CBD Oil Effective in Asthma Treatment

Atopic diseases or those that cause an immediate allergic reaction (asthma the largest percentage) affect about 20 percent of the population in developed countries.

Researchers are still looking for a way to combat this long-standing public health problem by conducting a series of tests involving the use of cannabidiol (CBD). Although the studies were conducted on rats, the results are very promising. Research suggests that products including CBD oil are an effective treatment to minimize the inflammation experienced by asthma patients.

With the approval of the Ethics Commission of the Brazilian University (Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense) and in conjunction with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the researchers conducted a series of studies using 8 week old rats from a breeding colony. 5 rats were kept in cages and exposed to 12 hours of light exposure. They were given food and water so that they could enjoy them in their free time.

Rats were injected with albumin - chicken egg (OVA), or in combination with aluminum hydroxide. OVA is unusual in the environment and can provoke a TP and Th2 response. A second injection of OVA or aluminum hydroxide was given 14 days later. In the last two days of the study, 21 rats were divided into 3 control groups – 1 group of asthmatics (OVA injected) and 2 group of asthmatics and 3 group of treated (OVA and CBD injected).

The asthmatic group and the treatment group were given a once daily injection of CBD and TWEEN(R)80 solution (which was prepared before administration and kept away from light). After 24 hours, blood samples of the rats were taken, so the researchers were able to assess the levels of their cytokines. Cytokines are proteins released by cells that have a specific effect on the interaction and communication between cells and on the behavior of cells.

Studies have shown that rats given CBD experienced a reduction in two types of cytokines, known as Tp and Th2. In addition to demonstrating that CBD was effective in significantly lowering cytokine levels, studies indicate that CBD may reduce the secretion of excessive mucus experienced by people with asthma.

The results of the study are consistent with other studies by Alison Ribero, which also showed that CBD has potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. It should be noted, however, that asthma associated with inflammation in the rat model is slightly different from that induced by liposaccharides in studies in mice that investigated reducing inflammation caused by lung trauma.

Applications

The study of the rat model gave the researchers some data to interpret, but with some limitations. One of them was the most important fact that the researchers were unable to collect evidence of airway inflammation because they could not properly assess the effect of CBD on the cytokines found in bronchial washings.

Despite these limitations, these studies and many others have shown how much more effective, rigorous, and up-to-date research is needed, especially in larger human trials. While still few people support the legalization of marijuana, most support the use of cannabis because of its high medicinal efficacy. However, in order to fully understand and document the healing effects of cannabis and cannabinoids (CBD), it is necessary to improve research technologies and data collection techniques.