CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Have you felt worse after CBD or cannabis use? If so, what were your reactions?
CBD (cannabidiol products) and cannabis have been shown to help with conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, muscle stiffness, arthritis, autoimmunity, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, inflammation, bacterial infection, pain, gastrointestinal ulcers and mood.
However, either CBD or cannabis makes some of our patients feel worse. This led us down a rabbit hole of research, and we found two main reasons CBD or cannabis can have a negative effect:
- An allergic reaction or intolerance to the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants.
- The patient used a strain that stimulates inflammatory T-cells, exacerbating an autoimmune response.
Of the more than 1,000 strains of cannabis and CBD, some stimulate this immune response and can worsen autoimmunity. Although the identification of the immune properties of various strains of cannabis is improving, at this time there’s no way to know which ones are immune-stimulating. Just be aware of this prior to use in case you have a negative reaction.
Boosting the immune response isn’t inherently bad. For those who don’t have autoimmunity, it can actually be beneficial to improve immune resilience.
But for the autoimmune patient, it can be like pouring gasoline onto a fire. When you have an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s low thyroid, you want to balance the immune system, not boost it. Some people with autoimmunity already have overzealous immune systems that hyper-react to things, including foods, chemicals and their own bodies. In these people, using herbs or compounds that stimulate immunity will make their symptoms and condition worse.
Typically, the best strains for pain and inflammation are those that have higher amounts of CBD to THC. CBD is the compound best known for fighting pain and inflammation.
I’m not saying not to use CBD; in fact, I have become a regular user of and advocate for CBD for back pain after fracturing my back and becoming paralyzed for a few days. I’m simply sharing this information so you aren’t caught off guard if you have a reaction.
To learn more about our services and to schedule a free consultation, please visit our website. We work with your prescribing physician for optimal results. Do not discontinue medication or hormone replacement therapy without consulting your prescribing physician.
Written by JOSH REDD, chiropractic physician at RedRiver Health and Wellness Center.
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About Josh Redd
Josh Redd, MS, DABFM, DAAIM, is a chiropractic physician and author of the Amazon bestselling book “The Truth About Low Thyroid.” Redd owns seven functional medicine clinics in the western United States and sees patients from across the country and around the world who are suffering from challenging autoimmune, endocrine and neurological disorders. He studied immunology, virology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins where he is a MaPHB candidate. He also teaches thousands of health care practitioners about functional medicine and immunology, thyroid health, neurology, lab testing and more.
Resources
- RedRiver Health and Wellness Center | Address: 1490 E. Foremaster Drive #130, St. George | Telephone: 435-767-9355 | Email: [email protected] | RedRiver Health and Wellness Center.
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