Study shows: CBD prevents Covid?

Tens of thousands of articles were written last year touting the benefits of CBD. [Click here](1770d7/ct0_0/1/ms?sid=TV2%3AiiBxpf4uv) to view this message in your browser | [Click here](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3AiiBxpf4uv) to stop receiving our messages [] [] Al Sears, MD 11905 Southern Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 [] February 27, 2023 [] Reader, Tens of thousands of articles were written last year touting the benefits of CBD. Heck, I wrote at least half a dozen myself. Even the government’s own internet search engine of papers published in medical journals, PubMed, came up with almost 1,400. And out of everything that was written, the number-one CBD article from 2022 was regarding a study that found cannabinoids can prevent Covid from spreading. It sounds unbelievable. I know. So let me explain... The study, conducted by Oregon State University researchers, found that certain cannabinoid acids in hemp might be able to prevent SARS-CoV-2 — the coronavirus that causes Covid — from entering human cells.1 Published in the Journal of Natural Products, the researchers analyzed a variety of plant compounds used as supplements. The researchers found that two compounds in hemp – cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid – can bind to the spike protein the virus uses to enter human cells. Which means it has the potential to block the virus from infecting people. The research also determined that CBD can induce the expression of interferons – the cell signaling proteins produced by your body as an early response to a viral invasion. This backs up earlier research done in Canada. In this study, scientists determined that CBD helps block certain proteins that provide an opening for Covid-19 to enter host cells in the body.2 Covid-19 has spiky proteins that grab onto ACE2 receptors in healthy human cells, especially in the lungs. These receptors are like a “gateway” that allows the infection inside. But the researchers discovered that certain strains of hemp might decrease the level of ACE2 gene expression... In other words, they shut the gate to the virus by blocking Covid-19 droplets from infecting our cells. Earlier studies found that hemp oil alters gene expression. But the effects of hemp oil on ACE2 expression weren’t known. So the researchers developed more than 800 new hemp extracts. Using artificial 3D human models, they tested whether the high CBD extract could alter ACE2 expression in Covid-19 tissues. Given that inflammation is a significant component of viral disease, the researchers also examined the effect of the extracts on ACE2 expression in highly inflamed 3D models. By the end of the study, they found 13 high-CBD hemp extracts that significantly downregulated the expression of ACE2.3 Reducing virus receptors reduces the chance of a person catching coronavirus. Here’s what Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, the lead researcher of the study, said: “A number of [these CBD strains] have reduced the number of receptors by 73%. If they can reduce the number of receptors, there’s much less chance of getting infected.” He went on to say... “Our work could have a huge influence. There aren’t many drugs that have the potential of reducing infection by 70 to 80%.” A third study found that CBD was able to “stop viral gene expression and reverse many of the effects the virus has on host gene transcription.”4 I want to be clear... I’ve written to you before about the incredible healing power of CBD on hundreds of different diseases and conditions. But this study is preliminary, and more research needs to be done on its connection to treating Covid-19. The team is hoping to start a long-term clinical trial soon. But if you’re already taking CBD – whether for pain or inflammation, as a sleep aid, or to treat an autoimmune disease – you can feel confident that you just may have given yourself an added layer of Covid protection. Protect yourself by getting the most out of your CBD Earlier I mentioned that I sent you about a half dozen articles about CBD last year. One of those detailed the way it can [strengthen your immunity and protect your lungs](1770d7/ct1_0/1/lu?sid=TV2%3AiiBxpf4uv). If you’re not taking CBD yet, I suggest you give it a try. Remember, CBD is non-psychoactive — and it won’t get you “high.” But most CBD users haven’t been taught how to use it properly. Here’s what I tell my patients about this natural remedy... - Start low and vary your dosage. I recommend starting with 10 mg to 15 mg daily. If you don’t feel any relief within a few weeks, increase the dose by 5 mg to 10 mg until you feel it’s working. I also suggest you take it before bed since it makes some people sleepy. - Make sure you’re getting the real deal. Avoid CBDs that are made using chemicals like propane, butane, pentane, or hexane, as they can leave behind dangerous contaminants. Also, look for a certificate of analysis (COA). It should be printed on the bottle or label. Every COA verifies that the ingredients have been tested to prove they contain the proper contents in their proper quantities. But COAs also tell you what’s not in the ingredients. They confirm they’ve been tested and found to be free of toxic heavy metals. - Maximize your absorption. When it comes to CBD, we all want to get the greatest benefit. And that means increasing its bioavailability. I’ve found that an oral spray just may be the most effective way of increasing CBD absorption. That’s because it’s a quicker, more direct route to the bloodstream, and it avoids the liver’s “first pass” effect, which lowers CBD bioavailability. - Take it with healthy fats and oils. CBD is a fat-soluble compound, meaning it dissolves in fats and fatty oils. This breaks CBD down into smaller molecules that are more easily absorbed by the body. One way to increase CBD’s bioavailability is to mix it with a healthy high-fat snack or meal. A recent study found that epilepsy patients who took CBD with high-fat foods increased their absorption up to 14 times more than those who took it on an empty stomach.5 To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS --------------------------------------------------------------- References: 1. Breeman R, et al. “Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants.” J Nat Prod. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946. Online ahead of print. 2. Wang B, et al. “In search of preventative strategies: novel anti-inflammatory high-CBD cannabis sativa extracts modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 gateway tissues.” Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Nov 22;12(22):22425-22444. 3. Kovalchuk O, et al. “In search of preventive strategies: novel high-CBD Cannabis sativa extracts modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 gateway tissues.” Aging. 2020. 4. Nguyen L, et al. “Cannabidiol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through induction of the host ER stress and innate immune responses.” Sci Adv. 2022 Feb 25;8(8):eabi6110. 5. Birnbaum AK, et al. “Food effect on pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol oral capsules in adult patients with refractory epilepsy.” Epilepsia. 2019;60(8):1586-1592. alsearsmd@send.alsearsmd.com [Preferences | Unsubscribe](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3AiiBxpf4uv) 11905 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, United States