Researchers at the Georgia College of Dentistry say CBD appears to reduce the “cytokine storm” that damages the lungs of Covid-19 patients.
Earlier this year, the team found that CBD was able to improve oxygen levels and reduce pneumonia in Covid-19 patients. Now they have shown the mechanism by which this happens. Their results show that CBD helps increase levels of a natural peptide called apelin, which is known to reduce inflammation. In their study, the team was able to show that blood levels of apelin increased 20-fold when patients were given CBD.
Earlier this year, researchers at the University of South Carolina stated that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the main active compounds in cannabis, can reduce inflammation in the lungs known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
In the study, the researchers tested the effects of THC on mice with ARDS. They found that 100% of cases, THC stops inflammation in the lungs by slowing down the release of cytokine proteins.