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In about five to seven days (an eternity), most healthy adults will bounce back from colds and flu. But what can you do at this time?
The medical community agrees that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or paracetamol) are good for pain management, but that's about it. Even popular scientific home remedies don't help: Randomized controlled trials of echinacea, vitamin C, and even garlic have shown that these cold and flu medicines are no better than placebo for reducing symptoms. And mom's chicken soup? A 2000 study found that it had a mild anti-inflammatory effect, helping to relieve symptoms, but not by much.
So...wouldn't it be nice to get up and feel better?
We attempted to speak with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, but they declined to comment, saying there weren't enough studies to support the effects of cannabis on colds and flu.
From a naturopathic point of view, we turned to Dr. Sean Meirovichi, a TB specialist who specializes in pain management. He reiterates that there is no direct link between cannabis use and the treatment of colds and flu. However, he said there is new evidence that symptoms can be controlled if cannabis is used responsibly.
“The cannabinoids THC and CBD have been proven to have pain-relieving, sleep-inducing and anti-inflammatory properties ,” he says.
So on a sick day when you're wrapped in a blanket, he suggests that cannabis can help reduce body aches, ease airway inflammation, and increase relaxation to help you sleep.
Regarding flu symptoms, he says that cannabis may also have "antipyretic properties due to its ability to suppress the immune system."
Plus, if you're one of those types of people who love to do prevention, he says some research shows that CBD has antiviral properties .
Think about it:
Heat and Smoke is the last thing your throat needs when it's already itchy and sore. Then imagine hot smoke entering your lungs;
Meirovici warns that smoking can further irritate mucous membranes, making coughs or sore throats worse.
And before inhaling or eating anything from cannabis, he notes that the previously mentioned immunosuppressive properties (immune suppression) can potentially prolong viral infection. “At the same time, the study was carried out mainly in vitro (this is a technology for performing experiments when experiments are carried out “in a test tube” - outside a living organism) or on rats; there have been no human studies so far,” he says.
If you're using cannabis on your sick day, we turned to Robin Griggs Lawrence, author of Cannabis Culinary. She says that when she feels like she's starting to get sick, she goes back to her methods, which are:
In the end, the best way to avoid a cold or flu is to stop the spread: wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your hand, and stay at home when sick.
Finally, Meirovici offers this wisdom:
“ Passing a joint among friends is a fun but quick way to spread germs, so be careful who you smoke with. ".
