Does Really Using Medical Cannabis Helps You To Get Rid of Flu or Cold?

April 18, 2018 • By Sophia Smith
The estimated reading time is 5 minutes
medical-cannabis

Just like other people, you might be apprehensive about cannabis because of the ways it is linked with illicit activities.    

But then, no one can deny the growing evidence showing how cannabis from a medical marijuana dispensary could help with health conditions, such as cold and flu. Let’s discuss more below. 

How does Medical Cannabis help?

Nasty colds and flu are common in the winter. The same goes for visits to the doctor who might recommend taking a rest, drinking fluids, and waiting out. 

Some would also prescribe antibiotics, but these don’t just help.  

(Flu is a viral, not bacterial infection).  Cannabis might be the one holding the key to treating the common cold and flu.

It contains flavonoids that are naturally found in blueberries, apples and green tea, among other fruits.    

Flavonoids are phytonutrients, an excellent group of anti-inflammatory compounds. They can fix the imbalance and supplement the body with natural end cannabinoids released as your body’s immune response. 

A University of Auckland research revealed that these compounds could help us reduce catching coughs and colds.

Cannabis also regulates and calms the immune response to prevent it from being overly activated. It also protects the blood cells from rupturing and increases vitamin C supply.  The herb also acts as an antioxidant, which enhances the immune system. But how do you take cannabis for cold and flu? Check out the next section.

How to Consume Medical Cannabis: The Better Ways

When you catch a cold, you’re more likely than not to suffer from eye irritation, sinus pain, nasal congestion, chesty or a dry cough and sore throat.   But even if smoking cannabis isn’t as harsh or hot as smoking cigarettes, a medical marijuana dispensary does not recommend it along vaping or dabbing because it can lead to or exacerbate lung and throat irritation already present among people with flu and cold.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a hot item in the last years because of its immune-boosting properties, especially those sourced from hemp, which is being taken as a supplement to help in fighting illnesses and the common cold in the colder months.]

So when you’re sick, do not smoke marijuana because your condition might just worsen. Instead, use better methods through edibles, oils, and vaporizers, among others.

You can also consume cannabis-infused tea to feel better and sleep well. Herbal infusions and teas are soothing and comforting from a cough and cold symptoms. And by adding cannabis extracts to infusions, you can get added help for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

As a general rule, make sure that you’re using some oil or fat to ensure that cannabinoids dissolve and mix well through the tea.  Remember, hot water won’t dissolve these compounds, so you should add cannabis-infused milk or cannabutter to the tea for enhanced results.

On the other hand, there is CBD oil, also called tinctures. It’s another method of using cannabis for cold/flu because it doesn’t irritate the throat and lungs.    This type is intended for oral use.   Just shake it well, squeeze the dropper to fill the pipette, and put it under your tongue. Do not swallow yet; instead, let the oil absorb.

You might also want to make use of vape pens, which are better alternatives to smoking associated with cancer-causing carcinogens released with the burning.  However, buy a good quality vaporizer to take full advantage of cannabis without the harmful effects.

Medical Use or Recreational Use

Before we dig into this topic, let’s define what medical and recreational marijuana is.

Medical marijuana, which is now legal in some US states refers to the unprocessed whole plants or the chemicals helping to alleviate certain diseases.  The two chemicals used in its application are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD).  The prior is the psychoactive substance giving people the high, while the latter does not.

Medical marijuana contains higher CBD content, so people do not experience the euphoria versus recreational cannabis, which is used without medical justification. Recreational cannabis also contains higher THC, which delivers the high among users.

Without even saying, CBD is the chemical making marijuana medical in nature. 

So should you buy recreational or medical cannabis? It is a matter of personal choice.   

But obviously,   you must choose medical marijuana if you have a condition. 

You can buy it from a licensed dispensary online or offline. Before ordering medical marijuana, secure a medical cannabis certification or doctor’s recommendation/prescription.   You might also need documentation based on where you are.

However, you should be at least 18 years old for a medical qualification. Some states give exceptions for those with debilitating conditions though.  Also, you have to register with a medical marijuana dispensary, keeping your certification on file for regulatory or legal purposes.

Bottom Line

If you want to get rid of cold and flu, we recommend consulting your doctor, not self-medicating to take total advantage of using cannabis to treat such conditions. When given the go signal, follow our tips above before ordering your supply from a medical marijuana dispensary.

Sophia Smith

She is a renowned nutritionist and freelance writer whose topics of interest include healthy living and healthy eating. She is passionate about introducing new and delicious healthy meals while balancing her time between cooking and going to the gym. Her mission is to change the life of as many people as she can and make them the best version of themselves.
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