Who knows it too? Your nose itches, your eyes run and it's almost impossible to go outside during the peak phase. Hay fever is a widespread allergic disease that affects millions of people around the world. In the search for alternative therapies that put an end to the sniffling madness, CBD has been able to achieve its first enriching successes in recent years. Find out here what the actual effect of CBD on hay fever is and what significant findings science and medicine have already been able to achieve.
Hay fever describes an allergic reaction to pollen, i.e. the pollen from plants. So-called cereal pollen, but also grasses and herbs, which spread their pollen unnoticed in the surrounding air during the flowering season, are particularly common. Blossoming trees are also a major problem that those affected have to contend with. Birch trees in particular, but also hazel and alder, can hinder your breathing and cause typical symptoms.
As with other allergies, hay fever is triggered by an overreaction of the immune system. If the first contact with the plants does not cause you any problems, an allergic reaction can occur after repeated encounters. The allergens are perceived by the body as a foreign substance and subsequently trigger a hypersensitivity to the plant substance. Depending on the advanced stage, you may end up experiencing a mild to very severe allergic reaction.
The symptoms range from simple sneezing, blocked nose and itchy eyes to breathing difficulties and fatigue. Naturally, this can lead to significant restrictions in your everyday life, which is why medicine relies on medications such as antihistamines, chromones or corticosteroids. These are usually high doses and resemble a regular medication that makes the body dependent in the long term or interferes deeply with the body's own regulators. To prevent this, alternative healing methods such as the miracle drug CBD are used.
In recent years, CBD has become increasingly popular as a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It is particularly valued for its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and calming properties. Due to these properties, CBD is seen as a possible alternative solution for relieving hay fever.
The immune system plays a crucial role in allergic reactions, and CBD can interact with it in various ways. CBD is thought to inhibit the activation of immune cells and thus dampen the excessive reaction to allergic stimuli. This immunomodulatory effect of CBD may also be beneficial in the relief of hay fever. A growing number of studies are investigating the effects of CBD on various allergic conditions, including hay fever. It has been found that the effect of cannabidiol via the body's own endocannabinoid system also has potential benefits in terms of the body's own defense reactions. It reduces the release of inflammatory substances in the airways and can therefore alleviate the symptoms of hay fever. It also controls the immune system's overreaction to allergens and thus reduces the intensity of the allergic reaction. According to studies, CBD has a significantly positive effect on the body's own immune function [1].
CBD is the subject of intensive research due to its potential anti-inflammatory properties. It is said to inhibit pro-inflammatory processes in the body in the long term and thus contribute to a significant improvement. If you also suffer from hay fever, your body is fighting against an excessive defense reaction of your immune system. Your mast cells release histamines into your body, which are responsible for inflammatory processes such as persistent sneezing or burning eyes. Thanks to CBD, this inflammatory process in the body is inhibited and the release of histamines is curbed, which can also visibly alleviate your allergic reaction [2].
Histamine therefore plays a central role in allergic reactions. Antihistamines are used precisely for this relief and are intended to prevent histamines from spreading unnoticed. CBD is said to have a similar effect to antihistamines. One study suggests that CB1 receptors can contribute to a demonstrable inhibition of histamines, as these interact with numerous neurotransmitters in our body [3]. This finding certainly makes CBD a promising option for hay fever sufferers.
In addition to the external symptoms caused by hay fever, an allergy often causes psychological problems. If you are plagued by severe symptoms, it burns you out in the long term and exhausts you. This can also have an effect on your psyche and general mood. As CBD is responsible for the release of serotonin and has been shown to promote the production of the happiness hormone andamide, cannabinoids lower your stress levels and promote your body's own sense of well-being [4].
Current scientific findings suggest that CBD may be a promising option for relieving hay fever. Although further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms of CBD in hay fever, there are already forward-looking approaches that may soon make your life as an allergy sufferer easier.
[1]: Kaplan, B., Springs, A., Kaminski, E. (2009). The Profile of Immune Modulation by Cannabidiol (CBD) involves deregulation of Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (NFAT), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18656454/
[2]: Witkamp et al, The endocannabinoid system: an emerging key player in inflammation, 2014, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24419242/
[3]: 10. Grotenhermen F: Cannabinoids. Curr Drug Targets CNS Neurol Disord 2005; 4: 507-30. CrossRef MEDLINE, https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/127598/Das-therapeutische-Potenzial-von-Cannabis-und-Cannabinoiden
[4]: Senst et al, Neuromodulators, Stress and Plasticity: A Role for Endocannabinoid Signaling, 2014, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24353209/