Does CBD Help Patients With Tuberculosis?

What is Tuberculosis?

The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes TB. It usually affects the lungs, but the bacterium can also affect the spine, kidneys and brain. Two forms of tuberculosis exist: latent TB infection, when the body’s immune system controls small numbers of bacteria, and TB disease, also known as active TB.

What Are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?

TB symptoms include:

•         Night sweats

•         Chills and fever

•         Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss

•         A cough that lasts for more than three weeks

If tuberculosis affects other body systems, the patient’s symptoms may be in other areas; for example, TB in the bones may lead to bone pain.

Can CBD Treat Tuberculosis?

Throughout the world, cannabis has historically been used to treat tuberculosis. Its application has been documented in India, Mexico, Argentina, Czechoslovakia and South Africa. In a modern study, a cannabinoid receptor demonstrated the ability to balance the body’s inflammatory response caused by mycobacteria. Another study conducted in 1960 showed CBD’s powerful antibiotic effect on TB bacteria, suggesting that CBD reduces growth of tuberculosis bacterias.

The historical use of CBD and modern studies both present a strong case that CBD’s antimicrobial characteristics are effective to treat tuberculosis. However, there are some risks of CBD for tuberculosis. CBD can have adverse side effects like many medicines and treatments. They include drowsiness, reduced appetite and fatigue. CBD can also interact with other drugs.

If you suspect you have been exposed to tuberculosis, see your healthcare provider right away. You may be prescribed a course of antibacterial medications to treat TB. Talk to your doctor before using CBD oil for symptoms of tuberculosis.