What’s all this talk about CBD as a possible cure for Covid?
Before jumping on this latest “CBD fights Covid” released information wave, it would be wise to dig into this study conducted by a group of researchers at Oregon State University and the Oregon Health & Science University, who are making these claims.
How were these tests conducted? Was it extensive clinical research on animals or humans? How did they come to this conclusion?
These studies was conducted through previously constructed computer models by teams of researchers at Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University. From this computer simulation they reported that CBDA and CBGA inhibited the reproduction of the Covid-19, aka coronavirus, in early in vitro lab tests. Once they found results by matching up the CBDA and CBGA known properties against the Covid-19’s known properties through the computer models they moved on to conducting cell infection assays. This was done by combining samples of the Covid-19 virus with CBDA and CBGA in petri dishes. 24 hours later the researchers found a significant reduction in reproductive growth of Covid-19. Though these tests have not been clinically proven the researchers concluded their results look quite promising.
CBDA and CBGA are the latest forms of CBD and CBG to hit the market. CBD and CBG is typically derived from federally legal hemp plants.
CBGA: Cannabigerol is the decarboxylated form of cannabigerolic acid, the parent molecule from which other cannabinoids are synthesized. Cannabigerol is a minor constituent of cannabis.
CBDA: Cannabidiolic acid, is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It is most abundant in the glandular trichomes on the female seedless flowers or more accurately infructescence often colloquially referred to as buds. CBDA is the chemical precursor to cannabidiol.
These specific types of cannabinoids were found to possibly discourage the Covid-19 proteins from penetrating human cells. With varying levels of concentrated potency, CBDA and CBGA inhibited the spread of viral infections. These results were then conducted via petri dish testing, reducing the viral infections by half. Authors of the report stated the concentrations of CBDA or CBGA required to block human infections by half is considerably high, “but might be clinically achievable.”
The Oregon researchers also found that THCA, the raw form of THC, could also produce promising effects similar to the CBD. However, THC is still considered federally illegal, so the researchers were not capable of producing assay tests due to these current federal regulations. Though this Oregon research is very interesting and as the researchers stated quite “promising,” it has not been proven to date.
Soon as this research was released to the public many comedians and entertainers began weighing in on these findings through the main stream media. Jimmy Kimmel, a popular television personality, mentioned the following on his tonight show:
“This would be interesting. All this time we’ve been listening to the C.D.C., we should have been eating CBD.” — Jimmy Kimmel
“You know, it’s funny — all these crazy cures, I’m like ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous.’ Ivermectin, the horse dewormer; bleach. And then somebody says marijuana prevents Covid, I’m like ‘Oh, really? Do tell.’” — Jimmy Kimmel
So were these tests actually conducted on any test subjects?
No, they were simply analyzed through computer models and assay tests (petri dishes). Though these tests reflect what could be considered promising results, they have yet to be proven through clinical trials on real test subjects.
Don’t jump on the CBD cures Covid band wagon yet! Though this research is very interesting, especially during a time of “pandemic,” it should spark more attention and future in depth testing to the cellular effects of CBDA, CBGA, and THCA’s on the novel Covid-19 virus, and viruses in general.
Before you decide to begin eating excessive amounts of CBD gummies or downing bottles of CBD tinctures, it would be wise to await further solid research with proven physical evidence that these elements can be more beneficial than harmful to the consumer.
