Using CBD in the Treatment of Symptoms of Meningitis

Meningitis is the term used to describe the inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord and the meninges, or the membranes, that exist in this fluid. What causes meningitis varies from patient to patient, but the disease is usually the result of an infection. Meningitis typically falls under one of two categories: Bacterial or viral meningitis.

What Are the Symptoms of Meningitis?

When symptoms of meningitis begin, they can feel like the flu. You may have a stiff neck, a headache, a very high fever, and you could additionally experience confusion, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms and signs like this can be concerning as it means your spinal cord is inflamed or infected. Treatment will depend on which type of meningitis you have: If you are diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, for example, you will likely receive intravenous antibiotics.

How Can CBD Alleviate Symptoms of Meningitis?

CBD is being researched for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. While you should not rely on CBD alone to cure meningitis, it’s possible that research will soon show it to be a powerful add-on in the treatment of inflammation and pain that occurs with several types of meningitis.

The longer symptoms of meningitis go untreated, the higher the risk is for complications such as seizures, headaches, and other neurological aftereffects. A study using rodents found that the rats that were given CBD were able to prevent cognitive impairment after being infected with pneumococcal meningitis. Further investigation into whether using CBD for inflammation could help alleviate these lingering symptoms in patients could provide relief for many who have survived this potentially deadly disease.

It’s unsafe to try to treat meningitis on your own, so be sure to talk to your doctor before attempting to make your own treatment plan for meningitis. CBD, when approved by a medical professional, could provide symptom relief, better sleep, and fewer aftereffects from the disease when recovering from meningitis.