New research is showing that cannabidiol is quite effective in killing bacteria in a petri dish. In 1928, penicillin was a revolutionary discovery defying all logic and nature. Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered this new medicine, when he came back from a vacation only to find green mold that had killed some bacteria while growing in a petri dish. Now it’s happening again with CBD. Can you believe that CBD is killing antibiotic resistant bacteria such as staph (including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and MRSA? These two types of bacteria have been plaguing hospitals and healthcare facilities at dangerous rates. The breakthrough for Dr. Mark Blaskovich, came by chance, as well, when his laboratory team was investigating the topical use of CBD creams to heal numerous skin disorders. During these investigations, his assistants found that CBD was remarkably effective at killing a large range of bugs, including those that have become resistant to antibiotics.
Why is it that the most flourishing organisms on earth are bacteria?
Bacteria adapt extremely fast to the environment. So quickly, that only five years after the exciting introduction of penicillin into the medical field, microbes already appeared that could resist this new revolutionary medicine. Thanks to the newest effectiveness of CBD, we now have a new ally in the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria.
In June 2019, a meeting took place at the University of Queensland, of the American Society for Microbiology. There scientists concurred on the use of CBD for the treatment and cure of gram- positive bacterial infections which are typically resistant to standard antibiotics. This study was undertaken in conjunction with the pharmaceutical company, Botanix, which is a producer of CBD based preparations. Botanix Pharmaceuticals funded this project together with an Austrailian government grant called, Innovative Connections. The press release quoted Dr. Mark Blaskovich referring to CBD products as “a promising new antibiotic worth further investigation”.
Who is Dr. Mark Blaskovich and what is his affiliation to CBD?
Dr Blaskovich is a principal investigator and program coordinator for the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. He is also a senior research officer at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland. Since 2010, Dr. Blaskovich, has been working to develop new antibiotics for treating drug resistant germs.
- He established that CBD is active against gram positive bacteria with a potency comparable to that of conventional antibiotics such as daptomycin and vancomycin.
- He investigated the topical use of CBD in the treatment of skin conditions that were resistant to other antibiotics without losing effectiveness in prolonged treatment.
- He discovered that CBD was very effective at disrupting organisms, and physical forms of bacteria growth that create difficult-to-treat infections.
- He proved that CBD has the potential to reduce the damage that is caused by inflammation from certain antibiotics and that is very positive news.
The scientific data about the antibacterial ability of CBD is quite impressive. In fact, each person has their own cannabinoid receptors in their bodies. Bulgarian born, Israeli chemist, Rapahel Mechoulam, began looking into the reason that marijuana ( a derivative of the same plant as CBD) makes a person high. He was the first person to map the structure of chemical makeup of cannabidiol and THC.
In the 1980’s, Dr. Allyn Howlett, of the St Louis University Medical School, traced exactly where cannabinoids ended up in the brain and called them CB1 receptors. Eventually, she also found these receptors in other body organs and called them CB2.
Dr. Rafael Mchoulam, also concluded, through his research, that our bodies indeed produce their own cannabinoids. In 1992, he named this internal cannabinoid, “anandamide”. He argued that these cannabinoids rather than endorphins are responsible for the pleasant feeling after exercise, known as “runners high”. The clinical trials are presently underway.
According to the FDA, phase one trials last for several months. They include between twenty to one hundred healthy participants. Then the phase two trials include several hundred participants who suffer from some form of bacterial condition. The phase two trials will try out the effectiveness of the CBD drug as an antibiotic replacement and check for any adverse side effects. These studies will last between several months and two years.
As of now, proponents of CBD antibiotic therapy caution patients against treating serious bacterial infections with CBD or any other cannabis related products. Although the research is quite promising, it’s still quite new. Findings have yet only been tested in the petri dish and on the tissues of mice. However, these studies do show the promise of just how the world of CBD is largely unexplored. As Dr. Blaskovich says, “What may be exciting, but we don’t know yet, is how it works. If it kills bacteria by a new mechanism not used by existing antibiotics, that would be really exciting.”
What are the benefits of using CBD as an antibiotic?
Generic antibiotics like amoxicillin, doxycycline, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, metronidazole, and azithromycin can become dangerous when being used for a long period of time. First let’s lay down what side effects might be prevented when using CBD as an antibiotic versus classic antibiotics.
Side Effects of Classic Antibiotics
- Diarrhea caused by antibiotics destroying both bad and good bacteria which exists in the gut and plays a major role in the digestive tract.
- Liver disease can come about due to the toxic elements which reside in the antibiotics.
- Anaphylactic shock might occur following the ingestion of an antibiotic which can result in death.
- Pseudomembranous colitis is the cause of the inflammation of the large intestine which brings on extreme pain and cramping.
When using CBD as a treatment against bacteria one can avoid all the negative side effects of killing the good bacteria. What humans don’t know, is that bacteria are beneficial to the human body. Our bodies are working tirelessly to kill off infections and all bad elements that enter our body. When someone’s immune system is compromised, they are highly susceptible to infection. Unfortunately, these people will be admitted to a hospital and incur a new infection that was passed from one patient to the next.
CBD is a non-toxic option when treating bacteria. This means that it will hit the bacteria precisely because the surrounding areas will only benefit when the CB1 and CB2 connectors are stimulated. I am trying to think of something to compare it to but there may not be anything like it. CBD will fight the bad bacteria while being a benefit for the whole human body. Unlike THC the side effects of using CBD are minimal if not anything. In rare cases people have experienced stomach aches from overdosing on CBD. It’s the same reaction someone gets when overeating, little pain but generally subsides after a half hour or so.
We know how CBD helps depression, insomnia, seizures, skin disorders and much more. Imagine that this amazing oil that comes straight from nature will be on the forefront of an entire new group of antibiotics. What excites me most is that CBD has become a revolution for global medicine with the intent of seeking natural alternatives which don’t have a negative impact on the human body. The anatomy of our bodies is wondrous and all it needs is to be assisted when trying to fight off infection. I hope and pray that there will be a day when we can treat infection without placing toxic antibiotics into our bodies.