CBD and Cannabis in the Time of the Current Coronavirus: COVID-19

Immunity Defined > im·mu·ni·ty / iˈmyo͞onədē/ — from Oxford English Dictionary, 2019

noun: 

“the resistance, resilience to, nonsusceptibility, lack of susceptibility to,  protection from, ability to fight off, ability to withstand, ability to counteract, defenses against, immunization against a contaminant” 

The best way to fight an immunity irritant such as a coronavirus? 

Relaxation, self-care, proper hygiene, avoiding alcohol, or practicing meditation to relieve anxiety and everyday worry.

All of these simple, yet effective actions are having a positive effect on your immune system by intensifying all of the good actions, molecules, nutrients in your body and dampening the ones that are not healthy.

You must take care of your mind and your body during this difficult time. CBD and cannabis can most certainly help with this endeavor, but you should not rely on CBD as your sole preventative measure for COVID-19.

The truth is even if you practice the helpful tips that follow, take all precautions, and ingest CBD or cannabis in mass quantities, you still may contract the current coronavirus. But your immune system will be much more prepared. Cannabis and CBD are not cures by any means, but they are indeed prophylactics, meaning they are both considered preventive or protective measures to take as part of your regimen to prevent something like a weakened immune system or to protect a healthy immune system. 

Why exactly do CBD and cannabis help our immune system?

Because CBD can have such a valuable anti-inflammatory effect on your entire body through your CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors — including your massive immune system — that ingesting, inhaling, or supplementing with CBD can help. 

While they have shown development in delaying the progression of HIV, Alzheimer’s, and some cancers, CBD or cannabis alone can’t prevent or cure any virus completely. Not even a coronavirus. Rather, think of using CBD as a tool you can use in your toolkit to regulate and restore homeostasis or balance within your body. 

Restoring balance to your immune system through utilization of your body’s existing endocannabinoid receptors using CBD is beneficial to natural, good immunological health. 

What can you do to naturally boost your immune system without CBD?

Staying active while you are at home or in isolation, practicing proper social distancing. 

Engage your mental and physical presence in activities at home, such as dance parties with your family, or finally starting that piece of art you’ve been contemplating. 

In our current world of closures, there is no shortage of free educational or informative webinars, digital workshops, or virtual events on every topic imaginable, and from quality, credible presenters and companies.

Now is the time to start watching your sleep more carefully and supplementing with melatonin, if necessary, to promote a healthy sleep cycle. You have plenty of time to rest and recharge with required social distancing, so take advantage and sleep well.

You can always make sure that you are ingesting many antioxidants and minerals such as Zinc and Vitamin C, which can help boost your natural immunity and your internal virus-fighting system. Eat leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and colorful foods to ensure natural high intake of these necessary nutrients.

Or, if your food supply is dwindling, use oral or sublingual supplementation of these valuable ingredients your body’s immune system desperately craves. Try Zinc, Vitamin C, and multivitamins in easy to digest capsules, powders, and drops.

Ensuring that you get many good laughs during your time of social distance is key. Turn off an unhealthy amount of news and unplug from your social media feed for several hours to recharge and renew.

Putting in a funny movie and having a good belly laugh releases needed endorphins, serotonin and dopamine into your system which naturally make you feel better overall.

Similar to using a cough drop to help you produce phlegm that is beneficial to your respiratory system, laughing makes us feel better by reducing feelings of worry and anxiety and producing natural feel-good chemicals in our brains.

Worry and anxiety are two emotions that we could all do with less of during this uncertain time. Strengthen your other emotions and fortify your other physical actions by taking the following steps while you use your CBD or cannabis.

Drink plenty of water and not simply interspersed cocktails of alcohol and coffee, in which we have a tendency to imbibe in far too large quantities during times of self-isolation.

Keep your mind sharp by  working on a piece of art or a handicraft that you’ve been putting off or setting aside due to lack of time. If you don’t entertain thoughts of fear and worry about COVID-19, then your outlook and the challenges presented by this viral pandemic seem minute in comparison — because you are preoccupied with being healthy in body and mind.

Where does CBD fit into the equation?

It takes you working actively in conjunction with any CBD or cannabis to help your immune system deal with foreign material. For a start, you can do this by taking the steps above. 

Find your own routines and regimens that work, implement your CBD protocol into those existing or newly created routines, and continue established practices for building up your health immunity to any virus — such as good hygiene like handwashing, sanitizing, and social distancing. I would extend this admonition to social media “news” distancing as well, for your mental well-being. 

Keep your working CBD or cannabis regimen that you already have in place. Supplement or add intake as needed. However, please do not make the mistake of thinking that CBD is a cure or a one-size-fits-all therapeutic technique for dealing with a coronavirus, such as COVID-19. 

Practice good hygiene as directed by the CDC, change up your physical and mental activities, and supplement these necessary actions with your existing personal CBD or cannabis therapy. Amp up your CBD or cannabis schedule as  much as you find immediately helpful, but be careful not to overdo it. You are striving for balance.