The human immunodeficiency virus, better known as HIV, first hit the scene in 1959. Since that time, the AIDS epidemic was able to firmly grab a hold of the United States in just 20 years. While there have been incredible advancements in the medical field enabling people with AIDS to live healthier, longer, and happier lives, we still have been unable to find a cure for HIV.
That being said, because of the medicine available to us today, having this virus is no longer viewed as a threat to one’s life. As effective as the medicines have become, the side effects and symptoms of HIV & AIDS are still very powerful. They create a set of horrible issues all on their own.
No, these conditions are not going to be cured by using CBD oil. Still, a CBD product might be able to take on a significant role in both managing the symptoms experienced by both the diseases themselves, as well as the symptoms accompanying many popular treatments.
CBD Oil’s Benefits Against HIV and AIDS
The majority of people with HIV or AIDS have to undergo ART, antiretroviral therapy. More often than not, ART will include having to take many different pills from several different drug classes. This is necessary to manage the symptoms, as well as prevent the progression of the disease. While the treatments have been proven to be very effective, taking them is by no means an easy task. By adding CBD oil to the equation, things might become much easier for the person in treatment.
If using CBD oil to help manage the symptoms of HIV/AIDS and treatment is something you are interested in, you will need to be having regular check-ups with your doctor or physician. This will be key in discovering the balance you need of the amount of medicine you are using to combat the disease while decreasing adverse side effects as much as possible. Some of the side effects associated with ART include, but aren’t limited to:
- Bone loss and weakened bones
- Heart disease
- Muscle degeneration
- Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
- Neuropathic pain
- High blood sugar
Currently, scientists are studying CBD for potential therapeutic benefits. Many of these could be promising for decreasing the side effects that come with treatments for HIV/AIDS. When taking the illness’s complications into consideration such as a weakened immune system, it is easy to see why using CBD oil could be a huge help for many of these people.
The side effects that come with using CBD oil are relatively mild and CBD has been proven to be safe for an HIV patient to use. There is very little threat presented to an immune system that has already been compromised.
There are just a few instances when the relief provided by using CBD oil comes with a risk for the consumer. There can be an interaction between a few popular medications for HIV/AIDS and CBD oil. Because of this, you need to make sure you have a discussion with your doctor before adding CBD oil to what you are already doing to treat HIV/AIDS
How Effective is CBD Oil for HIV & AIDS?
There is still plenty of research and study needing to be completed in this specific area. That being said, there’ve been plenty of examples demonstrating how CBD oil is relieving many symptoms of HIV & Aids, as well as several popular options for treatment. This includes but is not limited to depression, inflammation, insomnia, heart disease, and anxiety.
As a matter of fact, clinical trials have been completed to examine cannabis’ effect on pain and many other common symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS. According to the results, many of the conditions were improved, according to studied patients.
We will take a closer look at the research that has been completed on common symptoms of HIV & Aids that could be helped with the use of CBD oil.
Chronic Pain
A patient with HIV/AIDS has a great chance of suffering from chronic pain from both treatments to manage symptoms, as well as from the disease itself. It’s commonly reported that the patient experiences pain in their joints, nerve pain, as well as pain in the stomach. CBD oil has been used by many people to reduce each of these specific types of pain. This is accomplished by CBD focusing on the cause of the pain at its source.
CBD oil will work both indirectly and directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system. One of the primary ways this is accomplished is through the impact of CBD oil on CB2 receptors within the system. These receptors are located in the central nervous system. They are responsible for regulating inflammation and pain, and CBD oil has the potential of relieving chronic pain by producing an anti-inflammatory effect on the receptor.
Pain’s perception is also diverted with CBD oil through the influence of glycine receptors. These receptors are inhibitory and can also be found throughout the central nervous system. They play a role in pain modulation. The effect of these receptors is increased with CBD oil which leads to the reduction of pain that is experienced.
Nausea
Vomiting, loss of appetite, and nausea are side effects that are commonly experienced with HIV & Aids treatment. Scientists are still studying the connection, but they believe an increase in serotonin plays a role in provoking vomiting and nausea.
They also believe CBD oil can reduce nausea because of the impact it makes on receptors responsible for serotonin, known as the 5-HT1A. These receptors are indirectly activated by CBD oil, sending signals that produce lower amounts of serotonin. When the amount of serotonin in the body is lowered, vomiting and nausea are stopped at the source with CBD oil.
