CBD Oil To Treat Candida

Infections are common. There are uncountable types of infections born out of a myriad of fungus.

One such headache is the fungus called Candida. Overgrowth of this fungus leads to a condition of Candidiasis. 

In a report, we found during 2013-2017, this problem became so common that 9 out of every 100,000 people had it. This ripples down to 25,000 cases of candidemia every year nationwide.

Thus, many antidotes have also come forward claiming to cure candida of its root. 

One such effective solution that came to the limelight is CBD. Instead of blindly believing in this claim, we did our research and to find out the truth of it all. 

So, keep reading to know what we found.

What Is Candida?

Candida is short for candidiasis. It is popularly known as thrush and is a medical condition that propagates through Candida albicans, a yeast-like fungus.

This is a gender-neutral disease that manifests mainly in the throat, mouth, armpits, vulva, groin, and between the fingered. It causes infection but is harmless for the most part.

The infection causes inflammation, redness, painful scratch, and may lead to yellow-whitish discharge. 

What is concerning is that if the thrush is left untreated, it grows to become systemic candida and spreads to other body parts as well, as per this report. This usually happens because of immune deficiency. 

According to this report, in extreme cases, if candida enters the bloodstream it can affect internal organs as well, like kidney, brain, heart, lungs, etc.

If you have these symptoms,  know you have candida and you can use CBD to cure it in the initial stage when it is almost harmless.

• Excessive craving for sugar, which is food for yeast
• Fatigue along with fibromyalgia (chronic pain, tenderness, stiffness in the muscles without visible inflammation)
• Disturbance in the digestive system like excessive gas, constipation, and bloating
• You may experience a few skin-related issues such as eczema, rashes, dandruff, hives, etc.
• Chronic sinus
• Urinary tract or vaginal infection

CBD for Candida: A Viable Choice?

If you are new to the world of CBD, we would like to give you a brief introduction.

CBD is an acronym for Cannabidiol. It is a natural extract that comes from the hemp and cannabis plant.  Cannabis is deemed as a Schedule I drug now in the US. 

However, it is legal in the District of Columbia and 16 states as a therapeutic compound. What is great about CBD is that it is non-addictive and non-intoxicating. 

This simply means that you will not experience the ‘high’ feeling by consuming CBD all the while enjoying its benefits. Probably why CBD is seen as an important component of medical marijuana.

Coming to CBD as a viable treatment for candida, many studies were conducted to see the effectiveness of CBD as a solution to this fungal problem. 

A study published in 2011 on British Journal of Pharmacology, talked about how some cannabinoids like CBD possess antifungal properties. This signifies that Candida, which is also a yeast-type fungus, can also be cured with the help of the right doses of CBD.

It also explored the therapeutic advantages of THC (a cannabinoid inducing psychoactive effects on users) and not CBD. 

Nevertheless, researchers found the 3 cannabinoids – CBD, CBC, and CBG may have the ability to boost the effects of a potent antifungal which is caryophyllene oxide.

It is an oxidized component called beta-caryophyllene. It is one of the main terpenes in plants like pepper, rosemary, cannabis, basil, and hops.

In another study published in 2018 in the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Journal,  many terpenes have the antifungal characteristic in vitro. 

Isoprenoids (terpenes) that are like essential oils in nature offer cannabis plants their unique flavors and aroma. In fact, the study mentioned above found essential oils that possess delta-3-carene and alpha-pinene are full of antifungal properties.

Moreover, there is another report stating that beta-caryophyllene is also ripe with antifungal capabilities. 

Although the study does not directly concern CBD, the excerpts state that some compounds also present in CBD have therapeutic benefits. It also includes anti-fungal ability in it. 

Furthermore, a recent study published in 2019 states that CBD also has anti-inflammatory properties, which is just another jewel in its crown. 

Thus, CBD can help with the primary symptoms of candida like redness, hotness, and swelling in the infected area.

Another research study published by George Booz talks about how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system. Something that makes CBD seem like a blueprint for anti-inflammatory drug creation.

