CBD Oil for Asthma

Summary: Very good preliminary scientific research shows benefits for asthma from CBD. More studies are needed. CBD oil can be used as an add on to conventional treatment.

Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid which is prevalent in a type of cannabis sativa called industrial hemp, which has low levels of THC and is not psychoactive. Industrial hemp is legal federally to cultivate in all states of the United States of America. This was made clear in the updated 2018 Farm Bill. However, states have different laws about whether possession of cannabidiol can be prosecuted by the state under vague marijuana statutes. Arrests for cannabidiol have occurred, though prosecutions have been rare or non-existent since December 2018.

Cannabidiol is not to be confused with marijuana. Marijuana is a type of cannabis sativa which contains high levels of psychoactive THC and is illegal to cultivate federally and in many states. Cannabidiol has gained credibility as a treatment for childhood seizures, pain symptoms, anxiety, agitation in autism spectrum disorder, and many other conditions featuring dysregulation of pain and mood.

CBD oil is a form of cannabidiol suspended in hemp oil from the cannabis sativa plant, or another oil such as olive oil, coconut oil, or dairy butter. Liquid forms can be used orally, sublingually, or topically. It can be added to food or included in gummies. It is especially valued as a way to give CBD to children as it can be tasty and it goes to work very quickly due to high absorption. Cannabidiol is fat-soluble so suspending it in oil improves absorption and bioavailability.

CBD affects the immune system and the nervous system by affecting various receptor types including endocannabinoid receptors and orphan receptors which are similar to cannabinoid receptors and are implicated in the regulation of pain, inflammation, and mood. Cannabidiol appears to modulate the immune system by reducing inflammation and it also calms the nervous system. The immune system and nervous system both play a significant role in asthma. Anxiety can increase symptoms of asthma. Inflammation is the process by which the tissues in the air passages swell up and produce an attack of asthma. Cannabidiol can have a double whammy effect which can improve symptoms of asthma by regulating anxiety and immunity.

CBD oil disclaimers (please read, this is important)

General Medical Disclaimer

Leaf Expert is not dispensing medical information. If you are interested in using cannabidiol for treating a medical condition, consult a doctor.

FDA Disclaimer

CBD oil is not regulated by the FDA as a controlled or prescription drug. This article is about CBD oil, not prescription forms of CBD such as Epidiolex.

Drug Screening Disclaimer

If you use a CBD oil product that is of questionable quality, it is possible that you could test positive for THC or pot. Be sure to get labs of your CBD product to be sure it is not contaminated with THC.

The Facts about asthma and symptoms

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation inside the air ducts and the lung tissue.

Symptomology

There can be spasms of the bronchial tissues and the flow of air through the lungs and throat can be blocked to various degrees.   Attacks can present with coughs, breathlessness, a knot in the chest area, and wheeziness. The condition can be exacerbated during certain times of the day or night or with strenuous activity. It can be triggered by a polluted environment, allergies, or medications like beta-receptor blocking agents or salicylates.

The usual asthma treatment

Treatment can consist of beta-agonist agents like albuterol inhalers, corticosteroids like fluticasone, and leukotriene blocking agents like montelukast.

CBD oil Treatment for Asthma

A study published in Mediators of Inflammation in 2015 tested cannabidiol treatment in Wistar rats with an induced form of asthma. Inflammatory cytokines were tested. There were great reductions in most inflammatory cytokines following cannabidiol treatment suggesting that cannabidiol can be an effective treatment for asthma in mammals (Vuolo, Petronilho, and Sonai).

A study in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 2019 studied a model of asthma induced in mice. Treatment with cannabidiol at all doses reduced symptoms of asthma with greater positive effects at higher doses. These changes appeared to be mediated through effects at CB1 and CB2 receptors. The effects at these receptors reduced swelling and inflammation in the lungs and bronchial tissues (Vuolo, Abreu, and Michels).

A 2007 study done in guinea pigs and published in Inflammation Research found that the therapeutic effects of CBD at cannabinoid receptors reduced asthmatic reactions to allergens (Giannini, Mastroianni, and Mariottini).

