At Papa & Barkley, we focus a lot of time and attention on the functional use of cannabis products like our classic Releaf Balm, the salve that our founder Adam Grossman created to help his father manage his debilitating back pain. But as many of you already know, cannabis is just as powerful inside the body as out; that’s why cannabis ingestibles such as our potent and pure cannabis tinctures help relieve discomfort and ease us into better rest, among other effects.
One relationship that has garnered more mainstream media attention recently is that between cannabinoids and the immune system. A growing number of us are wondering: Does CBD support your immune system? What about THC? Research suggests a potentially beneficial but complex interaction. If you’re interested in how cannabis oil and the immune system interact, today’s post should be required reading!
Cannabinoids and the Immune System: A Multilayered Relationship
You likely already know how CBD and THC can help us manage muscle discomfort, reduce stress, and potentially help us get a better night’s rest. And seeing as the endocannabinoid system—the major regulatory network that interfaces with these cannabinoids—is tasked with helping to modulate the immune system, it’s not much of a surprise that cannabis has an immunomodulatory (or response-changing) effect on the immune system.
This finding is borne out by a 2017 study demonstrating that CBD and THC interact with the lymphatic system, which produces most of our immune cells. The question is whether the effect is positive or negative. And as it turns out, the answer is: both.