Cannabis and Colds; What You Need to Know
Its officially cold and flu season and everyone and their grandma seems to be sneezing all over the place. Avoiding germs is key to not getting sick but also seems an impossible task sometimes. Here we’ll look at several ways cannabis might help you feel better if you get a cold this winter.
Soothing aches and pains
One thing we know about cannabis is that it is often credited with having anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. THC and CBD - two of the most common cannabinoids - are well known for pain relief. When your head is pounding and your body is aching and sore we recommend reaching for plant-based cannabinoid medicine over cold syrup. In particular, CBD has anti-bacterial properties which could be especially beneficial when you’re down with a cold or flu.
Getting to Sleep
Sleep is crucial to helping your body fight infections and viruses. Research from Washington State University in Spokane indicates that sleep is associated with a brain protein called AcPb that has been shown to speed up recovery in tests done on lab mice that were infected with the flu strain H1N1.
However, have you ever tried to sleep with a sore throat and plugged nose? It’s not so easy. Getting a good night’s sleep, preferably a deep, restful sleep can be supported with cannabis. For sleep support you’ll want to look for a strain or a product made with a strain higher in THC as this compound typically reduces the amount of time you spend in REM sleep which would naturally increase the amount of time you spend in the restorative deep sleep state.
How to Use Cannabis When you Have a cold
Smoking can exacerbate pain and inflammation in your throat so for the duration of your cold or flu I would stay away from combustibles and focus on consumption methods that will soothe and nourish you.
One of the best ways to consume cannabis while battling a cold is via an infused honey (bonus points because honey is AMAZING at fighting off bacterial infections) in a cup of hot chamomile tea (even more bonus points if you opt for something like sleepy time tea). If you don’t love herbal teas you can channel your inner Winnie the Pooh and just take a spoonful of infused honey.
Alternatively cannabis tinctures are an easy way to medicate too. You can drop a couple of drops into that cup of tea or directly under your tongue. Tinctures are absorbed sublingually through blood vessels under your tongue or in your cheeks making them a quick and easy way to get the good stuff. Some studies suggest that tinctures deliver a much more powerful dose than say, an edible too.
If your body is stiff and sore, we suggest topicals rubbed directly onto the skin. Something infused with a CBD and/or THC will help alleviate pain and sensitivity plus the power of touch and massage is incredible when it comes to soothing pain. If you don’t have access to commercially manufactured topicals you can easily make your own with coconut oil, check out our DIY tutorial here.