The THC Present in Cannabis Might Help with Coronavirus Complications
A possible treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
It is a fact that a lot of coronavirus patients come down with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS. So, research was conducted to find the treatment for it by the scientists from the University of South Carolina. It showed that the Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC present in cannabis could help with COVID-19 complications. Read on to know interesting stuff about this coronavirus and cannabis research.
This study regarding THC (found in cannabis) and coronavirus connected when tests were carried out on mice to see whether it could block the immune response, which leads to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. As a part of the research, a toxin was introduced to the mice to trigger a response. Then, they were given THC. All the mice that had THC survived and those who weren’t administered with it died.
The research stated this: “It is of interest to note that a significant proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients come down with sepsis and ARDS accompanied by cytokine storm. Because currently there is no effective treatment against ARDS, a significant percentage of such Covid-19 patients die from severe damage to the lungs and other organs, caused by cytokine storm (Mehta et al., 2020).”
“SEB [the toxin given to the mice] being a superantigen, also triggers cytokine storm and lung injury as seen from the current study, however, clearly additional studies are needed to investigate if the mechanisms involved are similar and whether cannabinoids can be used to treat Covid-19 related ARDS.”
“It’s like a car where you’re putting on a lot of accelerator, but the brakes aren’t working. Basically, what’s going to happen is your car is going to crash because you can’t stop it. And that’s basically what’s happening with ARDS.”
The researchers who found the connection between cannabis and coronavirus also highlighted that they are not encouraging people to use marijuana to help with the symptoms or treat COVID-19. The research is merely suggesting that THC has shown some promising results.
So, if you were thinking of indulging in cannabis with THC to help treat coronavirus and/or its symptoms, you should hold on as the research is inconclusive till now. Remember, cannabis is highly addictive and can negatively impact your body and mind.
The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional regarding any inquiries you may have about medical concerns.
