CBD for Allergies - Can It Help?

2020 has been nothing short of surprising. However, one thing that we can count on is the rise of pollen and the dreaded allergy season. The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, but you can’t stop sneezing. Looking forward to sunnier days always comes with the familiar mental preparation for allergic reactions. Allergy season continues to affect people worse year after year. In fact, due to climate change, forecasters expect each year to get worse for those that suffer from allergies.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, “more than 50 million Americans have experienced various types of allergies each year.” You experience itchy eyes and can’t stop sneezing and make a run for the nearest Walgreens to stock up on Zyrtec. Sound familiar? We’ve been there. As research continues to be conducted on CBD and it’s medicinal benefits, many have begun considering CBD for allergies. Not as a complete solution or cure, but as a way to find relief and manage the frequent symptoms that many experience. If you’re looking for relief from chronic allergy symptoms, let’s talk more about allergies, CBD, and if it might be a good solution for you. 

What are Common Environmental Allergies?

But first, let’s talk about what exactly these pesky environmental allergies are. Different than a food or medication allergy, environmental allergies are not caused by something that you’ve ingested. Environmental allergies are an immune response from your day-to-day activities or surroundings. Symptoms will vary in severity from person to person. They are often caused by factors including pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold. Many will experience environmental allergies when the seasons first change. This is because there are different flowers in bloom and a rise in pollen.

What Are the Symptoms?

Although severity and symptoms may vary from person to person, there are some very common symptoms that those with environmental allergies suffer with. Some of these include:

• Nasal congestion
• Headaches
• Itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Hives
• Fatigue

For those who have seasonal allergies, these symptoms may range in severity. However, those who struggle with additional conditions such as asthma may have increased difficulty in breathing due to allergies. This can be potentially very dangerous. In a related CBD for Asthma blog, we talk more about the connection between CBD and asthma and how this link may be beneficial.

From (A)llegra to (Z)yrtec, there is a multitude of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants that are typically used to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies. CBD for allergies is just another method to help manage symptoms. Let’s dive into how and why CBD is considered to be a great treatment for environmental allergies.

CBD For Allergies: Testimonials

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s hear personal experiences from consumers who have used CBD to cope with allergy symptoms.

Lina, a 54-year-old woman states:

“But everything turned around now after I started taking CBD capsules (1 in the morning). I have experienced that my hay fever, as well as my asthma, has noticeably reduced, attacks and I believe the capsules have reduced my shaking, especially in my hands.”

A consumer on Reddit said:

“What I didn't expect was for it to completely neutralize my seasonal allergies -- which are pretty severe -- and, relatedly, my asthma. For once, I can breathe through BOTH my lungs and nostrils during the spring without having to drown myself in cetirizine.”

As more and more research begins to be conducted, we hope to see further success stories and discoveries.

CBD For Allergies: How Does It Help?

There are several ways that CBD is known to help with specific allergy symptoms such as inflammation. But first, let’s talk in a general sense. It all first traces back to the human body and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). We talk about the importance of the ECS a lot on our site. It is fundamental in understanding how CBD can coincide with your body to promote homeostasis. With or without CBD, every human has an ECS system that is responsible to maintain balance in the body. The ECS promotes the healthy functioning of the nervous system, immune system, and organs.

The problem is that due to natural elements of life, the ECS can be thrown out of whack. For example, stress, diet, and other environmental factors can all play a part in throwing off your ECS system. Taking CBD helps to naturally rebalance the ECS and keep everything running smoothly. Therefore, it helps to relieve symptoms that are caused by the system being thrown off balance. The connection of CBD for allergies fits right into the general benefits of taking CBD. If your ECS system is off-center, then your immune system and allergies can cause you to suffer, and taking CBD will help to improve that balance over time.

CBD as an Antihistamine

Another reason that CBD for allergies may be beneficial has been discovered from recent research. In a recent study, results prove that CBD can help stop your mast cells from releasing histamines. Mast cells are the ones responsible for allergic reactions.  When your body is allergic to something, your immune system will release histamines as a form of protection. This is what causes those frequent allergy symptoms, it’s your body trying to protect you! Allergy medications are antihistamines. Antihistamines reduce the frequency of these symptoms, and CBD is essentially doing the same thing. This is just another, natural way to help reduce symptoms such as sneezing or coughing during the pollen season.

CBD for Inflammation: A Common Allergic Reaction

If in addition to coughing and sneezing, you are someone that particularly struggles with allergies and inflammation, then CBD may be a perfect option for you. CBD is proven to be anti-inflammatory. This is why many often use this for anything from rashes to eczema and more. If your body’s natural response when having an allergic reaction is to swell up with hives or puffy eyes than CBD will help to combat these symptoms. Taking CBD as an anti-inflammatory for allergies can also help with sinusitis. Sinusitis is when you experience severe headaches from allergies. Overall, CBD is a great solution for those that experience inflammation externally or internally.

Taking CBD for Allergies

As the seasons change and allergies rage on, the most important thing to remember is that CBD for allergies, much like other antihistamines, is most effective with daily use as prevention. Taking CBD every day will keep your ECS system in check and help your body prevent histamines and relieve symptoms. It’s important to make it clear that this and no other medication will cure allergies. By being consistent in treatment, you can help manage symptoms and build a better defense in your body so that you are not really suffering and can enjoy the great outdoors! 

As a disclaimer, we’d also like to clearly state that before replacing current allergy medication with CBD, it is important to talk to your doctor. Your doctor may have specific recommendations for you and are familiar with your symptoms and general health.  If you have any questions be sure to run them by our team at The Green Dragon CBD!

TYPES OF CBD PRODUCTS

Now, let’s talk about the specific CBD products that may be best for allergies. We recommend:

• CBD Inhalers and Allergies - A great way to get CBD into your system fast and effectively, without having to inhale heat or vapor.

• CBD Oils and Allergies - One of the most recommended methods is CBD oil for allergies. A dropper of CBD oil easily integrates into your daily routine. This can be ingested sublingually or even in your morning coffee. 
• CBD Topicals and Allergies - If you have specific aches or inflammation, then a topical solution may be the best way to ingest CBD for allergies. Consider a cream or lotion as a way to quickly aid a specific pain point or rash. 
• CBD Edibles and Allergies - Edibles take longer to kick in. They have longer effects and can be beneficial for managing seasonal allergies. Plus, who doesn’t love a treat?
• CBD Vaping and Allergies - Some prefer to take daily doses of CBD through vaping. There are plenty of options available!

Product Recommendations

There are many products to choose from but here are just a few of the top choices. For our allergy sufferers, please apply this Special Coupon Code in your cart:  ALLERGY20 for 20% off all products!

CONCLUSION

Thinking about giving CBD a try this allergy season? CBD for allergies is just another way to help mitigate symptoms and can be very effective in providing overall relief. Our family of CBD experts at The Green Dragon CBD is committed to helping empower you. We will find products that aid with your health challenges and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. No person has the same needs, and we are here to help you find the perfect product, dosage, and plan. If you frequently suffer from allergies and are considering incorporating CBD into your daily routine, chat with us! We offer free phone consultation for anyone from experienced CBD users to first-timers! Just fill out the contact form and someone from our team will be in touch.

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