How does CBD Oil for HIV/AIDS work? HIV/AIDS was once one of the deadliest epidemics worldwide. Now, there are more treatments than ever before. As CBD Oil becomes more accepted in the medical field, many studies examine the effects of CBD Oil and HIV/AIDS.
HIV is short for ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus’ which is a disease that kills cells that help protect us from infections. On the other hand, AIDS is short for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,” which is the disease marking the last stage of HIV. HIV is the cause of AIDS and is a result of the continuous damaging of the body.
HIV is transmitted through five main pathways, including:
At its peak, HIV/AIDS was one of the deadliest diseases on the planet. Over 39 million people have died since the start of the AIDS epidemic and there is no current cure for HIV/AIDS. Despite this, modern medicines greatly reduce the development of HIV into AIDS by slowing the progression of the virus. People living with this disease depend on these treatments to live long, health and generally normal lives. People with AIDS can expect to live 10+ years with the right treatment of HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy).
Within the first 2 to 4 weeks of infection, people infected with HIV will experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever or a sore throat among others. These symptoms can persist for weeks, whilst some do not experience any of these symptoms at all. If left untreated, the HIV can progress towards AIDS and show symptoms such as a loss of appetite, memory and weight loss, fever, and more. If you believe you may have been infected with HIV, it is imperative to get tested as soon as possible to receive treatment immediately.
The most effective and common form of HIV/AIDS treatment comes in the form of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). ART stops the progression of HIV to develop into the more deadly AIDS. Sticking to the ART treatment is crucial, but it has its own set of side effects that can negatively impact your life as you take it. These can come in the form of mood changes, higher cholesterol levels, lipodystrophy, and appetite loss among others.
CBD (Cannabidiol), among many other components of the cannabis plant is well-received in the medical field. It can often help with pain relief, fatigue and nausea. These are typical side-effects of HIV/AIDS, hence cannabis and its components have been accepted as an effective type of treatment. CBD differs from the more well-known component, THC as it does not have the psychoactive effects of getting high.
A study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syondromes showed that HIV patients taking cannabis experienced a range of positive effects, including increased appetite, a reduction in nerve pain from infection, benefits to mood, inhibited brain inflammatory responses and improved sleep.
A separate study from the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology found that CBD has the potential to alter immune responses in patients with HIV. This suggests that CBD may decelerate the progression of HIV, however more research is needed.
HIV is not as dangerous as it used to be, but that doesn’t mean the disease nor its treatments are free from side effects. CBD Oil and other components of the cannabis plant may have future potential use for many of these side effects.
If you want to learn more about the effects of CBD Oil on different ailments, click here
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