CBD Treats Autoimmune Diseases?

Is your immune system creating disease in your body?

Sometimes it’s not obvious, and requires tests that look for antigens.

Today there are more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases and, sadly, modern medicine doesn’t have a cure for any of them.

These disorders happen when when your immune system goes into overdrive and attacks your own body instead of seeking out viruses, germs and other foreign invaders. Why? We can look to our modern, toxic environment.

Dangerous pesticides, hormone disrupters, and other toxins damage your cells, spawn free radicals and disrupt your immune system.

A traditional doctor’s go-to treatment is a drug that alleviates symptoms. But once that stops being effective, they pull out the big guns – and prescribe an immunosuppressant that shuts down your immune system. That makes you vulnerable to life-threatening infections like pneumonia and even cancer.

But breakthrough research suggests CBD is an effective treatment for autoimmune disorders. And unlike other common treatments, CBD has no side effects.

CBD treats patients with autoimmune diseases in three ways.

  • First, it acts like an adaptogen and “adapts” to what your body needs. If you have an AI disorder, cannabis would be immune modulating. In other words, instead of “boosting” the immune system, CBD therapy would bring your immunity back into balance. In this particular case, CBD also slows down T cell production.
  • Second, it decreases inflammation. CBD decreases levels of a protein called interleukin-2 that causes inflammation. But at the same time, it increases levels of an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-10.
  • Third, cannabidiol slows down T cell production and suppresses immune system memory. This means using CBD could cut down on the likelihood of future autoimmune attacks. CBD has also been found to increase the expression of genes that deal with oxidative stress, which may reduce cell damage from autoimmune attacks.

The research into treating autoimmune diseases with CBD is promising:

In a five-week study, rheumatoid arthritis patients who received a CBD product reported reduced inflammation and significantly improved pain. Participants also said their sleep improved greatly and side effects were minor.1 A recent animal study looked at the effects of topical CBD on chronic rheumatoid arthritis pain. After one week, researchers concluded CBD provided long-lasting therapeutic effects with no negative side effects.2

A recent review of scientific studies from researchers at the University of Rochester Multiple Sclerosis Center in New York found that medical marijuana helped manage multiple sclerosis pain and reduced spasticity in 77% of patients. Another 70% reported that cannabis sativa improved their quality of life.3

Researchers tracked 102 fibromyalgia patients who used cannabis sativa for six months. At the end of the study, 33% of participants said they experienced “significant improvement” in pain, fatigue and stiffness. Almost 50% reported improvements in anxiety and depression. Incredibly, 47% of patients were able to stop or greatly reduce their use of Big Pharma painkillers.

For three years, Israeli researchers followed 30 patients who did not respond to traditional Crohn’s disease treatment. After taking cannabis, 21 experienced a significant decrease in symptoms such as diarrhea, pain, weigh loss and fatigue. Before the study, two-thirds of patients needed surgery. But only two patients needed surgery while using cannabis sativa.5

While research on patients with type 1 diabetes is in its infancy, one early study found that regular use of cannabis sativa was associated with better blood sugar control and 16% lower fasting insulin levels. The study was published in The American Journal of Medicine.6

Supercharge Your CBD For Better Results

I add CBD oil to the other healthy fats in my morning “super” coffee.

A new study found that patients who ate healthy fats while taking CBD quadrupled their absorption level.7 So I started adding CBD to my morning “super” coffee. It’s a hot buttered coffee mixed with grass-fed butter and coconut oil.

I like to whip butter and coconut oil to form a creamy drink similar to a latte. Here’s how to make it:

  • 1 cup of hot brewed organic coffee
  • 1 Tbsp grass-fed butter
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • ½ to 1 dropper CBD oil

Directions:

  1. Pour your coffee into a blender with butter and coconut oil.
  2. Blend on high speed for about 10 to 20 seconds until light and creamy.
  3. Stir in the CBD and add a little cinnamon or cacao powder on top. Enjoy!

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD, CNS

1. Blake D, et al. “Preliminary assessment of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a cannabis-based medicine (Sativex) in the treatment of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.” Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Jan;45(1):50-2.
2. Hammell D, et al. “Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.” Eur J Pain. 2016 Jul; 20(6): 936–948.
3. Gyang R, et al. “‘Real world’ experience of medical marijuana in symptomatic management of multiple sclerosis and transverse myelitis.” Neurology. 2018. April 10, 2018; 90 (15 Supplement).
4. Giorgi V, et al. “Adding medical cannabis to standard analgesic treatment for fibromyalgia: a prospective observational study.” Clin Exp Rheumatol. Jan-Feb 2020;38 Suppl 123(1):53-59.
5. Naftali T, et al. “Treatment of Crohn’s disease with cannabis: an observational study.” IMAJ. August 2011;13(8):455-8.
6. Alpert J. “Novel study reports marijuana users have better blood sugar control.” 2013. Am J Med. 126(7):557-558.

7. Birnbaum A, et al. “Food effect on pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol oral capsules in adult patients with refractory epilepsy.” Epilepsia. 2019 Aug;60(8):1586-1592.