CBD as a help in treating COVID-19 disease?

27. 12. 2025

At a clinic in the Austrian Klagenfurt, patients with COVID-19 viral infection have been treated with a substance found in hemp - CBD - since the end of January 2021, and the results already look very promising.

The hemp plant still has a very controversial image in society. However, its biological effects are much stronger than narcotic effects.
The two most important and well-known substances in hemp are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). While THC actually shows psychoactive effects and can be classified as a narcotic substance, CBD does not fall into this category.

"CBD does not affect cognitive functions and essentially has no side effects" explains the head of the Klagenfurt ICU Rudolf Likar, who leads this study. Although the effects of CBD have not been finally explored, several study results have previously proven that this substance helps with muscle relaxation and has antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory effects. CBD effects help, for example, to relieve chronic pain and treat autoimmune diseases, depression, anxiety, or insomnia. We will present other significant effects in specific studies in a moment.

Recently, CBD was applied to patients with COVID-19 viral infection at the clinic in Klagenfurt. To date, there is no fully effective treatment for this viral disease, so doctors must improvise to some extent. Rudolf Likar stated that in one examined group, coronavirus patients were treated with cannabidiol for three weeks. They were initially given a dose of 200 milligrams daily, which was gradually increased to 300 milligrams. The success is already evident!

Coronavirus Covid-19 cells penetrate the organism more easily with high ACE2 receptor activation, which CBD can suspend.

Experimental Treatment Results

Inflammation parameters in the blood decreased faster than in patients who were not given CBD. Moreover, patients (first test group) treated with cannabidiol were discharged from the hospital earlier than patients who were not part of this study, reports the Austrian newspaper "Salzburger Nachrichten" in February 2021.

Rudolf Likar comments on the current study results as follows:
"CBD suspends the ACE2 function, through which coronaviruses penetrate cells and begin to multiply at the expense of the organism. Furthermore, a neuroprotective effect was discovered, i.e., protection of nerve cells." He summarizes the interim successes of hemp therapy with the finding that CBD clearly supports the immune and immune system.

The tested group was heterogeneous - meaning patients from intensive care and those with milder courses were selected. In total, the study at the Klagenfurt clinic was conducted on more than 50 patients. However, the study is far from over, and cannabidiol will continue to be administered. Data from further studies can be found a few lines below. There is even consideration of applying CBD to all coronavirus patients, as no negative side effects have been detected.

Dr. Likar in an interview for Austrian radio (ORF) stated that despite all the positive results associated with the healing effects of hemp, it is difficult to find partners for broader studies, such as in COVID-19 therapy. The reason is the bad reputation of the hemp plant and persistent associated prejudices. According to Dr. Likar, spreading prejudices about hemp is the same as demonizing the opium plant, without which we would not have Morphine, which is essential in modern medicine.

Austria is not the only country where CBD is starting to be applied to COVID-19 patients. Israel is also in the process of approving CBD for treating this viral disease.

According to some study results, CBD may have a positive effect especially during lung recovery from COVID-19

According to some study results, CBD may have a positive effect especially during lung recovery from COVID-19.

What Do Other Studies Say?

Another study on COVID-19 treatment using hemp was conducted in Canada at the University of Lethbridge in 2020. Scientists investigated whether substances in hemp extracts and their effects could reduce the number of coronavirus-infected cells. Extracts with high CBD content were applied to respiratory tract tissue models that were not inflamed. This analysis identified a total of 6 extracts that significantly reduced ACE2 receptor expression.

Furthermore, all hemp extracts applied orally, except one, mitigated ACE2 cleavage that showed signs of infection. In the respiratory tract, all extracts were successful. According to the scientists, hemp extracts have great therapeutic potential for use in preventing COVID-19 and other viral diseases that involve virus penetration through ACE2 enzyme cleavage.

Another study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in September 2020, conducted by immunologist and leading expert Babak Baban, focused on using CBD's anti-inflammatory effect in treating ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), which is closely related to COVID-19 and the very strong lung inflammation it causes. The study's result was that CBD can help in lung recovery after severe inflammation caused by COVID-19 and also increase blood oxygen levels to a healthy level.

Source:

www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/news/gesundheit/cbd-covid-19-therapie

www.nachrichten.at/meine-welt/gesundheit/cannabidiol-gegen-covid-19;art114,3338487?fbclid=IwAR2jGTxsgkCcLRQ3NXScrFTD48kQ84c4-KH7ABgZ_5mHALDMIl9cuLU2aC8

www.nordbayern.de/panorama/cannabis-erfolgreich-in-der-corona-therapie-angewandt-1.10804044?fbclid=IwAR11y3_7FljRdlaX768hwcgDbOm2ikzMihOT8td2N2c1_Y3ZHsAalcHI5fc