Research on cannabis and the immune system

There is a lot of research on cannabis and the immune system. The relationship between marijuana and antibiotics has also been studied to the point that today we know a little more about its effects on the body.

In addition, cannabis is known for its therapeutic properties in the treatment of many medical conditions. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in the treatment of serious autoimmune diseases, inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders as they learn more about cannabis.

But what is the effect of cannabis on the immune system as a whole? If you are a regular cannabis user, you may have wondered whether it weakens or strengthens your immune system. Is it true that chronic cannabis use makes you more susceptible to infections and contagious diseases?

Cannabis and the immune system

It turns out that scientists have not been particularly interested in cannabis and the immune system in the past. However, as our understanding of CBD’s impact on our bodies improves, we must also broaden our understanding of how cannabis affects the immune system.

Cannabis appears to inhibit the activity of the immune system, according to recent findings. While this may be advantageous for people with autoimmune diseases, it may not be very good for people who have a healthy immune system.

How does the immune system work?

The immune system is one of the most complex networks in the human body. Basically it is a complex system of specialized cells, endogenous chemicals and organs that work together to protect health and homeostasis from pathogens and infections.

White blood cells, the complement system, antibodies, the lymphatic system, spleen, and bone marrow are active components of the immune system that successfully fight infection.

Speaking specifically ofwhite blood cells, they keep track of any microbes that the immune system has previously eliminated. These logs allow for quick follow-up and removal of previously found infections. The immune system is also responsible for identifying and eliminating abnormal cells.

We have only limited knowledge of how cannabis interacts with the basic immune components. Although some studies have been done on the effects of cannabinoids on white blood cell counts and the lymphatic system, very little is known about how cannabis affects the thymus and complement system.

What are the effects of cannabis on the immune system?

When scientists talk about cannabis and the immune system, they also use terms like immunomodulator and immunosuppressant to describe its effects. Immunomodulation is a term that refers to any treatment that alters the response of the immune system. Immunosuppression, on the other hand, is a form of modulation in which cannabis suppresses the expression of components of the immune system.

It is important to note that marijuana’s ability to subdue or kill immune system cells may be beneficial if the immune system is misbehaving and needs to be suppressed, as indicated in this research. Immunosuppression will not be beneficial if this is not the case.

CBD and THC also have an immunomodulatory effect on the human intestinal lymphatic system, which is the main host of immune cells, according to a study published in 2017. More than half of the lymphocytes in our body – white blood cells that locate and kill cells or foreign substances that have invaded the body – are found throughout the lymphatic system.

The researchers found that combining CBD and THC with fats led to extraordinarily high levels of cannabinoids in the intestinal lymphatic system. These CBD concentrations in lymph cells were 250 times higher than in plasma. The THC concentration in lymph cells was 100 times higher than in plasma.

But what does it all mean? Basically that cannabis can reach higher concentrations in the lymphatic system and suppress harmful inflammatory immune responses more effectively in people with autoimmune diseases.

Combination of CBD with antibiotics

CBD was used in research to increase the efficacy of the antibiotic bacitracin against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a common cause of population- and hospital-acquired infections.

Resistant clones of this pathogen have spread throughout the world. Treatment of bacterial infections caused by these resistant bacteria is difficult in some countries and the problem is expected to worsen.

According to the researchers, combining CBD with antibiotics may be a promising treatment for fighting infections caused by antibiotic-immune bacteria.

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