With the advent of fall comes the flu shot lectures. Do flu shots really do any good? I don’t know. Seems evidence suggests they do according to some, but I’ve never gotten one (and don’t intend to), so I don’t have first-hand experience. Plus, I’m not here to discuss flu shots. I’d like to look at how CBD may help you prevent illness or lessen the symptoms if you get sick.
Can CBD cure the flu?
Probably not. But, let’s look at what it can do. To begin, we should talk about what the immune system does, and why CBD may have a positive effect on it.
Simply put, your immune system is the first line of defense against infection, viruses, and other illnesses. When an interloper (think germs, bacteria or virus) enters the body, a healthy immune system goes to work to obliterate the alien forces. Now it can also overreact and cause problems, but we’ll deal with that later.
Flu is a virus, microscopic particles that can infiltrate your cells. Unable to reproduce on its own, the virus preys on compromised or weak cells to replicate, or clone itself. When that weakened cell is used up, the virus moves on until at some point it runs out of compromised hosts. Letting the flu or cold run its course isn’t a bad idea. But that doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms and tough it out. Contracting the flu is common, but not a given if you maintain a healthy body with a good diet and adequate rest and exercise. However, it’s not always possible to avoid illness.
How can CBD relieve flu symptoms?
Because both the flu and the common cold are viruses, there isn’t a cure. What CBD can help with is the symptoms. As an anti-inflammatory, CBD can help relieve sore throat, and sinus pain, usually caused by inflammation, that often accompany the flu. It does that by reducing the inflammation in sinuses so you can breathe more easily.
The omega 3 fatty acids in CBD, also, reduce inflammation and help relieve body aches, which can include migraine and severe headache, another symptom of flu. As a result, you are able to rest and allow natural healing to occur.
Its antibacterial properties can help keep other infections at bay when your immune system is otherwise occupied trying to rid your body of the virus. And being the conscientious protector of your body that the immune system is, it can go overboard trying to help you get well. CBD can act as a modulator for the immune system to help dial it back a bit when it gets a little hyperactive.
Death from the flu is not common, but when it occurs, there are a couple reasons: infection caused by another germ, usually bacteria such as strep; by aggravating existing conditions such as heart disease and asthma; or creating a cytokine storm, or an overreaction to the virus. All of which have been touched on briefly here.
CBD oil, a more natural and less toxic way to alleviate symptoms than current medications, can be used when flu occurs to help you through the discomfort and pain. It can also be used to keep your immune system functioning optimally so that you can maybe avoid getting sick in the first place.