Can CBD help with allergies? Allergies are extremely common across the globe. Millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies every year. Many of them look for a natural or organic way to alleviate their symptoms.
There are many over-the-counter treatments for preventing and controlling allergic reactions. These products are readily available. However, evidence has come to light that CBD may provide a more natural and organic alternative to traditional allergy medicine.
Using CBD to alleviate allergy symptoms is not as simple as switching over to CBD from your daily antihistamine pill, though. In this blog, we will take a look at how CBD can help with allergies and how you may be able to use it to control your condition naturally and effectively.
What are allergens?
Allergens cause allergies. Some people do not react to allergens at all and others may have mild to severe reactions. Everyone reacts to allergens differently.
Pollen levels are never consistent at any one time, meaning one person can suffer an allergy while another will be completely fine. It is currently unknown why some people are more sensitive to allergens than others. However, there are a few theories on the matter.
A common theory is that allergies are hereditary, meaning they are a genetic trait that runs in a family’s bloodline. Another popular theory is that your immune system may be more sensitive, possibly caused by the fact you were not exposed to some particular allergens as a child. Therefore, your body has not adapted to responding to these allergens effectively.
Allergies Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment
Allergies are the body’s response to external substances that are otherwise harmless. The most common allergies occur from pollen, animal fur, food, and insect stings.
Most allergies are more of an inconvenience, such as reactions to pollen and pet fur. However, others can be more dangerous such as nut and mushroom allergies.
For most, pollen and animal fur allergies include reactions such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. However, in some allergy cases, reactions can be more severe, with some unlucky few experiencing swelling of the face, eyes, and throat or the skin becoming red and itchy.
Here is a list of the most common allergens:
- Grass & tree pollen
- Dust & dust mites
- Animal fur & dander
- Food (nuts, fruits, shellfish, dairy, & mushrooms)
- Certain medications (ibuprofen, penicillin, aspirin)
- Insect & plant bites/stings
- Latex
- Mold & other fungi
- Certain chemicals, both industrial and domestic
Food allergies tend to be much worse than other common allergies, such as seasonal allergens and pet fur. This is nothing to mess around with, and you should consult a medical physician for advice and care for this type of allergy.
How Can CBD Help With Allergies?
CBD may help with allergies in a number of ways.
The cannabinoid itself may help prevent allergic reactions and alleviate symptoms. As well as several other compounds that are present in full and broad-spectrum CBD extracts that could possibly help with allergies.
CBD May Act as an Antihistamine
Research suggests that CBD may act as an antihistamine thanks to its immune-suppressing capabilities. This research could indicate that CBD acts as an antihistamine when ingested. This makes it effective at controlling immune responses when the body comes into contact with potential allergens.
In simpler terms, consuming CBD may help prevent some allergic reactions at the source before they can occur. This happens by suppressing responses from the immune system. CBD consumers may not produce reactions when exposed to their specific allergens.
The anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD for allergy sufferers could be extremely beneficial for reducing the intensity of an allergic reaction if one Should occur.
CBD Has Anti-Inflammatory Qualities
CBD has many anti-inflammatory effects. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a series of receptors located in the brain and body When CBD interacts with these receptors, it has the power to trigger certain responses. One of these responses is an anti-inflammatory response.
There are several studies that outline CBD’s anti-inflammatory qualities. Many studies have found that CBD can benefit inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. This could make CBD a valuable tool for those suffering from allergies.
A common symptom associated with certain allergies is the inflammation of the nose, throat, face, eyes, and skin. CBD’s anti-inflammatory qualities could help reduce these symptoms and reduce irritation from certain allergens.
Cannabis-Derived Terpenes May Help Allergies
CBD oil and other consumables come in a wide range of different types and products.
- Full-spectrum CBD contains all cannabinoids and other terpenes.
- Broad-spectrum CBD contains all cannabinoids and terpenes except THC.
- CBD isolate contains only pure CBD extract.
Full and broad-spectrum CBD products may help allergies more because of the cannabis-derived terpenes they contain. Some terpenes may help reduce allergy symptoms.
Pinene is one of many terpenes found in Full and broad-spectrum CBD. Many studies suggest that pinene is an extremely promising anti-allergenic agent. Pinene can be found in relatively high percentages in full and broad-spectrum CBD oil because it’s one of the most common terpenes found in hemp. This terpene could work hand-in-hand with CBD to combat seasonal allergies.
How to Use CBD To Alleviate Allergy Symptoms
Now we’ve looked at the evidence and outlined that CBD may help reduce allergic symptoms and prevent some allergic reactions; you’re probably wondering how you can use CBD for allergies.
It is always important to note that for severe allergies, you should always consult your doctor before trying CBD. This cannabinoid may not work for everyone, and you should always keep your traditional allergy medication on hand while trying CBD for allergies.
Choose The Right CBD Product
There are hundreds of CBD products available on the market today. Figuring out what’s going to work best for you can be daunting.
These are some of our most popular CBD products for managing allergies:
NAYSA CBD oil is the best place to start if you’re looking to start using CBD for allergies. CBD oil is used sublingually (under the tongue). You drop the oil under the tongue using a dropper. This gives you great control over overdoses and allows you to monitor the amount you consume fairly accurately.
Not everyone likes CBD oil and some prefer to use other methods of consumption. NAYSA CBD edibles such as gummies are great if you don’t like the taste of CBD oil. Edibles come with an accurate amount of the cannabinoid contained within and are easy and tasty to consume.
NAYSA CBD Topical products are applied to the skin. They come in the form of creams, lotions, and salves. CBD topicals are perfect for relieving pain and inflammation from plant allergies and insect stings. They get directly to the source and sometimes contain other elements such as menthol that help provide a cooling effect to the affected area.
Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, or CBD Isolate?
As mentioned previously, CBD comes in a range of different extract types — full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
Each type of extract has its pros and cons:
- Full-spectrum extracts contain CBD and all other cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp, including THC, in percentages lower than 0.3%.
- Broad-spectrum extracts contain CBD and all other cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp, excluding THC.
- CBD isolates only contain cannabidiol (CBD) and none of the other cannabinoids or terpenes found in hemp.
When choosing between these three extract types, we advise using full-spectrum or broad-spectrum extracts, so you get the added benefit of the entourage effect. You will also receive benefits from the terpenes such as pinene that potentially have anti-allergenic qualities.
What’s The Best CBD Dosage for Allergies?
There’s no particular recommended dose when it comes to CBD for treating allergy symptoms. The amount of CBD needed comes down to several factors, including the allergy you have, your body weight, and your individual body chemistry.
Some people require high doses to achieve relief from symptoms; others can get away with using very little. The only way to know for sure is to try it yourself and observe your body’s response.
The Best way to figure out your dosage is to start with a small dose and increase the dosage daily until you reach your desired results.
Final Thoughts
Research shows that CBD may be an effective antihistamine and provide allergy relief through its anti-inflammatory responses. It has proved particularly effective for allergies that involve allergens such as pollen, dust, and animal dander.
It’s important to note that CBD will not help every allergy and will not work the same for everyone. You also shouldn’t throw out your traditional allergy medication just yet. Although CBD can help with allergies, more research and development are needed before an allergy-specific CBD treatment is made.
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
