Are cannabinoids the answer to fighting antibiotic resistant bacteria?
A lot of talk has been circulating about the major benefits of cannabinoids. New information is surfacing daily and there is still a vast unknown world surrounding cannabis and its thousands of proven benefits, and potential benefits.
It’s hard to believe that some people still don’t believe in it’s powerful properties when the proof is right in front of their eyes. These must be the folks who believe the world is really flat…
Despite the dwindling percentage of non-believers; new information concerning cannabis is headlining everywhere and is causing an increase in CBD consumers. And now is the time to get with the trend – because this isn’t a fad that will just fade away. Especially when the fad is saving your life.
Cannabinoids can be one out of over 117 chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis meaning marijuana (the one that gets you high) and hemp (the one that gives you relief). These cannabinoids are usually referred to just as CBD. But that is actually only one cannabinoid that is most commonly known and presently used.
More cannabinoids gaining popularity are CBG (Cannabigerol), CBN (Cannabinol), CBC (Cannabichromene), and many many more. Each one has very unique and specific benefits for the human body (or various other species). There is much information online on each cannabinoid that will blow your mind.
Some cannabinoids in specific are doing some things that are completely unexpected! CBD and CBG are actually harnessing the ability to fight off bacteria. Scientists are even stating these cannabinoids have a similar potency to that of commonly prescribed antibiotics! says Mark Blaskovich, PhD, senior research officer at the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia.
CBD does not give the consumer an intoxicating high. But unfortunately, the FDA has only approved CBD for treating certain forms of epilepsy. Although the obvious benefits are immense. Considering that the FDA has not approved any other CBD products, it can definitely leave consumers confused on which CBD products to take.
Right now, the experiments conducted on the effects of CBD on bacteria do not give us adequate information on how to use CBD as an antibiotic because of all the unanswered questions. Only time will tell. There is much collected information on the subject, that may influence your decision on what CBD you’d personally like to take. But there is no actual proof that cannabinoids will indeed help your body fight off certain infections or specific strains of bacteria.
So far, researchers tested cannabinoids on staphylococcus, which cause skin infections, and streptococcus, which cause strep throat. They’ve looked at the effectiveness of CBD tested against some common antibiotics and how quickly it killed the bacteria – which was actually rather fast! The CBD also disrupted the biofilm, the protective outer layer around bacteria that makes it more difficult for the antibiotic to penetrate and kill.
Dr. Blaskovich also stated that “CBD is much less likely to cause resistance than the existing antibiotics,” and that “CBD is selective for the type of bacteria (it fights).’
He found it effective against gram-positive bacteria but not gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria cause serious skin infections and pneumonia, among other conditions. Gram-negative bacteria include salmonella (found in undercooked foods) and E. coli (the cause of urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and other ailments), among other bacteria.
-Mark Blaskovich, PhD, senior research officer, Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Australia.
That still doesn’t mean to take CBD instead of antibiotics. That could potentially be dangerous. But the future looks promising! Scientists have a busy future ahead of them on this topic, but imagine the benefits around the world! Hemp can feed you, clothe you, house you, and heal you.
This considerably new information proving that CBD fights specific strains of virus/bacteria is enough for me personally up my daily CBD & CBG dosage a bit. It helps so many conditions already, why wouldn’t it be the answer?
