Research centres around the world are throwing everything and anything at the global pandemic, in a desperate attempt to slow it down. Seemingly everything is on the table, from the outrageous suggestions like bleach. Somewhere in this midst of this frantic experimentation is a new discussion about COVID and the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa).
CBD and Terpenes to fight COVID-19
As reported by Forbes, the Israeli research partnership led by an Associate Professor compared CBD, a trademarked terpene formulation, and one of the leading COVID-19 treatments, dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is a common steroid for effects on cytokine secretion. The study’s goal was to determine if either of the cannabis extracts (CBD or terpenes) had an impact on the development of dangerous cytokine storms.
What is a “Cytokine Storm” and is it relevant to COVID-19?
In its most severe form, COVID-19's severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leads to life-threatening pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mortality rate from COVID-19 ARDS can approach 40% to 50%. Although the mechanisms of COVID-19–induced lung injury are still being investigated, the term cytokine storm has become synonymous with its pathophysiology, both in scientific publications and the media.
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