Posted May 19, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Another La Niña could mean a dry, warm winter in Albuquerque, but it is likely that we will still see many cases of colds and flu before spring returns. Marijuana users seem to find some excuse to smoke marijuana, but is it really a good idea to treat a cold or the flu with cannabis?
Security concerns
The truth is that very little is known about the health benefits or dangers of cannabis use. Although the current body of scientific knowledge about the use of the plant indicates that using it while it is ill will not do any lasting harm, this set of work is relatively small and there is little data on cannabis use. while sick with the common cold. the flu.
So before you start illuminating this joint to fix the cough, stop and consider what you are doing. Is your throat raw and scratched? Does smoking marijuana usually make your throat feel more or less raw and scratchy?
The truth is that cannabis is not the panacea that some advocates and enthusiasts will make you believe it is. Smoking marijuana can irritate the esophagus and, if your throat is already sore, adding another irritant is probably not the solution.
Diseases such as the common cold or the flu can make victims feel disoriented and dizzy. If you are new to cannabis or are particularly sensitive to its effects, smoking weeds can make these symptoms worse.
When you can help
With all of this in mind, cannabis may offer some health benefits to regular consumers and to patients with medical cannabis who suffer from cold and flu symptoms.
Anti-inflammatory
Although many health claims have been made about cannabis, the drug’s ability to fight inflammation has been tested time and time again and seems to be true. A 2011 article in the journal Neuroscience Letters found that CBD helped reduce inflammatory pain in rats. A 2016 study in the European Journal of Pain found that CBD relieves the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Another 2016 study found in the journal Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that marijuana can counteract the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
This anti-inflammatory mechanism occurs when cannabinoids interact with CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system and help regulate the body’s inflammatory responses.
Antimicrobial
In some studies, cannabinoids have been shown to have antimicrobial properties, or the ability to slow the spread of microorganisms and viruses, such as those that cause colds and flu. A study published in the journal Antibiotics in 2020 found that several cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and CBN, showed “potent antimicrobial activity” against eradicated pathogens and biofilms. A 2021 study published in Communications Biology found that CBD showed “very useful antimicrobial activity beyond that described above.”
Expectorant
If you’ve ever had one of those body weed coughs that left you breathless with tears on your face, you won’t be surprised by this next benefit of smoking cannabis while you’re sick.
Cannabis is a natural expectorant, meaning it helps to remove mucus from the lungs and throat through coughing. As mentioned above, if your throat is already sore or irritated by coughing, smoking will only get worse. But if you have a little dirt in your lungs and have trouble getting rid of it, there aren’t many better ways to do it than with a serious hack-a-thon. It’s dirty but it works.
Pain management
The power of marijuana to combat pain, both chronic and acute, is known around the world. According to the most recent report from the New Mexico Department of Health, 38,534 patients enrolled in the state medical cannabis program were recommended cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain. It is the second largest group of cannabis patients behind those with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sleep aid
If the cold or flu keeps you awake, a good breath will help you sleep comfortably and restfully. Using cannabis as a sleep aid can be especially helpful if a patient is using other over-the-counter or over-the-counter medications and is concerned about adding another drug to the list. Marijuana has been used as a safe and effective way to drift into the land of dreams for centuries.
Smoking, groceries or wax?
As mentioned earlier, if your throat or lungs feel especially raw or irritated, it is probably best to avoid smoking cannabis to relieve these symptoms, as it will probably only make the problems worse. The problem is that smoking cannabis is arguably the most medically beneficial method of using the drug. Vaping cannabis oil has been linked to lung health problems in recent years and does not appear to be as “healthy” an alternative to smoking as is often said.
In this case, groceries are a better option, although they will probably help more with insomnia. Groceries are problematic because it’s too easy to take too much and have a nasty time (a bad grocery trip would certainly make a cold worse). They will also not have the full terpene and cannabinoid profile that the raw flower will have, which means they will not necessarily have all the medical benefits mentioned above.
CBD for relief
And if you’re looking for some of these benefits without the high, why not try a CBD oil from a reputable manufacturer? As with groceries and THC oils, CBD is an isolated compound and will not have the same medical benefits of the full profile flower, but CBD has many of the benefits found in other cannabinoids, albeit in smaller measure.
Whether you decide to use cannabis to help treat your health problems in the winter or not, remember that nothing improves a cold like rest and a good bowl of soup.
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