-centered innovations with medical, diagnostic and industrial applications. Russo successfully oversaw the Sativex® and Epidiolex® trials.
CReDO is trying to leverage the antimicrobial properties of cannabis to make a disinfectant that would be cannabis based and effective against COVID-19. Based on prior research with bacteria and viruses Dr. Russo expects their preparations would be effective against a variety of viruses as well as fungi and bacteria.
It is known that cannabidiol is a highly effective anti-inflammatory agent, and it may have disease modifying effects in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Our joints are full of CB-1 receptors, where THC can be of benefit. The combination of CBD and THC really portends to offer a better and even safer treatment for osteoarthritis, which most people acquire beyond a certain age. There are multitudes of problems with non- steroidal anti-inflammatories, and many people cannot take them.
Questions on Cannabis and COVID-19 email hilruth@gmail.com
