It’s common knowledge that CBD from hemp can help lower inflammation and strengthen your immune system overall. A new study done by Oregon State University researchers has found that CBDA, a parent molecule to CBD, may actually help in the prevention of the COVID-19 virus and its variants.

How Does Cannabis Help with COVID? What the Study Says

Researchers have already known for a while now what CBDA can do to alleviate inflammation, digestion, and much more (see the last section in this article for more information about that). What an exciting new study at Oregon State University found out recently, however, was what this CBD precursor may be able to do to protect against the virus that produces COVID-19 as well.

A team of scientists at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, in partnership with investigators at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, recently discovered that both CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) and CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) have the ability bind to SARS-COV-2 spike protein. Both of these cannabinoids are found in hemp variations of cannabis.

This is a huge discovery because it means that CBDA and CBGA may have the ability to prevent the spike protein from entering cells and causing COVID-19. The Oregon State University report was published January 10^th, 2022 in the Journal of Natural Products. (1)

Can CBDA Also Protect Against New COVID Variants?

According to the University of Oregon researchers, the answer could also be yes.

Dr. Richard Van Breeman, principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute and professor of chemistry at Oregon State, commented in a recent interview that CBDA and CBGA may be effective against emerging COVID variants as well. Two variants mentioned in the study include “B.1.17” (Alpha variant) and “B.1.351” (Beta variant).

Both Alpha and Beta are currently classified as “VBM” (Variants Being Monitored) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. (2) According to Yale University, the Alpha variant was first discovered in the UK in November 2020. Until the emergence of Delta, it was the predominant variant amongst infected individuals in the US.

Also, according to Yale, the Beta variant was discovered in South Africa at the end of 2020. So far it has not been as widespread. Experts state, however, that it is about 50% more contagious than the original virus and potentially 20% more contagious than the Alpha variant. (3)

“Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids [CBDA and CBGA], isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2,” the report authors state.

More on CBDA

A lot goes into the creation of the cannabinoids most people are familiar with that are found in both medical marijuana and hemp. CBDA and CBGA, which are major players in the formation of CBD, CBG, and CBN are considered “parent molecules”. In other words, those cannabinoids are created first and then CBD and other cannabinoids eventually emerge from them.

 CBDA specifically is considered a powerful healing substance in its own right. That being said, CBDA actually works much differently than CBD and THC cannabinoids in the body. The main difference is that CBDA does not interact much with the endocannabinoid system. It does not bind with CB1 nor CB2 receptors. Instead, it interacts with receptor sites for certain brain and nervous-system precursors such as 5-HT. 5-HT is a chemical needed for the production of serotonin. CBDA also interacts and influences key enzymes to produce its healing effects.

CBDA also affects the production of serotonin itself and the way this hormone interacts in the body. Serotonin is mostly known as a neurologically influential hormone that produces feelings of happiness and fulfillment.

Serotonin does a lot more than this in the body overall, however. It is a key hormonal substance for emotional regulation and the proper functioning of motor skills. It also influences digestion, sleep cycles, and cardiovascular health. According to a 2017 study conducted at the University of Freiburg in Germany, serotonin also plays a part in cytokine and T cell production in the immune system, amongst other things. (4)

Besides being a potential preventative against various strains of COVID, research into CBDA has found that it can also be beneficial for depression symptoms, digestive issues such as nausea and vomiting, brain and nervous system conditions, such as seizures, and for lowering inflammation overall. (5) (6)

How Can I Obtain CBDA?

Oregon State University researchers present hopeful research for the possible natural prevention of this dreadful virus that has changed the way the whole world functions. Recent research has found that CBDA in particular is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream and body than regular CBD. What’s more, both CBDA and CBGA are found in hemp. This means that they are legally available in most regions of the US.

You should know, however, that these cannabinoid precursors will not be found in regular CBD products. CBDA, however, can be purchased as super high-quality full-spectrum CBDA oil or as a CBD/CBDA blend right here at Myriam’s Premium Hemp Products!

References:

• Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants
• SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions
• Omicron, Delta, Alpha, and More: What to Know About the Coronavirus Variants
• The Effects of Serotonin in Immune Cells
• Effect of cannabidiolic acid and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia and edema in a rodent model of inflammatory pain
• Acute oral cannabidiolic acid methyl ester reduces depression-like behavior in two genetic animal models of depression