Can CBD Help with Sore Throat?
Sore throat is one of the most common symptoms of cold & flu, seasonal ailments, respiratory viral infections. Thus, as the autumn sets in and the mercury start falling, it appears as everyone is having some kind of throat problem
During their lifetime, everyone would experience a sore throat. However, the severity of a sore throat may vary considerably. In some, it may cause minor throat irritation, while in others, it may be a severe and painful throat infection. Additionally, it appears that some individuals are prone to a sore throat.
Studies show that 10% of people would experience symptomatic sore throat each year. One of the problems with a sore throat is that it may occur due to numerous reasons. Bacterial infections cause about 60-70% of sore throat, and the rest occur due to viral infections. Those living with poor immunity are more prone to a sore throat.
Can CBD Help with Sore Throat?
Sore throat is not a life-threatening condition and would not kill an individual. In most cases, it is a self-limiting condition. Nevertheless, it should not be neglected as it may cause complications in some. For example, in some, it may lead to local pus formation. Similarly, strep throat may cause severe life-threatening autoimmune rheumatic disease.
Sore throat is quite challenging to manage due to its varied etiology. There is no single drug that can kill all pathogens. Doctors would often prescribe multiple medications, like anti-inflammatory agents to relieve inflammation, antibiotics, and even lozenges containing antiseptic.
CBD may help in sore throat in many ways. First, CBD is known to have antibacterial properties. Thus, CBD may help kill infections. These effects may be both when ingested or used topically. Therefore, one may either use CBD oil or even lozenges. Lozenges may have some additional benefits of lowering local inflammation.
Another way in which CBD may help is due to its anti-inflammatory action. Many experimental studies show that CBD may reduce proinflammatory cytokines and thus help control inflammation. Lowering inflammation may help reduce the severity of sore throat symptoms.
CBD may help prevent and manage sore throat due to its immune-modulatory properties. Thus, it may help regulate immune response against infectious agents. Its short-term use may help get rid of sore throat, and prolonged use may help prevent future episodes of sore throat.
In recent years, interest in CBD has been increasing. Some studies even suggest that it could help overcome infection due to superbugs. Many commonly found bacteria that also cause sore throat have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, thus causing prolonged episodes of sore throat. However, new studies show that CBD may help the body overcome these superbugs.
Additionally, it is worth understanding that CBD may also help reduce the sensation of pain and irritation, thus providing symptomatic relief.
Perhaps, the only limitation of CBD is that there are no clinical studies to confirm these benefits, and most evidence comes from the experimental studies.
What Can Cause a Sore Throat?
One of the reasons doctors struggle to manage sore throat is due to numerous causes of the condition.
Bacterial infections
Though many bacteria may cause sore throat, perhaps streptococcal infection is the most common cause. Group A streptococcus bacteria is the most frequent cause of sore throat. However, some infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia and other infections may also cause sore throat.
Seasonal viral infections
It is the second most common cause of sore throat. Thus, common cold, flu, influenza all may cause sore throat. Sore throat is also one of the symptoms of covid-19 infection.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies would often cause runny noses, sneezing, and throat irritation. Sore throat due to allergies may be mild, but it may last relatively long, thus becoming a constant source of distress.
Smoke and other irritants
Smoke, environmental pollutants, irritants, and dry air may cause sore throat in many people. Such a sore throat is best managed by regularly using soothing lozenges and eliminating irritants.
How Does CBD Work to Help with Sore Throat?
There are multiple ways in which CBD may work. For example, it may have a direct antibacterial effect when used topically like added to lozenges. In other cases, it may work due to its systemic effects.
- Antibacterial properties may help kill infections, especially when used as lozenges
- It seems that CBD oil may help fight systemic infections and help overcome sore throat
- Studies show that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, which may have a role in managing sore throat
- CBD is known to boost immunity, which is not just good for bacterial infections but also viral and other opportunistic infections
- There is a reason to believe that CBD may help reduce sore throat pain and may have a role in the symptomatic management of the condition
- Best of all, CBD may also help indirectly by reducing anxiety and distress caused by the illness
CBD For Sore Throat: Limitations
There are some limitations of CBD. It should not be used as a primary treatment. Instead, it should be used to support treatment efforts. It is because CBD is not a medication, and despite many claimed benefits, clinical studies still need to confirm its benefits.
Additionally, it is essential to understand that sore throat occurs for hundreds of reasons. Therefore, no known remedy would work in every case.
Further, finding the right product could also be a challenge. There are few products made specifically for this purpose. Similarly, most CBD products are not specifically produced to treat the conditions. There is also a considerable difference in the quality of various products.
What Does CBD Oil Taste Like?
What does CBD oil taste like? It is complex to answer, as each product may differ. Moreover, some products use taste-masking methods by adding aromas, essential oils, flavors, terpenes. These natural ways of taste masking are safe and may also help improve the quality of CBD products.
Generally, pure CBD oil that contains CBD isolate or distillate and hemp oil as carrier oil would have a nutty, grassy, and earthy taste. However, again if another carrier oil is used like olive oil or coconut oil, the taste may differ.
How To Choose the Right CBD Oil for Sore Throat?
Choosing CBD oil for sore throat may be challenging due to the sheer amount of choice. There are products with different forms of CBD; isolate, broad-spectrum, and full spectrum.
CBD isolate only contains highly purified CBD, which has an excellent safety profile. Broad-spectrum contains other cannabinoids with added benefits because of an entourage effect. Full-spectrum is quite like broad-spectrum, but generally also contains THC in small and legally allowed amounts.
Usually, broad-spectrum made using CBD distillate may be the best option as it is the right balance of safety and efficacy.
Here are other things to keep in mind when choosing the right CBD oil for a sore throat:
- Choose CBD made by reputed brands, as such brands often go through third-party lab testing and thus ensuring the product quality.
- Make sure that full-spectrum products mention the THC levels in the product.
- Preferably select organic hemp, especially if you are prone to allergies.
- Prefer CO2 extracted CBD oils over those using hydrocarbons or other methods due to better safety profile and low level of impurities.
CBD can be a safe and effective remedy for sore throat. However, in rare cases, it may cause dry throat, tiredness, or changes in appetite. Additionally, it is worth understanding that high dose CBD (like 300 mg or above) may influence liver enzymes, thus altering the metabolism of certain pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics.
Sore throat is a common problem, and CBD can help. So, if you are looking for a sore throat remedy, we can help you come up with the next blockbuster product.
