Allergies exist in many different forms, but the most common ones are dust, insect bites, food (nuts are a common food allergy), and pollen. Fortunately, it is rare for allergies to cause life-threatening symptoms, but what is increasingly common is the phenomenon of chronic allergies leading to more serious health problems. In most cases, over-the-counter antihistamines are used to treat allergies, but even these can cause undesirable side effects.
What is allergic rhinitis?
It may sound scientific, but allergic rhinitis is just another term for an allergy that most of us are now familiar with: hay fever. In the UK alone, it is estimated that over 10 million people suffer from hay fever, which is one in five people! Worldwide, the situation is the same: hay fever prevents people from working or being attentive in school. If you’ve ever tried to concentrate when your nose won’t stop running or your eyes are swollen, you know how difficult it can be.
This condition is caused by higher than normal levels of histamines in the blood and tissues. Generally, histamines stay at relatively low levels. However, in people suffering from hay fever, their hypersensitivity to an allergen triggers a strong increase in the level of histamines released by mast cells. Mast cells are located under the skin and around blood vessels and nerves, hence the diversity of symptoms experienced.
Spring allergies
Hay fever symptoms are difficult to manage
Hay fever symptoms are very similar to those of a common cold. The difference, however, is that while the cold lasts until the infection has passed, hay fever persists as long as you’re exposed to the allergen causing the reaction. Allergens can be pollens, dust mites, skin particles, or animal hair. If hay fever is caused by the presence of pollen, symptoms can worsen during certain seasons.
When you combine all the factors that contribute to hay fever, managing it can become a nightmare due to its persistent symptoms. However, the intensity and frequency of hay fever have led researchers to deviate from standard treatment methods. Instead, their attention has turned to potential therapeutic remedies with minimal side effects, such as CBD.
CBD and allergies: what is the relationship?
Despite the lack of human studies on the potential of CBD, there are some promising animal studies. The first was a 2013 study on the impact of cannabidiol on antigen-induced guinea pigs. Several guinea pigs were given an antigen that stimulates the contraction of the muscles in their throat, a common symptom of hay fever. Researchers found that “cannabidiol reduces ovalbumin-induced airway obstruction,” adding that CBD “could have beneficial effects in treating obstructive airway disorders.”
Later in 2015, another study sought to understand the link between CB1 receptor mediation and mast cells. As we already know, mast cells are responsible for the release of histamines that cause hay fever symptoms. Although the results are far from conclusive, they suggest that CB1 receptors could play a role in the immune system’s hypersensitivity. Researchers found that activating CB1 receptors helped reduce the expression rate of mast cells, which could in turn be used to reduce histamine levels.
Allergies and hemp
Is CBD the future of hay fever-related treatments?
While CBD and the role of CB receptors in hay fever certainly seem promising, we are still far from fully understanding how to use this compound. Not only do we have to identify the exact mechanism of action between the CB receptors and histamine production, but there is also a desperate need for human trials. Without these elements, it is difficult to say how effective CBD can be. Cannabidiol does not act directly on the endocannabinoid system but influences several elements that fuel the system and its receptors.
However, given the prevalence of allergies such as hay fever, it is absolutely necessary to conduct larger and more comprehensive studies. Also considering that persistent cases of hay fever can lead to asthma, sinusitis, ear infections, and worse, a decreased quality of life, the need for alternative treatments is significant. Antihistamines allow for relatively good management of hay fever symptoms, but they are not without side effects. As the studies above have shown, there may be more natural alternatives that work with the body’s innate systems.
