How does cannabis affect your body? If you go on and search. You can find several answers to this question. This is because cannabis is holistic medicine. A single dose can deliver different results for different people. This is why research has been going on this topic for a very long time. While cannabis is commonly known to affect the endocannabinoid system. Did you know it can affect your immune system too? Yes, it can actually alter the working of your immune system. But before you try using cannabis as a treatment for your immune disorder. You must get some professional guidance and a medical cannabis card from a licensed physician.
How Does the Immune System Work?
Our immune system is our body’s shield. It protects our body against antigens using different types of white blood cells. Each of these types has different functions to perform. While one is meant to absorb the dead cells. Others work to destroy foreign particles. Our immune system not only acts against invaders. But, it also keeps our body clean by disposing of any non-functional cells. However, if the immune system fails to perform any of these tasks, it leads to ailments like autoimmune diseases, tumors, bacterial infections, virals, etc.
While some cases can be improved with a healthy lifestyle and proper diet. Others may require medications.
This is where cannabis comes as a savior. It is known to have an immunomodulating effect on our bodies. It can either be a suppressor or a stimulator. So when used correctly, cannabis can be advantageous for various ailments.
Immunosuppressive Effect
Cannabis has hundreds of components, some of which are not even known to the world. But, the most commonly known and used are THC, CBD, and Terpenes. These components are the main workforce behind cannabis’s medical benefits. They can actually regulate the working of your immune system and behave as an immunosuppressive drug.
How Does it Work?
One of the characteristics of the immune system is inflammation. Whenever you suffer from an injury or some type of infection. Your immune system responds with inflammation. The most prominent type is redness due to acne. And in severe cases like Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the digestive tract.
Now, how does cannabis regulate such immune response?
cannabis works by binding with the CB receptors of the endocannabinoid system. Our immune system has a whole lot of CB2 receptors. THC activates these receptors and creates an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to this, it also reduces the pain caused due to inflammation. CBD also gives its share of benefits by inhibiting the functioning of T cells. And as for terpenes, some of them like Beta-Caryophyllene, bind with the CB receptors just like THC and result in a calming effect.
Immune Stimulating Effects
With ever-increasing research on cannabis’s effect on our body. It has also come to notice that not only does cannabis have an immunosuppressive effect but can also stimulate an immune response in some cases.
How Does it Work?
Several studies have found that cannabis can have an immune-stimulating effect as well. When patients with weak immune systems were exposed to THC, they were found to have an increased number of white blood cells. Similarly, in the case of cancer patients, THC was found to have improved the immune system’s ability to fight back against the tumors.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt about cannabis being a miracle drug. Every day, I find new ways in which it affects people. While research is still ongoing about its working mechanism. You can rely on the existing evidence and try to use it for your condition. Just remember to get a medical cannabis card so that you can easily use and buy marijuana.
