Medically reviewed by Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC — Written by Kristeen Cherney on February 11, 2021.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has increased in popularity to help treat a variety of health conditions. You may be wondering if this type of cannabinoid can help manage your asthma symptoms.
Like other cannabinoids, CBD is derived from the cannabis plant. But unlike cannabis (often referred to as marijuana), CBD doesn’t have any hallucinogenic effects because of its extremely low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content (typically less than 0.3 percent).
Both marijuana and CBD may be used, with the supervision of a doctor, to treat pain. But what has many people interested in CBD oil is the potential to treat inflammation.
As a chronic lung disease, asthma is caused by underlying inflammation of the airways, with flare-ups leading to wheezing, coughing, and other breathing issues.
Despite its potential role in airway inflammation, can CBD oil really treat asthma? Learn more about what the research says and when you might consider exploring this treatment method with your doctor.
CBD is gaining increasing attention because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Some researchTrusted Source also indicates that it may provide more neuroprotective benefits than vitamins C and E.
CBD oil may decrease hyperresponsiveness in your airways, meaning that your lungs may become less sensitive to your asthma triggers. In turn, this means fewer flare-ups and symptoms such as coughing.
A 2019 studyTrusted Source found that CBD decreased airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice that were induced with allergic asthma. However, more research is needed in humans to determine whether CBD oil is an effective treatment for allergy-induced asthma.