Spring will be upon us soon, meaning that the air is going to be loaded with pollen and other kinds of allergens. If you are someone who suffers from allergies, you may be used to taking various over-the-counter medications for relief. However, those OTC medications may cause drowsiness and other side effects that are unwanted. As such, more and more people have begun searching for a more natural kind of allergy relief, like cannabidiol (CBD). But can CBD be used for allergies? Research in the area has had some interesting developments recently.
What are Allergies?
First off, let’s discuss allergies, including what they are and the kind of symptoms you may expect if you have allergies. Most of the global population is affected by this condition to some degree. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance, known as an allergen, as if it were a harmful invader, like a virus. This reaction leads to a range of symptoms, which can vary in severity and duration.
When most people think of allergies, they think of pollen or food-related ones, like strawberries and peanuts. However, allergens can also include dust mites, animal danger, chemicals, and even certain medications. Should a person come into contact with something they are allergic to, their immune system produces antibodies, called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals. This process causes inflammation, swelling, and other symptoms, which can affect different parts of the body.
How you react to a certain allergen depends on a couple of things, such as the kind of allergen, exposure, immune system sensitivity, and your overall health. For instance, if you have a mild pollen allergy, you may experience a runny nose and itchy eyes whenever you go outside. On the other hand, if you have a severe peanut allergy, even smelling or ingesting a small amount of peanuts could result in life-threatening symptoms.
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Symptoms of Allergies
Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe and may include the following:
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Hives and other rashes
- Stomach cramps
- Swelling
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
In some cases, allergic reactions can be so severe that they cause life-threatening symptoms, including rapid or weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. This is known as anaphylaxis.
Can CBD be Used for Allergies?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has a number of potential benefits, due to the compound’s interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a vital part of the human system, as it helps with homeostasis, or the equilibrium of all systems and processes within the body. In other words, our body is already producing cannabinoids to assist with nervous functioning, metabolism, and immunity.
The cannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa, such as CBD, interact with the body the same way as the ones intrinsically produced. CBD tends to interact with receptors CB1 and CB2, often inhibiting certain reactions. For example, it was cited in two studies—one from 2020 and another from 2021—that CBD has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties [1, 2].
That said, there is limited scientific evidence to support the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of allergies. One small study published in 2019 investigated the effects of CBD on allergic skin reactions in mice [3]. The researchers found that CBD reduced skin inflammation and itching in the mice, suggesting that it may have potential for the treatment of allergic skin conditions. However, it is important to note that animal studies may not always be applicable to humans, and further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
In terms of allergic contact dermatitis, which is often the result of coming into contact with allergen, like poison ivy, CBD may be able to help. Certain studies have found that cannabinoids have an effect on skin cells, including those responsible for anti-inflammation (countering skin irritations) or with anti-pruritic properties [4, 5]. Thus, if you are experiencing itchiness from contact dermatitis, topical CBD lotions and creams may provide some relief.
Could You Be Allergic to CBD?
Although CBD is generally well tolerated throughout the population, there are incidences of adverse effects and also allergic reactions. While you may not be allergic to CBD itself, you could be allergic to terpenes, like D-limonene or linalool, within a full spectrum formula [6].
Additionally, though allergic reactions are rare, there is a single report of a skin rash after a patient used Epidiolex [7]. Presently, Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD-derived medication in the United States.
To be safe, it is highly recommended that you speak with a medical professional before trying CBD. This is especially true for those individuals taking prescription medications with a grapefruit warning on the label. Cannabidiol may behave like an enzyme in grapefruit that changes how the liver metabolizes certain medications.
Looking for High Quality CBD?
Although CBD may not yet show much potential for treating allergic reactions directly, it does have anti-inflammatory properties that may help. If you are suffering from allergies, you may want to consider giving CBD a try.
Be sure to choose high quality CBD from a reputable seller, such as Sugar Bottom Hemp. We are devoted to delivering on the best CBD products to our customers, which is why our US-grown organic hemp is minimally processed. Our extraction methods are clean, and each product is rigorously tested in a third-party lab. The result? The purest CBD you can find. Check out our Super Healing CBD tinctures, topical creams, and even our delectable CBD pate de fruit. And for those pets with itchy skin and anxiety, you may wish to try our pet-friendly CBD treats.
Have questions about our products? Feel free to contact us at any time!
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Resources
- Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
- Henshaw, F. R., Dewsbury, L. S., Lim, C. K., & Steiner, G. Z. (2021). The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(3), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0105
- Vuolo, F., Abreu, S. C., Michels, M., Xisto, D. G., Blanco, N. G., Hallak, J. E., Zuardi, A. W., Crippa, J. A., Reis, C., Bahl, M., Pizzichinni, E., Maurici, R., Pizzichinni, M. M. M., Rocco, P. R. M., & Dal-Pizzol, F. (2019). Cannabidiol reduces airway inflammation and fibrosis in experimental allergic asthma. European journal of pharmacology, 843, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.11.029
- Ali, A., & Akhtar, N. (2015). The safety and efficacy of 3% Cannabis seeds extract cream for reduction of human cheek skin sebum and erythema content. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 28(4), 1389–1395.
- Karsak, M., Gaffal, E., Date, R., Wang-Eckhardt, L., Rehnelt, J., Petrosino, S., Starowicz, K., Steuder, R., Schlicker, E., Cravatt, B., Mechoulam, R., Buettner, R., Werner, S., Di Marzo, V., Tüting, T., & Zimmer, A. (2007). Attenuation of allergic contact dermatitis through the endocannabinoid system. Science (New York, N.Y.), 316(5830), 1494–1497. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1142265
- Nath, N. S., Liu, B., Green, C., & Atwater, A. R. (2017). Contact Allergy to Hydroperoxides of Linalool and D-Limonene in a US Population. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 28(5), 313–316. https://doi.org/10.1097/DER.0000000000000318
- Singh, J., & Antimisiaris, M. F. (2020). Epidiolex-induced skin rash. Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape, 22(4), 511–514. https://doi.org/10.1684/epd.2020.1189
