Doctors to Consider CBD for Treating COVID-19
Miami - 10/26/2020 — Jeffrey S. Block, M.D. Covers the Science and the Ethics at Medical Education Conference
On Friday, October 16th, physicians at a national educational conference were urged to consider CBD for treating COVID-19. Jeffrey S. Block, M.D., a clinician and botanical expert, explained why CBD may be uniquely suited for helping treat the disease. His talk was one several healthcare subjects presented to the American Osteopathic Association. This year’s AOA conference was the world’s largest gathering of osteopathic physicians ever to have attended an online medical conference. The healthcare professionals whom participated were eligible to earn continuing medical education credits required for renewal of their medical licenses.
Dr. Block, a leading expert on the clinical applications of cannabis, stressed the ethical responsibilities doctors bear to first, do no harm, which during a pandemic means safely using all of the measures available for treatment. Dr. Block told physicians that one of those tools to consider should be the non-psychoactive component of cannabis known as CBD (cannabidiol).
Dr. Block explained to conference attendees why the natural human endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS), which maintains the balance between all systems in the body, may be an effective target for managing the runaway inflammation that kills many vulnerable patients afflicted with COVID-19. CBD is one of the chemicals in the cannabis plant that impacts this system to fight inflammatory response and ease pain and suffering. Dr. Block stressed that CBD has few side effects and relatively low toxicity, making it particularly suitable as an adjunct treatment for patients with the disease.
“The pandemic presents both desperate humanitarian needs and an opportunity to explore the effectiveness of this promising drug in managing disease,” says Dr. Block. “While more research is essential, CBD appears to fight the deadly cytokine storm of inflammation COVID-19 can create and do so more safely than other medications. Additionally, CBD’s potential to relieve anxiety in fearful patients fighting for their lives seems promising for improving outcomes.”
The ability of CBD to reduce inflammation and anxiety have been demonstrated in pre-clinical research studies. CBD has already been approved as a pharmaceutical medicine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating only a rare pediatric seizure condition, but the FDA has determined that pharmaceutical CBD is so safe that it is no longer designated as a controlled substance.
Dr. Block’s presentation was part of the 4-day conference “OMED2020 - Envision a Path to Success,” held online October 15-18th. The archived 30-minute presentation can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfUNdjrSW2s&feature=youtu.be
ABOUT: A nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Jeffrey S. Block is the author of “Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptors and Medical Cannabis” in Advanced Therapeutics in Pain Medicine, forthcoming on December 16, 2020. https://www.routledge.com/Advanced-Therapeutics-in-Pain-Medicine/Swidan-Bennett/p/book/9780367637989
Dr. Block is a board-certified anesthesiologist and an authority on healthcare and plants. He has served as the Florida Medical Association’s designated expert on botanical medicines, authored the state’s mandated physician education, and was appointed to write the Florida Department of Health’s rules for that state’s Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. He has taught at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and is the founding partner of Nurturing Nature® Group Consultants.
Media Contacts:
Company Name: Nurturing NatureFull Name: Dr. Jeffrey Block
Phone: 305-793-9222
Email Address: Send Email
Website: https://nurturingnature.com/