Although there is still a long way to go for CBD to become the first prescription for treating candida in its early stages, we at least have viable studies to get us going. 

How Does CBD Works To Treat Candida?

CBD interacts with the  CB2 receptors and regulates the immune system and their reaction time. 

The compound also helps in reducing inflammation that ultimately results in good health and boosts immunity. The anti-inflammatory properties that CBD contains allow it to provide these benefits. 

There are a few cells known as proinflammatory cells cytokines. They activate the pain receptors in the nerve cells. The stimulation will be greater for the pain receptors the longer these cells are into the system.

These cytokines increase the pathologic pain which results from damage to tissues. They also exacerbate the pain during oral and vaginal thrush. 

CBD works in a way that it binds itself with CB2 receptors of immune cells (only those that are overactive by normal standards). Then, it activates caspase, an anti-inflammatory protein present in the body.

Afterward, this protein emits a signal starting the cell death of the immune cell. As a result, the inflammation comes down because of the production of cytokines lessens.

A study stated that antifungals such as CBD hinder the creation of ergosterol in the fungi. This completely obliterates its cell membrane but does not harm human cells. 

Hence, when the cell membrane is destroyed there is nothing to protect the fungus so it cannot foster.

Pros and Cons of Using CBD Oil for Candidiasis

To understand if CBD Oil if for you, one must know the benefits and side-effects of it.

Pros

• CBD contains various anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties which help in the treatment of rashes, candidiasis, and other skin diseases. 
• It also results in good heart health and prevents the chances of catching cardiovascular diseases. 
• This product is a perfectly safe and natural supplement that does not offer any sedative and stimulant effects like THC. There are many studies that support this claim. 
• CBD products are often in use for the treatment of depression and anxiety. It is also good for relieving chronic pain and muscle stress 
• Since it is an organic and safe product with no visible side effects, CBD can be a very good choice for long-term use. You can take it as a daily supplement for many years to come
• CBD oil does not require any prescription from a doctor, so you can purchase without a prescription in the areas where it is legal.
• Besides having many skins and anti-bacterial benefits, it does also help in improving the overall health of the individual.

Cons

• CBD oils are not that cheap when compared to other anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory medications. CBD products can be expensive and may be out of reach for some people.
• Even though CBD is an organic chemical compound, it can cause some side effects to sensitive individuals. According to a study conducted by Mayo Clinic, some potential side effects are fatigue, nausea, and appetite suppression.  
• CBD can affect the results and digestion of several other medications negatively. It can hamper the results of many anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medications according to the Journal of Clinical Medicine published in 2019.  
• Most of the CBD products are FDA-approved to treat epilepsy. No CBD product gets approval for fungal and bacterial treatment by the FDA.

It is difficult to decide if the CBD works as well as it claims. Although the wide range of CBD products has shown several benefits and excellent results for the treatment of distinct problems. 

However, less information and weak regulations make it a little difficult to trust the product.

Nevertheless, CBD promises to deliver safe and effective results for many diseases, and most of the time it fulfills the expectation of their clients. 

If used properly CBD gummies, oil and topicals can offer good health and a better immune system without inviting severe side effects.

Is CBD Oil Effective To Other Alternative Treatments?

Candida infections are not severe in terms of risk. These infections are temporary and can be treated with some basic antifungal products. In fact, some can experience better effects in just a single dosage of a medicine. 

However, different people have different immune systems, and individuals who are suffering from a weak immune system can face problems in shaking this infection down. 

Although, with the help of several scientific studies, many professionals are leaning towards the treatment of this infection with the help of CBD products. Ingredients in CBD are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which can cure this infection in no time.

As we all know CBD is really helpful in boosting up your immune system and the different inflammation and bacterial resistant properties are just like a cherry on top. Which is why CBD is known to treat the infection and remove it completely from your body.

There are also many ways by which you can prevent getting this infection, so you don’t have to worry about the medication. These infections often occur because of a lack of hygiene. 

So, it is better to maintain proper body hygiene and avoid dirty and unsanitized places to avoid catching these infections. 

