Coronavirus and therapeutic cannabis, possible benefits?
Coronavirus and Cannabis is a special combination that might make many smile, but not everyone. It’s been few days since Lello Ciampolillo, ex senator of M5S (Five Star Movement), wrote to the minister Speranza in with respect to Coronavirus and cannabis. The senator has invited the minister of health to keep in mind the possibility to use cannabis as a possible therapy against coronavirus.
A theory without scientific proof
The senator Ciampolillo’s theory about Coronavirus and cannabis is the following: vaporising Cannabis flowers has already shows great results in the treatment of disorders related to the respiratory system in terminal patients. Moreover, cannabis flower, with its 800 and more active ingredients, reinforces the immune system. From here his proposal to use it as a treatment of the new virus.
Cannabis based products, such as Bedrocan, should, according to the senator, be treated during this health emergency.
According to the senator, Coronavirus and cannabis could work well together and cannabis could be used in elderly patients. By doing this one could exploit its power of freeing the respiratory system to take the patients towards the complete healing.
This could be a supporting therapy to help breathing as those affected by coronavirus pneumonia are already being treated with other medicines.
However, although the multiple benefits of the cannabinol, the binomial Coronavirus and cannabis is still not proven to be effective. The therapeutic use of this active ingredient does not have any scientific validity. Also, at the moment the tests to validate this proposal are not a priority.
Therefore, we prefer to suspend our judgement on what has been said by the minister and we will wait until the doctors will find an effective cure.
Cannabinol and its therapeutic effects
Associating Coronavirus and cannabis does not seem so hazardous! Using cannabis for therapeutic reasons is a millennial practice. Used by different countries in the world, cannabis has proven effective in the treatment of many disorders, as proven scientifically. It’s currently being used as a as an adjuvant in the treatment of many disorders.
- Sleep disorder. The relaxing properties of cannabis are being used for pathologies linked to sleeping disorders.
- Chronic pain. Cannabis is very useful to ease the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, migraine, and osteoarthritis.
- Gastrointestinal issues. It’s being used as an appetite stimulator for pathologies such as anorexia and cachexia.
- Mood disorders. Cannabis has proven useful in the treatment of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder.
- Neurological disorders. Tourette syndrome, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson and Alzheimer react well to the cannabinoil based treatment.
- It’s also being used for the treatment of HIV, in cases of muscular dystrophy and in the cases of tumours being treated with chemotherapy.
Based on what we just said, it’s clear that a supporter of cannabinoil use might ask to verify the treatment for Coronavirus with cannabis.
Active ingredients and psychotropic substances
The active ingredients included in cannabis are many and they vary based on the different type of cannabis taken into consideration. Each of them has different characteristics that determine their function.
The THC for example is the psychoactive part. It acts on the brand and it’s useful in the treatment of many different disorders, such as Alzheimer, Tourette syndrome, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. It is also being used as a support therapy for those who are undergoing chemotherapy.
The CDB is another cannabinoid. It’s an anticonvulsant that is being used for therapies against tumours and to treat psychosis.
The CBG is the basic substance that converts in the other cannabinoids. Its assumption leads to muscular relaxation and has visible anti-inflammatory properties.
Using these substances, individually or together, is very useful in many cases where traditional medicine cannot work.
We could then say that the senator Ciampolillo has dared to associate Coronavirus and cannabis on the basis of new studies about the usage of its active ingredients in many fields.
However, we cannot support in any way that it would be actually useful. Doctors and expert researchers will have the last say about it, and it’s not good to trust do-it-yourself therapies that have not been approved after accurate research.
An effective remedy against anxiety and stress
If there are no proofs that using cannabis can heal coronavirus, there are other reasons we could use it for.
One of the problems associated with this new epidemic and to its quarantine is the increased number of depression and anxiety cases. The stress caused by the uncertainty of the future or being forced to stay home are on sight for all. Learning how to manage this type of anxiety is fundamental to face and win this period of forced inactivity. Remember that keeping the mood up and relieving stress can help keeping your immune system strong.
In this case, Coronavirus and cannabis can coexist! Cannabis, used as a tested and effective method to fight anxiety and depression, can be considered a valid aid. However, not for the sick ones, as there is no tested therapy yet, but for those who are in a state of distress and fear.
You can fight the quarantine stress by reducing the anxiety states in many ways. You can call a friend, dance on the balcony together with your neighbors and why not, with cannabis!
Cannabis, as already mentioned, thanks to its active ingredients, is a highly effective remedy to face and win stress and anxiety without becoming addicted to it.
Most of the medicines against anxiety, can crease addiction, which is something that does not happen with cannabis. Indeed, we are talking about active ingredients that is prescribed in low doses that remain constant over time. Opposite to other medicines that require a gradual increase in the assumption, to continue their effects, cannabis relaxes without creating addiction.
The association Coronavirus and cannabis can then be done as a support treatment for those who being quarantined at home, suffer from strong anxiety and stress.