Getting a cold is a common problem. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults in the U.S. suffer colds two to three times per year, and children have colds even more often [1]. On average, a bout with the cold lasts between seven to 10 days, but it can last longer among people with weakened immune systems.
While coming down with a cold is common, experiencing it can be miserable. Most people try a variety of different over-the-counter treatments to alleviate their symptoms and try to reduce the time the condition lasts. Some try natural remedies, including taking vitamins such as vitamin C and zinc. While over-the-counter cough medications might help to make the symptoms more bearable, they can also have some side effects.
One potential option that some people might have heard about is using cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment for the common cold. However, CBD has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for the cold. Here is some information about CBD and whether it might be a viable option when you are suffering from a cold.
What Is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is an active ingredient found in the cannabis plant. It is one of several hundred chemicals found in cannabis plants and is the second-most prevalent behind tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive and will not produce a feeling of high after ingestion [2].
CBD is commonly derived from the hemp plant. Hemp cultivation was legalized in the U.S. following the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, and CBD is legal in all 50 states [3]. It is believed that CBD works in the body by attaching to cannabinoid receptors that are widely distributed throughout the body’s peripheral and central nervous systems. These receptors are believed to regulate multiple bodily functions, including the immune response, appetite, mood, pain sensation, and others [4]. Because of the way in which CBD works in the body, it is thought to have some potential health benefits.
The FDA has only approved CBD for the treatment of certain forms of intractable childhood epilepsy [5]. It has not been approved to treat any other medical conditions.
Understanding the Common Cold
The common cold is a respiratory infection of the upper respiratory tract. More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but it is most commonly caused by rhinoviruses [6]. Since it is a viral infection, antibiotics do not work to treat it. The symptoms of the common cold include the following:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
Cold symptoms typically begin a couple of days after infection and can last from seven to 10 days. However, they can last longer in people with weakened immune systems.
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Does CBD Work to Treat the Common Cold?
CBD is believed to reduce inflammation, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract caused by rhinovirus infections can lead to symptoms of the common cold. While there have been anecdotal reports by people that CBD might help to relieve cold symptoms, little research has been done to support it as a therapeutic for the cold.
Researchers looked at the efficacy of CBD as a treatment for viral illnesses. The researchers were interested in the potential anti-inflammatory effects of CBD. However, through a review of the literature, the researchers only found that CBD might have a positive effect on Kaposi’s sarcoma, hepatitis C, and multiple sclerosis. They indicated that the results were only from preclinical studies and that much more research needs to be done to evaluate the efficacy of CBD for treating viral illnesses [7].
Another study looked at the potential benefits of CBD for treating COVID-19. They found that CBD potentially blocked the replication of the virus in the epithelial cell of the lungs in mice [8]. However, it’s important to note that since these results were from a study involving mice, CBD might not have the same effect in humans.
Researchers have also found that CBD might have an immunosuppressant effect, which could help to reduce inflammation [9]. The researchers reviewed human and mouse studies and looked at autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. However, they did not consider CBD as a potential treatment for inflammation related to the common cold.
Finally, researchers in one study found that CBD might have a modulating effect on the immune system and protect cells against damage caused by an overactive immune response [10]. Again, however, the researchers were not focused on CBD as a treatment for the common cold and were simply investigating how it might modulate the immune response in general.
Takeaways
Studies have not demonstrated that CBD is an effective treatment for the common cold. However, anecdotal reports have indicated that some people might derive some benefits from taking CBD to ameliorate their symptoms. More research needs to be completed before a valid claim can be made that CBD is a recognized therapy for treating the common cold.
While CBD has not been shown to effectively treat cold symptoms, it is a relatively safe product to try. People who take it shouldn’t suffer harm, so there is little reason to not test it out and see what it does for you. However, if you want to take CBD to treat your cold, you should first talk to your doctor and ensure you only source it from a reputable company like Sugar Bottom Hemp. The company’s CBD products undergo rigorous quality control testing through a clinical lab. To learn more, check out Sugar Bottom Hemp’s full product line.
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Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 8). Common cold. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/common-cold/index.html
- Grinspoon, P. (2021, September 24). Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don’t. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (n.d.). Farm Bill. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.usda.gov/farmbill
- Mackie, K. (2008). Cannabinoid receptors: where they are and what they do. Journal of neuroendocrinology, 20, 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01671.x
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2018, June 25). FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. FDA News Release, Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms
- National Library of Medicine (n.d.). Common cold. Medline Plus, Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://medlineplus.gov/commoncold.html
- Mabou Tagne, A., Pacchetti, B., Sodergren, M., Cosentino, M., & Marino, F. (2020). Cannabidiol for viral diseases: hype or hope? Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 5(2), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0060
- Nguyen, L. C., Yang, D., Nicolaescu, V., Best, T. J., Gula, H., Saxena, D., … & Rosner, M. R. (2022). Cannabidiol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through induction of the host ER stress and innate immune responses. Science Advances, 8(8), eabi6110. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6110
- Nichols, J. M., & Kaplan, B. L. (2020). Immune responses regulated by cannabidiol. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 5(1), 12-31. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0073
- Peyravian, N., Deo, S., Daunert, S., & Jimenez, J. J. (2020). Cannabidiol as a novel therapeutic for immune modulation. ImmunoTargets and therapy, 131-140. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/ITT.S263690
