Brands 
Humans have used cannabis to address many different ailments for thousands of years. Advocates often promote smoking weed with a cold, touting it as a powerful symptom reliever, and even a cure for other minor health issues.
There is no cure for a cold or flu: treatment usually involves reducing symptoms with drugs like painkillers and decongestants. However, because the compounds Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been used as natural pain relievers, weed has been touted as a potential treatment. Keep in mind, though, it is yet to be scientifically proven that getting high while you're sick with the flu is beneficial. Further, is smoking weed while sick safe? Let's delve a little deeper.
Does Smoking When Sick Alleviate Symptoms?
While smoking while sick with the flu will not cure you, there is evidence that it may help with some of the symptoms. Research has shown that it has anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, the transformation of cannabinoids from herbal preparations into highly regulated prescription drugs is progressing rapidly in the medical world.
Inflammation is the reason you get symptoms such as a sore throat, swollen nasal passageways, and fever when you get a cold. Weed could help relieve these symptoms.
The pain relief benefits can also help with the acute aches and pains that usually come with a cold or flu.
Risks of Smoking Weed With The Flu
Smoking weed with a cold may aggravate certain symptoms. Remember, smoking involves inhaling heat and smoke, and these can make symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, mucus production, and sore throats worse. The irritation caused when smoking weed with strep throat or other flu-related symptoms could cancel out any anti-inflammatory benefit of the cannabinoid.
If taking flu medication, you also need to think about the potential interactions of combining weed with medicine, whether over the counter (OTC) or prescribed. Just like most flu medications, weed has a sedative effect. Smoking weed when sick and taking medication can intensify the drowsiness and affect cognitive function.
Tips For Using Weed When Sick
If you're thinking about smoking weed with a cold for the benefits, you may want to ingest cannabis in ways that do not involve smoke and heat as these could be more irritating. Some alternatives to smoking with a cold are:
Eat It
Edibles will give you all the advantages of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids, without the negative
side-effects of smoking.
Drink It
Combine the soothing aspect of tea with the symptom-relieving qualities of cannabis by making weed tea.
Drinking weed tea is an even better alternative to smoking weed with a fever.
Oils
Cannabis tinctures are oils made with extracts of the herb. They usually come with a dropper and a
recommendation for the number of drops that you should put under your tongue.
Topical Application
Great for those aching muscles and fatigue, applying cannabis topicals directly onto the skin is a good
alternative to smoking weed while sick.
Vaporizers
A high-quality vaporizer will remove the carcinogens in the smoke, resulting in a better alternative to
smoking cannabis.
Looking for good smoking alternatives? Shop California's widest selection of cannabis products from your favorite brands online at FLOWER CO..
