Often associated with hungry teenagers the cannabis plant is one of the oldest plants known to humans, dating back over 5000 years. As old as it is, scientists are just now starting to understand all the health benefits of the drug. With qualities that improve both physical and mental health here are the six ways cannabis can build immunity:
Consciousness & Cannabis
Far from the munchies eating couch potatoes, many of those who smoke regularly begin to grow more conscious of their body in general. Anecdotal information tells us many people who partake in smoking weed, come to have a higher appreciation for their body.
THC, the compound largely responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana is known to create an awareness in certain people that can lead to better health outcomes in healthy eating, exercise and other positive outcomes.
COVID-19 & Cannabis
Researchers at the University of Calgary, in western Canada have found a surprising link between COVID and cannabis. Known for the scratchy lungs smoking weed can give, researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory effects of specific cannabinoid agents.
The study points to a specific terpene known as caryophyllene, as the major benefit against inflammatory cytokine, the agent involved in covid’s respiratory severity. For the health-conscious smoker, the study even goes further into what strains to use. The study at Pathways Research states:
‘“Cannabis sativa, especially one high in the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), has been proposed to modulate gene expression and anti-inflammatory properties”
While research is still in its infancy scientists are excited as cannabis has been known to be anti-inflammatory, and using it against COVID can be a major tool in the fight against the pandemics’ worst effects.
Cancer & Cannabis
The use of cannabis in cancer patients is a growing form of treatment as many use the drug to treat both the effects of cancer, through the death of cancer cells, and by treating the effects of chemotherapy, like nausea or loss of appetite. With studies still in their infancy, cannabinoids within marijuana have been shown to connect to cancer cells in animals, they can reduce or eliminate cancer cells altogether, in patients cannabis oils have been shown to reduce terminal diagnoses.
A toxin itself, chemotherapy poisons cancer cells to get rid of them, but in doing that the drug also causes deleterious effects like headaches, nausea and loss of appetite. According to a study by WebMD 82% of oncologists believe cannabis should be used to alleviate the drawbacks of chemotherapy, bringing back mood and fitness to patients, who due to treatment, may be in pain. With improved responses to chemo, many patients’ immune systems work better to fight any virus.