CBD and Your Immune System

Does CBD Oil Support the Immune System?

Feeling good today? Thank your immune system.

The immune system is an intricate network of cells, molecules, organs, and tissues that work together to keep us fit as a fiddle. Think of it as our body's built-in defense mechanism that works around the clock with military precision to ward off foreign invaders like infectious diseases, bacteria and viruses (antigens).

Several factors like limited or poor-quality sleep, daily chronic stress, and insufficient exercise can compromise your immune function. Ergo, if you want to ensure your immune system is always functioning optimally, you should try to get about 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, manage your stress levels, and follow an active lifestyle. There are also many supplements and fortified foods you can use to support immune health. One such product that may help your immune system  is CBD.

CBD: A Quick Overview

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis Sativa, is a fairly new product, and we are still trying to understand how it interacts with the complex web of biological systems in our bodies. While studies have found out that CBD can be used for dealing with a number of mental and heart conditions, a new wave of research points toward cannabinoids having an adaptive, modulating effect on the immune system as well.

Understanding the Endocannabinoid and Immune Systems

The immune system has two ways in which it finds and destroys dangerous pathogens:

1. Cell-mediated immunity: Associated with the T-lymphocytes (T cells) and responsible for destroying the pathogens or microorganisms which have invaded the cells.
2. Humoral immunity: Associated with the B-lymphocytes (B cells) and responsible for destroying the pathogens by producing antibodies against it.

In order to maintain an optimal functioning immune system, controlling and regulating the proper balance between cell-mediated and humoral responses is required. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex cell-signaling arrangement identified in the early 1990s, has been known to do just that. Endocannabinoids themselves are suggested to play an important role in immune functions and the fine-tuning of immune balance. Certain lymphocytes (white blood cells, one of the bodies types of immune cells) work with endocannabinoids which modulate the lymphocyte's growth and death. Working together, they can defend against things like bacteria and viruses.

And because the endocannabinoid system responds to external cannabinoids like CBD, stimulating the ECS by introducing CBD in the body may support the health and functionality of the immune system. Learn more about the endocannabinoid system here.

In Conclusion

Of course, a lot more research needs to be carried out on the relationship between CBD and the immune system. Nonetheless, the initial findings do look promising. With the information we know already, CBD looks like it has what it takes for being a general immune supporter. We will update this blog as new research becomes available.

Sources:

1. Cannabinoids in health and disease
2. Immunity - The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
3. Endocannabinoids and immune regulation