CBD hemp oil dosage for asthma from vape:

Vaporizing is normally not the best way to take CBD but one possible exception is in the case of using CBD for asthma since vape can deliver a dose directly to the bronchial tissues.

Koi CBD is one of the few vape companies where the vape contains therapeutic and verified levels of CBD. They produce great vape products that are affordable. Koi vape comes in many different flavors and strengths. You will have to experiment with dosages.

How much CBD oil to take for asthma via vape?

A few puffs can yield 5 to 10 mg of CBD. From there, you can go up until sufficient relief is obtained. On the KOI CBD website, you will find information on exactly how many mg of CBD is contained in a vape tank of the product you choose. You will, therefore, know how many if any full tanks you consume in a day. A tank can contain up to 100 mg of CBD which is fairly well tolerated by most people as a daily dose. Therefore, you can have a few puffs until you feel relief to find out how much you need to take.

As always, one drawback of vape is that the long-term effects of vape use are not known by anyone. Therefore, if tinctures work equally well for you, it’s best to use tinctures sublingually instead. You may want to purchase several products to find the best fit for you.

Sprays

There are also sprays that can be used for asthma to deliver a dose directly into the throat. One form of CBD spray is the prescription drug Sativex which is prescribed by a doctor for various disorders. It contains both CBD and THC in a 1 to 1 ratio. It is not yet approved for asthma but can possibly be prescribed off-label.

Tinctures

How many mg of CBD oil for asthma from a tincture is sufficient?  Tinctures can go to work fast taken orally or sublingually. Again, you will have to experiment with dosing. You can start with around 10 mg, hold it under your tongue for 30 seconds then swallow. You can increase by 10 mg per day or as recommended by a healthcare or wellness expert.

Edibles

Edibles such as gummies can be a great way to give a prophylactic dose of CBD to children before strenuous activities or encountering other known triggers.

Koi CBD has many delicious gummy flavors offering a sufficient CBD oil mg dosage for asthma.

Pros and Cons of CBD Treatment

CBD Treatment Social Media Reviews

Facebook review

This Facebook user used a CBD vape in a similar way to an inhaler. Since the long-term effects of vaping are not yet known, this approach should be used sparingly.

Facebook review

This Facebook user says her daughter uses CBD for other reasons but still has problems with asthma. She does not find CBD to be making a significant improvement. However, we can deduce she is probably not using a spray or vape form, which might be required for asthma relief. Studies have not yet been done on whether a vape or inhaler form of CBD is required for asthma relief.

Reddit user

This Reddit user says that his first day vaping made him feel that there was an as slight improvement. However, he had just started vaping with CBD and can’t be sure what the longer-term effects will be.

Reddit user

This Reddit user posts that the anti-anxiety effect of CBD adds to the efficacy in treating asthma.

Conclusion

There is very convincing accumulating evidence that CBD can be effective in helping to treat asthma. As of yet, however, it is not yet approved for this indication in the United States. Also, effective inhalers containing CBD have not yet been studied. Therefore, it may be wise to stick to using regular oil tinctures under the tongue prophylactically while keeping traditional treatments on hand for acute asthma attacks. That way, the patient can get the best of both worlds and not expose oneself to unknown risks.

Social media comments suggest that the vape form might be more effective at stopping acute attacks; however, these reports are only anecdotal and studies have not been done comparing vape forms with sprays or tinctures.

CBD has few side effects. It can cause some lethargy, sleepiness, changes in mood or appetite, dry mouth, and diarrhea.

Bibliography

Giannini, Lucia, et al. “Activation of cannabinoid receptors reduces allergen-induced oxidative stress damage during an asthma-like reaction in sensitized guinea-pigs.” Inflammation Research 56.1 (2007). 9 5 2019. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17806158.

Vuolo, Francieli, et al. “Cannabidiol reduces airway inflammation and fibrosis in experimental allergic asthma.” European Journal of Pharmacology 843 (2019): 251-259. 9 5 2019. https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0014299918306836.

—. “Evaluation of Serum Cytokines Levels and the Role of Cannabidiol Treatment in Animal Model of Asthma.” Mediators of Inflammation 2015 (2015): 538670-538670. 9 5 2019. https://hindawi.com/journals/mi/2015/538670.