CBD and Lupus
My goal is to spread awareness of the many therapeutic benefits that CBD and various cannabinoids have to offer with the hopes that you can use it to your benefit, regardless of what ailment you are dealing with.
The truth is medical cannabis was shown to be an effective form of treatment for over 200 chronic diseases, which is beyond impressive (1). It is time we bring that information to the surface because humanity is desperate to find something that can improve many conditions we live with every day.
We deserve the right to have access to something that is safe and effective and as we dive deeper into the medical journals that are being conducted, we are finding out that this amazing herb does just that. Check this out!
Lupus, also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system is being over stimulated and stuck in the “on” position, resulting in the body attacking the healthy cells, which results in systemic inflammation on the tissues that are being affected (1).
Being that CBD helps modulate immune response (help turn our immune system “off” when it is always “on” and “on” when it is “off”), helps reduce inflammation, and helps modulate pain perception (2). The fact that CBD and THC (as well as other cannabinoids) can reduce inflammation and help control pain, this has given researchers hope that these plant compounds can also provide relief for those that suffer from Lupus and the results are worth sharing with the world.
Lupus affects a few different organ systems including the skin (rashes, ulcers, hair loss), Blood (anemia), Musculoskeletal (swollen and painful joints), Lymphatic system (swollen, painful lymph nodes), Nervous system (confusion, brain fog, changes in vision, depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction), Respiratory (difficulty breathing, inflamed tissues that cover the lungs and chest wall [pleurisy]), Cardiovascular (chest pain, inflamed blood vessels [vasculitis]), and Urinary complications (kidney failure) (1).
As you can see, Lupus isn’t confined to just one organ system, it affects many different organ systems, and it can be daunting to deal with. This makes it even more of a priority for us to find something that people diagnosed with Lupus can utilize to improve how one manages the symptoms of Lupus.
CBD was shown to be effective for addressing the symptoms of Lupus because of the interaction with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its receptors, which include CB1 and CB2 receptors, which was able to downregulate an overactive immune system, provide anti-inflammatory properties that was shown to reduce inflammation systemically (by reducing the levels of cytokines) (1,3). That is huge when you get an understanding of how Lupus affects people.
As you can see, Lupus can affect multiple organ systems and really affect one’s quality of life because of the pain and inflammation that comes along with Lupus. Every person with Lupus should know about the benefits they can get from utilizing these natural plant compounds. The fact that additional health benefits come along with using cannabinoids like CBD and THC is just another huge bonus!
More studies need to be done to get a better understanding of how this plant can address different chronic health conditions. One thing we know is that we don’t need to conduct more studies to determine the safety profile of these seemingly harmless plant compounds. Let’s face it, not one single death has ever been recorded since documentation has taken place for using cannabis. And that is a long time and also worth noting.
Cheers to this amazing herb!
Bee-Well,
Brandon Farless
*This information is for educational purposes only and simply sharing if the information pertained to these studies. No medical advice or claims are being made.
- Blesching, U. (2022). The cannabis health index: Combining the science of medical marijuana with mindfulness techniques to treat over 200 chronic diseases. Logos/Uwe Blesching.
- Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
- Rodríguez Mesa, X. M., Moreno Vergara, A. F., Contreras Bolaños, L. A., Guevara Moriones, N., Mejía Piñeros, A. L., & Santander González, S. P. (2021). Therapeutic Prospects of Cannabinoids in the Immunomodulation of Prevalent Autoimmune Diseases. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(3), 196–210.https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0183
