by Aches and pains are inevitable in life. It can be challenging to find relief when the symptoms are caused by autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, or type 1 diabetes. The good news is that cannabis has been shown to improve the quality of life for people suffering from these ailments. Here’s the most up-to-date information about what cannabis can do for the immune system and how it can treat autoimmune disorders.
Overview of Autoimmune Disease
There are over 80 different forms of autoimmune diseases, all of which cause the body to attack good cells instead of the bad guys. Symptoms and manifestations of each of these autoimmune diseases are identical. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatic, celiac disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, alopecia areata, and vasculitis are the most common autoimmune diseases. The bulk of the 50 million Americans with autoimmunity are women. Fatigue, sore muscles, muscle stiffness, low-grade fever, difficulty concentrating, numbness, tingling in the extremities, hair loss, rashes, and redness are all early symptoms of autoimmune disease.
Conventional prescription autoimmune drugs use synthetically generated antibodies to “shut down” the immune system by targeting autoimmune antibodies. However, over time, this may lead to chronic inflammation, immune system degeneration, and unwanted liver pressure.
Autoimmune diseases occur when a person’s immune system attacks his or her own body. The immune system is designed to fight viruses and other pathogens, and it can generally distinguish between a foreign invader and your cells. However, when it recognizes healthy cells as foreign invaders, it wages war on your body, sending out antibodies to destroy healthy tissue such as joints, organs, and skin. Scientists aren’t sure why the immune system attacks healthy cells in this way, but inflammation is often linked to the occurrence. Swelling, redness, fire, and general dysfunction are all symptoms of these diseases, painful and debilitating. Unfortunately, these disorders do not have a cure, and treatment options are limited.
Taking Care of Autoimmune Diseases
Medications that act to minimize inflammation and support the body’s immune response are the most common treatments. Immunosuppressive medications, which inhibit or entirely shut down the immune system, are used in some therapies. The problem is that these therapies have a slew of unpleasant side effects, and shutting off the immune system can backfire. Alternative treatment solutions are required, and many people are finding that cannabis improves their quality of life.
CBD For Treating Autoimmune Diseases
For a long time, people with autoimmune conditions have had success with cannabis — and pain relief is just the beginning. Scientists are starting to realize that cannabis can help with more than just autoimmune symptoms. By influencing the endocannabinoid system, cannabis appears to interact directly with immune cells (ECS).
The ECS plays a vital role in immune function regulation. Both CB1 and CB2 receptors are found on immune cells, and cannabis contains cannabinoids that interact with both of these ECS receptors.
Cannabinoids act as a key to open the door to contact between the body and the immune system. When the immune system is constantly on high alert, cannabis cannabinoids will help it calm down and ease the battle against healthy cells. More research is needed to fully understand how cannabis can be used to treat autoimmune disorders, but what we know so far appears promising. CBD-treated lab mice showed a 50% improvement in joint health in a study, suggesting that people with rheumatoid arthritis may benefit significantly from CBD.
Some autoimmune medications can also make you more susceptible to infection and cancer. In terms of its effect on the immune system and liver, CBD is at the other end of the spectrum.
Phytocannabinoids are 120+ naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis family of plants. These Phytocannabinoids are similar to our body’s endocannabinoids in that they interact with our CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors to enhance the balance of various body systems. CBD is the Phytocannabinoid in the cannabis plant that significantly impacts our fitness, well-being, and internal peace. CBD is widely accepted as a natural and successful cure for autoimmune disorders, among various other issues that people face daily.
Conclusion
The immune system is complex, and treating it cannot be easy. With over 80 different autoimmune diseases, we’re just scratching the surface of the appropriate treatment options. We know that the endocannabinoid system is essential for immune function and that CBD can help restore equilibrium and reduce inflammation.
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