Appetite
If you are someone suffering from HIV/AIDS, it’s important for you to maintain a healthy weight. CBD oil not only reduces nausea, but it can also increase your appetite. The National Cancer Institute reports research has been completed on animals that confirms, “cannabinoids have a stimulatory effect on appetite and increase food intake.”
Specifically, with HIV/AIDS, there is still a lot of research and study needing to be completed. There is a review of the information that is currently available concluding there’s limited evidence supporting cannabis and oral cannabinoids being effective with an increase of appetite and a decrease in the loss of weight that is associated with HIV/AIDS. That being said, hopefully, with more research, something much more concrete will come out of this limited evidence.
Bone Density and Building Muscle
Another common symptom for those battling HIV/AIDS is muscle atrophy. Over time, this leads to the reduction of bone density and adds even more potential complications to health. Cortisol, a catabolic hormone, stops new tissue growth and will reduce protein synthesis, both of which are key processes in the growth and maintenance of muscle. Throughout the day, cortisol will be released, but stress is a huge trigger for this process.
Because it is anti-catabolic, CBD oil will help with the regulation of our cortisol amount that is present throughout the body. By lowering the cortisol level, both protein synthesis and muscle growth can happen more readily. CBD is able to help with building muscle more than just throughout the day.
During the night, deeper REM sleep is promoted by CBD oil. It is during this time our cortisol level will naturally be at its lowest. This will give our bodies an opportunity to replenish the muscle tissue during the night. If you are someone who is suffering from broken or shallow sleep, a familiar side effect for those being treated for HIV/Aids, this process is unable to develop.
Using CBD Oil for HIV/AIDS
If you are wanting to start using CBD oil to help with managing symptoms and the side effects that are commonly associated with HIV/AIDS and popular forms of treatment, there are several different methods for you to choose from. That being said, as mentioned before, it is very important that this is discussed with your doctor or physician beforehand. You need to make sure CBD oil is safe with the other treatments you are currently using. Once the two of you have decided this is a safe option, you will want to determine your method of using CBD oil.
The method of consuming CBD oil you choose to use will largely be determined by your personal preferences and needs. Being able to control the dose you are taking is something that needs your attention before your method of use is determined. A CBD vaping oil or a drop will provide you with some of the most convenient options for dosage control.
A CBD tincture or drop can be additionally taken along with a daily dosage routine. This provides a simple method of adjusting the dose you have decided to take, literally down to the exact drop. By starting with a drop or tincture, you will be able to experiment with the dose that is most efficient at relieving your specific symptoms. You will also be able to experience the effects of CBD oil more quickly, normally as soon as around 30 minutes of dropping the CBD oil underneath your tongue. The effects will be felt for anywhere from two to four hours after taking.
A CBD inhalant such as flower or a vape will also go to work in your body rather quickly. Typically, with an inhalant, you will begin to experience the effects within just a few minutes. This is an option for fast relief for someone who experiences a sudden symptom or a flare-up of side effects that happen out of the blue. While this is the quickest way of feeling the effects of CBD oil, they are not going to last as long as other methods of use. You will normally need more within an hour. Because of this, using an inhalant is normally a great addition to another method of daily use.
A CBD edible or capsule provides a consistent dose. They are a great choice for daily use. That being said, in order to feel the effects, the CBD oil has to pass through your digestive system before it absorbs into your bloodstream. This delay could require an extra hour or so before any effects are felt. However, while the effects do require more time with a capsule or an edible, they will last for anywhere from four to six hours.
A CBD topical such as a lotion or cream can provide relief you target to a specific area of your body. Topicals will usually provide relief for anywhere from six to eight hours following application. This will provide relief you are able to feel constantly throughout the day. But again, because the CBD oil has to penetrate through your skin before making its way into your blood, more time is going to be needed before you begin experiencing relief.
If you are looking for the cure for HIV or AIDS, CBD oil isn’t what you are looking for. That being said, CBD oil can complement treatments you are already using, addressing the side effects that make matters even worse. One last time, make sure you have a discussion with your doctor or physician before adding CBD oil to treatments you are currently involved with.