Written by According to the World Health Organisation, “About 6 to 7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas Disease.”
This disease is a potentially life-threatening condition which is caused by the protozoan parasite. This disease is mostly transmitted to people by insect vectors. It can also be transmitted to animals. If left untreated this disease can be potentially fatal. Today we will discuss more on Chagas Disease and how CBD the natural remedy can be helpful in relieving its symptoms.
About Chagas Disease
This disease has been named after a Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who was the first person to discover the disease in the year 1909. Chagas Disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is spread by triatomine bugs that often bite people on the skin around their eyes or mouth.
This is why they are also called Kissing Bugs. These bugs are responsible for transmitting the disease thus called an insect vector.
Symptoms Of Chagas Disease
Chagas disease comes in two phases namely acute and chronic phase. During the acute phase, a patient experiences mild symptoms. These include:
- A rash
- Fever and other symptoms of flu
- Fatigue and headache
- A sore at the place where the parasite entered the body
- Loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhoea
- If the parasite has entered through the eyelids, they will become swollen
- Body Aches
- Swollen Glands
These signs and symptoms usually go away within a week or months, but if not treated properly, the parasite remains in the body and can advance to the chronic phase.
Chronic Phase
The signs and symptoms in this phase may arise 10 to 20 years after the acute phase of infection, can stay dormant for years or decades, or not occur at all.
If the disease enters the chronic stage, it may result in symptoms like:
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Blood Clots
- An enlarged heart, colon or esophagus
- Heart Failure
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Abdominal pain or constipation
Causes Of Chagas Disease
The primary cause of this disease is the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transferred from insect vectors known as triatomine bug.
These bugs can be primarily found in mud, thatch or adobe huts in different parts of America. They come out at night and feed on sleeping humans and animals.
After feeding, they leave their defecate that carried T.cruzi parasites on the skin. Once in the body, the parasites multiply and start spreading.
The parasite can also be transmitted in other ways, such as during a blood transfusion from an already infected person, eating food that is uncooked and contaminated with the parasite. Moreover, an infected pregnant woman can transfer the disease to her baby in the womb.
Risk Factors:
The factors that may increase your risk of getting this disease include:
1. If you are living in poverty in rural areas of Central America, South America, and Mexico.
2. Living at a place where triatomine bugs are found.
Treating Chagas Disease
The treatment of this disease focuses on killing the parasite and reducing the symptoms. It is best when the disease is treated during the acute phase. Once the disease reached the chronic phase, it becomes incurable. Drugs are given to slow down the progression of the disease and manage the symptoms.
Two drugs are commonly given to treat the disease and kill the parasite. These include benznidazole (Alunbrig) and nifurtimox (Lampitt).
How Can CBD Treat Chagas Disease?
Cannabidiol or CBD as we all know has become a highly researched cannabinoid for its abound therapeutic and medicinal properties.
This cannabinoid has been studied to treat various health issues some of which include anxiety, chronic pain, depression, epilepsy, skin issues and more. Similarly, CBD is also helpful in relieving the symptoms of Chagas disease.
CBD is extracted from the hemp plant which is now legal in all 50 states provided it has less than 0.3% THC.
Our body consists of Endocannabinoid System that helps in regulating various body functions such as pain, appetite, immune system, skin, stress and more. This ECS consists of cannabinoids that naturally occur in our body. These cannabinoids help ECS in maintaining homeostasis of our body.
These cannabinoids are potent immunosuppressive agents and can be helpful in the treatment of Chagas Disease. When CBD enters our body, it interacts with these cannabinoid receptors thus elevating their levels. If applied topically on your skin, CBD can also kill bacteria and parasites thus stopping them from multiplying.
Furthermore, CBD is well known for its anti-inflammatory property. This cannabinoid works in a different way thus helping in the inhibition of inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders. CBD is also a potential painkilling cannabinoid and can be effectively used in reducing pain such as body and muscle pain arising in this condition. It has also been studied to reduce headaches.
Chagas Disease can also result in skin problems such as the development of rashes and swelling in the infected area. Fortunately, CBD is full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it effective in treating such skin issues. The antibacterial property of this supplement helps in fighting bacteria causing inflammation and irritation on the skin. CBD topicals like CBD Ozonated cream can be applied in the infected area as it is highly potent in relieving conditions like sunburn, eczema, skin rashes etc.
Final Thoughts On CBD For Chagas Disease
We are not confirming that CBD can completely treat this disease. But it can definitely help in resolving its symptoms at the acute as well as chronic stage as well as reduce the chances of parasites spreading in the body. Moreover, being non-psychoactive and free from almost any side effect, this cannabinoid can be a safe option to relieve the symptoms of this disease. It can also be given to your children whose immune systems are weak and to older people who have a higher chance of developing this condition. Furthermore, being legal in all 50 states of the U.S.A, you can easily acquire this incredible remedy and experience its powerful benefits.
We hope you liked this article on CBD For Chagas Disease. If you have any suggestions for us, let us know in the comment section below!
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