CBD and respiratory diseases

The respiratory system consists of the nasal cavity, oral cavity, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and its task is to exchange air between the external environment and the lungs. In more detail, the respiratory system controls the process of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the body.

The nose/mouth, trachea, bronchi and diaphragm allow breathing and gas exchange, facilitating oxygenation of the blood through diffusion and re-excretion of carbon dioxide into the air.

The endocannabinoid system has been shown to play a key role in improving the respiratory capacity of the lungs. CB1 and CB2 receptors are dispersed within the respiratory system, and research indicates that clinical endocannabinoid deficiency contributes to chronic and malignant lung diseases. 1, 2, 3

Cannabidiol and respiratory diseases

CBD has been shown to have significant immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties in inflammation in various rodent models. Recent studies show that the prophylactic use of CBD was able to prevent lung inflammatory response in participants in clinical trials suffering from acute respiratory failure. The most severe form of acute respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is still an important issue and continues to be a challenge for doctors and followers. 4, 5

Asthma

Asthma is a reactive inflammatory respiratory disease that causes narrowing of the bronchioles, shortness of breath and a decrease in the respiratory volume of the lungs. Chronic asthma, which is characterized by acute reactivity, if left untreated, can quickly become a cause of death. It has been proven that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in eliminating the inflammatory response in asthma through CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Activated CB1 receptors induce bronchodilation (that is, relaxation of smooth muscle), which helps with breathing problems, while CB2 receptors affect immune responses in the lungs.

The endocannabinoid system helps modulate the overactive response to antigens, and research shows that CBD oil plays a significant role in interacting with the mechanisms that define pathophysiological effects in asthma. 6

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is an acquired malignant tumor, the most common cause of which is smoking. After exposure to carcinogenicity, genetic mutations appear early, and the development of a malignant tumor can occur even several decades later.

Smoking also affects the role of the endocannabinoid system in immune homeostasis. CBD oil, in addition to its known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are essential in the prevention and treatment of cancer, also appears to inhibit the metastasis of lung cancer, which often spreads to the brain and spine.

Research shows that CBD could provide a therapeutic option in the treatment of highly invasive lung cancer by effectively reducing the invasiveness of cancer cells. 7

Pneumonia

The cause of pneumonia is a viral or bacterial infection. The disease causes breathing disorders in people suffering from concomitant chronic and autoimmune diseases. The clinical deficiency of endocannabinoids associated with pneumonia affects the activity of CB2 receptors that regulate immune responses, including the inability to inhibit excessive leukocyte activity, which can lead to allergies and autoimmune reactions. CBD oil has been shown to inhibit leukocyte hyperactivity, improve lung function and reduce inflammation, shortening the recovery time in patients with acute lung infections. A growing body of evidence supports the potential use of CBD as a therapeutic tool in the treatment and control of infections and inflammatory lung diseases. 8, 9

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