CBD oil is a natural, yellowish fluid obtained from the Cannabis plant.
It is non-psychoactive and has many beneficial properties.
It has been found to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of migraines, anxiety, PTSD, depression, back pain, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, schizophrenia, etc.
It has an impact on the endocannabinoid system, its receptors, and endogenous cannabinoids.
This results in many therapeutic properties of CBD such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anxiolytic, antibacterial properties to name a few.
What is Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria?
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to survive and tolerate the effect of medicines, which could previously kill them.
Once the microbes become resistant to a medication, it becomes progressively difficult to treat the diseases caused by them. In most cases, higher doses or a different medication is required.
Bacteria can become resistant to multiple drugs (multidrug resistant). In certain cases, no existing medication works on them and such bacteria are termed as superbugs/totally drug resistant. They cause a lot of burden on the health care system.
Drug-resistant bacteria are a common cause of infections in hospitals and result in many deaths.
Some common antibiotic-resistant bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, Clostridia species, etc.
They cause diseases such as sepsis, pneumonia, hospital-acquired infections, diarrheal diseases respectively.
It is of utmost importance to prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria from arising, as it is difficult to treat the infections caused by them.
It is also important to find drugs/medications that are effective against these resistant bacteria because they result in a large number of deaths all over the globe.
CBD Oil and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
CBD oil has very unique phytochemical constituents with many important biological properties and one such property is the antibacterial action of CBD.
CBD was shown to effectively inhibit the growth of staphylococci and streptococci.
Studies conducted on Cannabis sativa (the plant from which CBD is obtained) has been shown to exhibit potent antibacterial properties, which are attributed to components such as cannabidiol, cannabichromene, cannabigerol, etc.
A study published in Journal of Natural Products showed that CBD was effective against one of the most dangerous and common antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to the groups of gram-positive bacteria, which have been known to cause several difficult to treat diseases and infections. It causes skin, lung and other infections which cannot be treated with most existing antibiotics.
Scientists are constantly working to find alternatives to treat infections caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as they have high mortality.
These infections commonly occur in people who work in hospitals, have been admitted to nursing homes, live in unhygienic conditions, etc.
The study used clinically relevant strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and examined the antibacterial potency of CBD and four other components from Cannabis plant.
The bacteria were incubated with CBD, other components of Cannabis, standard antibiotics, and controls for 18 hours to observe their growth.
It was observed from the antibacterial assays that CBD could inhibit the growth of various strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The lowest concentration required to inhibit the growth was found to be low in case of CBD compared to other components of Cannabis suggesting that CBD is a potent agent.
CBD was highly effective against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) SA-1199B strain, which is resistant to many common antibiotics.
The study concluded that CBD and other components of cannabis could be used to solve the issue of multidrug-resistant MRSA and other bacterial strains.
This study gives some hope in the direction of development of alternatives to treat infections caused by superbugs such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacteria which are resistant to common pharmaceutical drugs.
Use of CBD for ameliorating the superbugs could potentially save many lives and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. More research on CBD and its use to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria are needed for more insights.
Dosage
The dose of CBD varies from person to person based on the disease condition, personal tolerance, age, etc.
The dose of CBD should be adjusted based on the person’s need and the body’s response to it. Users are advised to start with low doses and increase it gradually over a few weeks.
CBD oil is available in strength ranging from 100-500mg. 600mg-1200mg of CBD can be well tolerated by the body without any side effects in the long run.
The most preferred way of intake is the sublingual way in which the oil is dropped under the tongue, held there and then swallowed. Other ways include inhalation, vaping, and topical application. Many people consume edibles such as candy and brownies containing CBD.
Precaution
Common side effects associated with CBD consumption include dry mouth, appetite change, faintness, etc.
More than 1500mg of CBD oil can be harmful if consumed for a long period of time as it can cause low blood pressure and faintness.
Pure and high-quality CBD oil should be consumed as the cheap ones can carry many harmful contaminants, which can prove to be toxic. Driving should be avoided right after CBD intake.
CBD can have an impact on the metabolism of various common drugs by the liver. Therefore the dose of these drugs needs to be adjusted. People who are on regular medication should consult the doctor before starting the use of CBD.
Patients with Parkinson’s should avoid CBD oil. Pregnant and breastfeeding ladies should also avoid CBD unless recommended by the doctor. Use of CBD should be stopped if any allergies or side effects are observed.
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a major issue, which constantly needs new solutions. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause a large number of infections and result in many deaths all around the globe.
One of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria includes Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They are responsible for causing many deadly infections.
CBD has been shown to be effective against many strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Thus it could be used as an effective agent to treat MRSA infections. This also points towards the potential application of CBD against other types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
CBD is a great natural alternative to medications that fail to treat the infections. More research is needed to explore its full potential.
Patients should seek medical advice before starting the use of CBD oil to avoid side effects.
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria
https://longitudeprize.org/blog-post/10-most-dangerous-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1085130
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18681481