Pick The Right CBD Oil For Candida

More so, three different varieties of CBD oil are available to the public. These three different types of CBD Oil are Full-spectrum, Broad spectrum, and Isolate. 

All these types of CBD oil contain different ingredients in different amounts and are designed for different customers.

Full-spectrum CBD contains all the ingredients and cannabinoids fatty acids, essential oils, and terpenes that come from the natural produce of cannabis plants. Full-spectrum also includes a good concentration of a chemical substance that is responsible for that “high” feeling you get from Cannabis. 

This compound is known as Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and can help in good body health. However, it also has many side effects which makes it a little risky. 

However, Isolate is a mild form of Full-spectrum extract. It includes only the primary elements and ingredients that CBD requires. It does not contain THC or any other compound that can cause adverse effects. This makes the Isolate the pure CBD extract as it contains almost 99 percent of the pure CBD compound. 

Broad-spectrum is kind of a mix match of the other two types of CBD oil. It contains all the cannabinoid compounds that are found naturally in Cannabis. However, just like Isolate it does not contain THC which makes it more safe and reliable.

What Is The Recommended CBD Dosage?

The dosage for CBD differs and mainly depends on the person to person. Since each body is unique in its way, so is their reaction. Thus, every individual reacts differently to every component.

Furthermore, there are other factors at play as well for finalizing the ideal dosage for each individual. For instance, ongoing medication, metabolism, pre-existing conditions, etc. 

Hence, the best way to go about it is to start from the smallest dose as mentioned in the table below. After a while, you can try different doses and see for yourself which one shows positive results.

Once you find the dose which works for you, make sure to take it regularly without skipping.

Note* – The table above shows the ideal dosage for people with different body weights. Nevertheless, to be on the safer side, do not take more than the recommended dosage of CBD which is 100mg.

Although CBD is natural and safe even if you overdose, the long-term effects of it are yet to be discovered.

However, as per an article published on Harvard Health Publishing, researchers still do not know the ideal and effective dose of CBD for all medical purposes. And candida is certainly no different. 

The above doses are based on the studies conducted so far on animals and humans. So, although these doses are quite effective, we cannot pinpoint the absolute dosage yet.

The Right Way To Administer CBD Oil

Candidiasis comes in different kinds. This depends on the area on the body it is affecting. Thus, it can be in your throat, mouth, or private parts. Hence, the treatment of candida of different kinds requires different treatment as well.

We advise you to consult a doctor to identify what kind of candida you have contracted and where exactly for it to cure via CBD oil.

For immediate effect, you can administer CBD via vape. If the fungus is on or near to the skin (like the vaginal area), you can try other strains of CBD like a suppository and topical.

The two methods of administration offer the highest amount of concentration to the affected area, helping it to heal faster and actively. Topicals include creams, patches, etc. which can be applied directly to the infected portion. 

Suppositories for CBD are broad-spectrum compounds that you can use rectally or vaginally. However, always make sure to consult your doctor before deciding to go with either one.

To cure the symptoms of inflammation, CBD has to enter into the bloodstream to work. For which, oral CBD tincture or oil is effective. You can also pour CBD oil under your tongue (sublingually) to optimize the benefits of it.

Products consumed sublingually usually take 10-15 minutes to show their effects. This is faster than the drugs consumed orally.

Final Verdict

The reports and studies that we mentioned in the article are undeniable proof that CBD is capable of treating candida to a great extent.  

CBD oil is ripe with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial characteristics, making it a viable natural alternative to other medicines. It is these properties that allow CBD to combat infection caused by yeast-like fungus. 

Because CBD derives from a hemp plant, it is organic and natural which makes it a side-effect-free medicinal compound.

CBD oil suppository is an ideal way to treat candida. Although there are no studies to prove the actual dosage of CBD oil for candida, taking small amounts and increasing them gradually is ideal. 

Nevertheless, if you are an expecting mother or breast-feeding, or have allergies to certain compounds, you must consult a physician. This is to avoid any unforeseen reactions in your body which may cause more harm than good.