Table of Contents
CBD For the Flu
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – yeah, right – it’s flu season. The flu is a horrid three letter word, which seeks to keep you bedridden for days on end. Some of us don’t have that luxury, lead productive lives, or plain old just don’t want to be huddled up around a box of tissues waiting for something to extinguish that fire in your head. Could CBD be that fire extinguisher? I was waiting for some time now to try CBD for the flu, you could say that I jinxed the flu upon myself and got it early this year. I was a little excited and disgruntled at the same time (what a combination).
What gets me is that I always hear about some concoction to take for the flu, so everytime the flu comes around I do little experiments to see what works. I want to believe all these remedies, but when it comes down to it, most things don’t work. Then reality hits and it’s time to suck it up and deal with those microscopic tormentors.
Anyways, enough talk, let’s see how effective is CBD for the flu.
What Is The Flu and What Causes It
Influenza, commonly abbreviated as the “flu”, is a common type of viral infection caused by the influenza virus. Infections caused by viruses are typically treated using antiviral drugs (which are adept at killing viruses). It should be noted that typical “antibacterial” drugs are not effective against the flu virus, as it is a virus and not a type of bacteria.
The flu virus targets the respiratory system, generally starting at the upper respiratory tract. Common symptoms of the flu include headache, coughing, and respiratory distress. Symptoms will usually appear abruptly without warning leaving patients in a fraught situation.
The flu is highly contagious and can easily be transmitted in the air. A sick person’s sneeze, cough, or even regular breathing can send millions of viral particles in the air which can subsequently enter other people’s respiratory tract. Items such as shared utensils, drinks, and even clothing can also spread the virus.
The flu is a deadly virus, accounting for 3,000 to 49,000 deaths each year in the United States. It is not to be taken lightly, and should you experience severe symptoms, be sure to consult a professional.
Why CBD Should Work For The Flu
Although CBD can’t kill the flu virus and isn’t as effective as antiviral drugs, it may treat many symptoms of the flu well.
Among flu’s most common symptoms are headaches, inflammation, and other types of pain. CBD has been proven through multiple studies to be effective at treating these conditions.
For example, a study conducted at the Department of Pharmacology at Northwestern University showed that CBD can inhibit pain sensations by acting through the CB1 receptor. Interestingly enough, the same study also showed that CBD also has anti-inflammatory effects which augment its pain killing properties through its interaction with the CB2 receptor.
Another major study conducted by the National Institute of health looked at the effects of CBD on migraines. It concluded that CBD can act on the ECS (EndoCannabinoid System) to reduce the pain commonly associated with migraines. It specifically does this by reducing acute inflammation in certain tissue areas commonly associated with migraines. These areas are usually the ones responsible for inducing pain sensations, and by reducing inflammation in them, CBD consequently reduces pain.
How I Started Taking CBD for the Flu.
The flu was spreading fast in my house. It started with one family member getting it, then another, that’s when I was getting worried. Eventually I became the next lucky recipient. It started with the typical side effects, That slight stuffy nose and mild scratchiness in the throat. I knew the worst was coming.
The worst came sooner than expected.
When I tried sleeping that night, I was freezing and probably stayed up most of the night, I was borderline hallucinating and my body ached, I didn’t have the strength to get up and grab a second blanket. Luckily in the morning a family member came to my room to check up on me, I pleaded for a second blanket. It took three blankets to warm me up. At this point my throat was on fire, my head was clogged and my sinuses were blocked.
Since starting this CBD blog, I have tried CBD for everything. It was now time to try CBD for the flu. As soon as I could muster up some energy to get up, I found my bottle of CBD oil and took 15 drops.
I have been using CBD oil as a cure all, I had high hopes.
Well, like every other remedy I tried CBD also disappointed initially when it came to the flu.
I didn’t notice much of a change in my symptoms.
But there was good news.
Could CBD Possibly Work For The Flu
The bell rang, as luck may have it, I had ordered some CBD saline nasal spray a week earlier, which just arrived to my door. I was going to use it for other reasons, but now I figured that I could test it out on my congested sinuses. CBD nasal spray apparently is very effective because it is a more direct and bioavailable delivery of CBD in comparison to CBD tinctures and CBD vape.
I read the instructions. Spray one full mist in each nostril, breathe in gently when needed 2-5 times a day.
It was time to give it a try. Don’t make the mistake I did when I first tried the nasal spray, I was too eager and put the tip too far into my nostril and took a deep breathe. This wound up going to my throat and adding to my throat discomfort.
Here’s the amazing part:
This worked extremely well on my congested sinuses. I have to repeat myself, The CBD spray worked extremely well for my sinuses caused by the flu. And I may add that I have tried everything in the past to clear my sinuses, I have when as far as to stick a q-tip filled with tea tree oil up my nose (I don’t recommend doing that, it might not be exactly safe).
I wasn’t expecting that. CBD has worked pretty well for other issues I had but I didn’t expect this. CBD is anti-inflammatory so the nasal spray must have relieved the inflammation in the nose cause by the flu.
CBD’s Effects Later That Night
At night I used some more CBD spray, and took some more CBD oil (just to be loaded with CBD oil). I didn’t sleep right away, but when I did sleep, I slept like a baby, my nasal passages where clear and I slept the whole night without waking up. That never happens to me, even when I didn’t have the flu.
What was strange:
When I woke up I noticed my symptoms weren’t severe. It felt like I was at the end of the flu, like all I had was remnants of it. I took some more CBD spray and was able to breathe very clear again. It got me thinking, while the regular CBD oil didn’t work right away for my symptoms, It may have decreased the time I have had the flu. Everyone in my house had symptoms for at least 4 days. I was only severe for one day.
CBD For the Flu: Conclusion
While CBD didn’t initially work for the flu for me, the nasal spray worked great for my congested sinuses and I didn’t have severe flu symptoms for too long. This makes me suspect that CBD may reduce the duration of the flu. I guess I have to catch the flu again to test it out further. More evidence needs to come out in this area, in order to determine definitely whether CBD is good for the flu or not.
If you have the flu you should probably go to a doctor, and maybe discuss taking CBD oil. You might be able to take it in addition to whatever else you are using to treat the flu with, but I definitely recommend the CBD nasal spray.
Stay healthy my friends!
If you tried CBD for the flu, leave a comment, I’d like to know how it worked for you.
I’ve been avidly using CBD to deal with my anxiety, and have done so successfully. I started this blog to share my experience and knowledge with as many people as possible.
I had been taking CBD for other reasons during flu season. All four of my small children had the flu, and badly. I was able to take care of them, and be in close contact with them through the cold version and the vomiting version and did not get sick. I believe it was the CBD in my system. Everyone else in the house became very ill. And repeatedly.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, glad you were able to take care of your children. Yes I can see CBD working especially well for the “vomiting version” as CBD works well for nausea. I’m glad it helped!