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Hemp is gaining popularity at a really high rate and on a daily basis, especially in the field of medicine. Numerous studies report positive results in therapies involving cannabis resin. One of the most well-known ingredients of cannabis is CBD that has been proved effective for various autoimmune disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. It has also recorded positive effects with Crohn’s disease, insomnia, diabetes, depression and several others. 

What Is CBD? 

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the Cannabis sativa plant, which is also known as cannabis or marijuana. It’s a naturally occurring substance that is used in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. 

How Does CBD Work?

There are over 80 different chemical cannabinoid compounds from on the trichomes of cannabis. These cannabinoids all produce certain effects in the body and attach themselves to certain receptors.

Our bodies also produce our own cannabinoids of our own, as well as producing two receptors for cannabinoids called CB1 and CB2. These receptors are located in the endocannabinoid system, which is one of our bodies best neurotransmitters. 

CB1 is present in the brain but can also be found throughout the body. The receptors in the brain deal with coordination, movement, pain, emotions, mood, thinking, appetite and memories. THC will attach itself to CB1. 

CB2 receptors are often found in your immune system and primarily impact pain and inflammation. It was originally thought that CBD attached to CB1 and CB2 but after some research, the body used more of its own cannabinoids and impacted these receptors indirectly. 

Can CBD Boost Your Immune System? 

You have probably heard the term immune health tossed around in the health and wellness industry. People use this term to describe products and habits that are supposed to help your immune system stay strong and stay healthy. 

As we mentioned earlier, studies have found that CBD can influence and enhance your immune system. CBD has anti inflammatory properties which can reduce the immune system’s inflammatory response. Inflammation is a vital response that isolates infected areas and prevents toxins from spreading. 

Because CBD works as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant, it may not be a necessary immune supplement choice for a healthy person but for those who have an autoimmune disease, CBD can be an excellent choice of therapy or treatment. 

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CBD has been found to modulate the immune system memory, meaning that CBD could cut down on the likelihood of autoimmune attacks. CBD has also been found to increase the expression of genes that deal with oxidative stress, this will reduce cell damage from autoimmune attacks. 

What Is An Autoimmune Disease?

An autoimmune disease is when your immune system does not work properly. Instead of attacking foreign microbes and antigens, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissue and organs.These self attacks can occur anywhere throughout the body and they often lead to a weakening of proper body function. Autoimmune diseases can be life threatening. Some examples of autoimmune diseases include: 

  • Diabetes
  • Rheumatoid
  • Arthritis
  • Multiple  sclerosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Chrone’s Disease
  • Huntington’s Disease

In summary, autoimmune disorders are when a person’s immune system attacks their own body. The immune system is designed to target viruses and foreign bodies. Your body is usually able tell the difference between a foreign invader and your own cells. When it sees healthy cells as foreign invaders, it launches a war against your own body and will attack healthy tissue such as joints, organs or your skin. 

The medical industry isn’t 100% sure why the immune system turns against healthy cells. These diseases can be excruciating and deliberating. It can cause swelling, redness, heat and overall body dysfunction. There is no cure for these types of conditions and treatments are limited. CBD provides a huge amount of relief for people who are suffering. 

How Can CBD Help An Autoimmune Disease?

Conventional medicine has mainly responded to autoimmune diseases with drugs that aim to suppress the immune system. Cannabis offers an alternative solution. 

Cannabis therapy offers a holistic response to complex autoimmune disorders, particularly when paired with dietary changes. It is a holistic approach to treating autoimmune conditions, to bring the body into homeostasis and decrease the stress response. 

People with autoimmune disorders have been finding success using cannabis for a long time. Research and scientists are understanding more and more that cannabis goes way beyond alleviating symptoms for autoimmune disorders. Cannabis seems to engage directly with immune cells by affecting the endocannabinoid system. 

The ECS plays a significant role in regulating immune function. Immune cells have both CB1 and CB2 receptors, and cannabis contains cannabinoids that interact with both of these ECS receptors. 

Cannabis acts like a key that can unlock the door which allows communication between the body and the immune system. When your immune system is in overdrive, cannabinoids from cannabis can encourage it to slow down and ease up the fight against healthy cells which is of course the goal. 

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We still need more research to understand fully how cannabis can treat autoimmune disorders but from what we know at the moment the future is looking bright. 

Cannabis and Inflammation

One of the main characteristics of autoimmune disease is inflammation. Anytime when the body is injured or poorly, it will trigger a reaction that produces inflammation where more cells are sent to speed the healing process. While this response is helpful in this short term, chronic inflammation from autoimmune disease causes a lot of pain and discomfort. Cannabis is a potent anti-inflammatory and can work fast to ease chronic inflammation. 

THC and CBD are the two most beneficial cannabinoids for treating autoimmune inflammation. CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive qualities. THC acts as an anti-inflammatory too at low doses and immunosuppressive at high doses. These qualities help to calm down an overactive immune response. 

Growing Your Own Cannabis For Medicine

If you would like to grow your own cannabis you could get it from a cannabis seed bank.  This is a business which specializes in not only storing and selling cannabis seeds but also in feminizing seeds to reduce the chance of male plants developing and maximize yields for commercial and individual growers. If you are unsure about growing your own cannabis you can buy autoflowering seeds which are essentially Fast Buds

Autoflowering cannabis seeds are a special type of cannabis that will automatically flower for 3-4 weeks after germination. Autoflowers on average take around 30% less time to grow than traditional cannabis plants, which saves the grower about a month of their time. If you live in a warmer climate you could harvest outdoors up to 4 times a year. 

Growing your own cannabis is very beneficial for medical uses as it prevents you from having to make frequent trips to the dispensary. You will have full control of how much cannabis you can grow, you will know exactly what goes into it, and also you will be able to medicate yourself in your own home. 

Gardening is extremely therapeutic and it is extremely relaxing to spend so much time outside. It is also really important to have a creative outlet so roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty! There is also nothing more rewarding than smoking cannabis that you have grown yourself.