Could CBD Be an Effective Antiseptic?

Cannabidiol (CBD) was discovered back in 1965, and over the last half-century, we’ve studied its many exciting and valuable properties that affect the human body. One of the most overlooked properties found within cannabidiol is its antiseptic activity, and scientists are starting to take this specific property more seriously than they ever have before. If you’re looking for a natural antiseptic, you may be surprised by just how much value hemp can bring to the table.

What is an Antiseptic?
An antiseptic is any agent that destroys and inhibits the spread of microorganisms like fungi, viruses and bacteria that are responsible for causing disease and otherwise harming the body. Antiseptics are topical agents which are either used to clean surfaces that humans interact with, such as kitchen counters that are exposed to raw meat, or they can be applied to the human body to kill pathogens that exist on the skin and threaten wounds.

Antiseptics are a critical part of our daily lives, and they are so enmeshed in our routines that we don’t even think about how often we use them. Each time we wash out hands with antibacterial soap, such as after using the bathroom or before preparing food, we are benefiting from the value of antiseptics. When we clean our homes with disinfectants such as bleach, we’re using antiseptics to keep disease out of the places in which we spend most of our time, which is enormously beneficial to our health.

Antiseptics are such a natural part of our day-to-day lives that we take them for granted in terms of how much we benefit from them from morning to night. It took until 1861 for Louis Pasteur to develop germ theory, as up until then, it was not believed that microorganisms posed a threat to humans. This was a time when surgeons didn’t clean their hands before operating on patients, and those handling food didn’t wash their hands following a trip to the bathroom.

1861 was therefore a gamechanger in the grand picture of human history, as once Pasteur’s theory caught on, we began to incorporate antiseptics into our daily lives. That being said, our ancestors may have been benefiting from the properties of antiseptics long before, as many plants that are handled regularly are naturally high in antiseptic activity. Examples of natural antiseptics include tea tree, clove and vinegar.

Natural vs. Synthetic Antiseptics
When it comes to antiseptics that we come into contact with daily, such as household cleaners and soaps for our hands, it’s preferred that they are derived from plants rather than chemicals. Laboratory-made antiseptics are typically quite harsh, and can burn the skin, while causing respiratory issues when inhaled into the lungs – think of the effect, for instance, of washing a bathroom with bleach, with little to no ventilation. Therefore, plant-based antiseptics are clearly ideal in most cases, since they are gentler on the body as a whole.

Is CBD a True Antiseptic Agent?
Over the last 50 years, cannabidiol has been studied intensively, and has been found to offer antiseptic properties throughout years of research. CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid in hemp that may offer these effects, either. CBG (cannabigerol), CBN (cannabinol), and delta 9 THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) have all been shown in studies to act as plant-derived antiseptics. With CBD being the most widely available and abundant in the plant material of hemp, it’s being given the most attention right now. Scientists are actually discovering that it may be useful in managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is an issue that has been concerning leading health specialists for years, caused by an overreliance on pharmaceutical antibiotics that leave room for bacterial mutations that these antibiotics could no longer treat.

Most of the properties that we associate with CBD come from the compound’s relationship with the endocannabinoid system, which is a system of the body that sends cannabinoids to cannabinoid receptors within each bodily system to regulate processes like inflammation, mood and discomfort levels. It seems that the antiseptic qualities of CBD, and the hemp plant as a whole, are not mediated by the endocannabinoid system, but are rather properties that are independent. As of now, science has not observed the antiseptic properties found in these compounds as being the result of the cannabinoids attaching to specific cannabinoid receptors in the body.

Which CBD Products Offer the Best Antiseptic Properties?
Generally, any product containing CBD is going to almost certainly have some sort of antiseptic activity, but some products may be more useful for this specific effect than others. Here’s what to keep in mind below.

The Milligram Strength Matters: A CBD product with a higher milligram strength is more potent in that its CBD content is more concentrated, and therefore, naturally, it would have higher antiseptic potential.

Full Spectrum May Help: Full spectrum CBD products, which are products containing the entire chemical composition of the hemp plant in the form of an extract, may be more antiseptic, as they also contain a diverse array of terpenes, which are secondary compounds in hemp that also seem to each offer their own germ-fighting capabilities.

Fresh, Properly Extracted Products Make a Difference: CBD products that are freshly made and were created using CO2 extraction are the most chemically stable, and therefore the most potent and powerful. This is why you want to go with a trusted brand, as they are far more likely to have a high product turnover rate and rely on the best and most reputable extraction techniques.

Overall, CBD Has Antiseptic Activity That Looks Quite Promising
It’s hard to deny that cannabidiol really shows a lot of potential when it comes to acting as a natural antiseptic, and that’s not just wishful thinking, as decades of research back up this claim. At Nectar Wellness, we offer a wide array of CBD products that are made with lab-tested, potent, and pure cannabidiol extracts made fresh, to ensure maximum results.

Please Note: If you’re looking to treat some type of infection, you should always see your doctor before incorporating CBD into any routine. While CBD may offer antiseptic value that can be useful, a doctor must determine the best treatment method, as this cannabinoid isn’t a substitute for doctor-recommended courses of action.