Allergies suck. Whether they’re flared up by dust, seasonal changes, or a pet, allergic reactions can seriously limit your capabilities and leave you a wreck. For many people, allergies are unavoidable, especially in the fall and spring — but thankfully, they are treatable.
Many cannabis products, such as edibles and tinctures, may be beneficial for dealing with allergies due to their anti-inflammatory and histamine-blocking properties. Using cannabis for allergies may decrease reaction symptoms, improve breathing, and help you relax at the end of an allergy-filled day. Read on to learn more.
Using Cannabis for Allergies
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids are naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Because of this, they are believed to help open your airways by decreasing nasal inflammation and improving your immune system. THC may also help your body block histamines, the organic compounds that develop in response to allergies, to diminish reaction symptoms.
Additionally, cannabis’s relaxing and pain-relieving effects can make it easier to deal with pain and other overwhelming allergy conditions, particularly before going to bed. It’s important to consult with your doctor for any medical concerns and questions you have before using cannabis, especially if you intend to use cannabis for medical purposes, including treating allergies.
Best Strains for Treating Allergies
Cannabis strains have different effects for each person and may not be consistent among manufacturers. Instead of looking at specific strains for allergies, you should look at the cannabis plant types: indica, sativa, and hybrid.
Nicknamed “in-da-couch,” indica strains are more calming, while sativa strains are more energy-inducing. Many medical cannabis users prefer hybrid strains, such as Blue Dream, as they give the full-body highs of indica while also providing enough energy to complete tasks. Which specific strains work for you will depend on your own personal tastes and intentions.
Best Ways To Consume Cannabis for Allergies
Using cannabis for allergies may help reduce symptoms, but it could also worsen symptoms depending on how you consume it. Smoking and vaping immediately impact your airways and can cause wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, which will worsen allergy symptoms. Other consumption methods, such as edibles, tinctures, and topicals, may be a better fit for individuals with allergies, asthma, or rhinitis.
Does CBD Help With Allergies?
While CBD shouldn’t be used to treat severe allergic reactions, substantial evidence shows that the cannabinoid may reduce allergy symptoms, both before and after the allergy encounter. This is a result of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties and a-pinene terpenes.
Using CBD instead of cannabis for allergies may be an ideal solution for many people because of CBD’s significantly milder effects. As CBD isn’t strong enough to qualify as a “controlled substance,” it is generally safe to use while driving, working, and socializing.
Buying Cannabis for Allergies in Boston
From anti-inflammation to relaxation, we are still learning more about cannabis’s incredible and natural properties. Using CBD and cannabis products for allergies may alleviate reaction symptoms and make allergy season more bearable. Browse the Harbor House Collective’s online shop today to get started.