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Health+Wellness
Does Cannabis Help With Allergies?
A lot of people with seasonal allergies ask us, “Does cannabis help with allergies”? Since allergies can be very specific to each individual, there’s a two-part answer to whether or not cannabis can help you with your allergies. In short, yes, cannabis can help reduce or eliminate certain allergy symptoms.
This is why we’ve combed through the research about cannabis and allergies, to present you with the top benefits of cannabis for allergies. This includes how cannabinoids like CBD and THC affect allergic reactions, and how terpenes can also reduce allergic reactions and general allergy symptoms.
How many people have allergies?
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America tells us that allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., with more than 50 million Americans experiencing different types of allergies every year. It’s no wonder people are curious about using cannabinoid therapy for allergies. Cannabis is known to help boost our immune system, but how does it help with allergies specifically?
THC and Allergies
When it comes to cannabinoids, THC is shown to suppress T-cells. T-cells are white blood cells that activate the response of antibodies, which increases allergy symptoms. One study showed that THC suppressed T-cells in research participants, suggesting THC may help reduce allergy symptoms.
CBD and Allergies
THC isn’t alone in reducing allergy symptoms. CBD has its own effect on allergies, including working as a powerful anti-inflammatory. A scientific review of research on cannabis and the immune system concluded that CBD and other cannabinoids “have been shown to protect the host from the pathogenesis through induction of multiple anti-inflammatory pathways”.
Terpenes and Allergies
The terpenes in cannabis play their own important role as medicine. Research shows terpenes are another benefit of cannabis for allergies. Some cannabis cultivars are high in a terpene called alpha-pinene. A study on mice showed that administration of alpha-pinene was effective in treating allergic rhinitis, which is one of the most common allergies affecting populations across the world.
Although experts suggest there be more clinical research on the benefits of cannabis for allergies, the evidence of cannabis potentially working as an effective allergy medication is starting to stack up. Even though there is a positive relationship between cannabis and allergies, our bodies each respond to allergies and cannabis differently. It may not be effective for everyone.