Home Conditions Sepsis/Blood Poisoning

Medical Marijuana and Sepsis: Possible Antibacterial Option?

by Sarah Walker

December 7, 2021 04:01 pm ET Estimated Read Time: 10 Minutes

Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Benavides Fact checked by Kymberly Drapcho

1. Cannabis and Sepsis Cellular Interactions
   1. Digestion
   2. Inflammation and Immune System Modulation
   3. Medical Cannabis as an Antimicrobial 
2. Terpenes and Sepsis
3. Notes on Cannabis and Infections
4. Sepsis Terminology
   1. Sepsis
   2. Septic Shock
   3. Bacteremia
   4. Blood Poisoning
   5. Septicemia
5. Stages of Sepsis

While some people believe that sepsis is merely a blood infection, it is much more than that. Sepsis results from an infection that has gotten out of control in the body, and it is considered a medical emergency. When the body is severely ill, processes like mental alertness, breathing, and organ functions suffer. 

Several bench research studies have focused on cannabis and its ability to act as an antimicrobial and its ability to modulate the immune system, which may potentially help sepsis patients. Sepsis patients require a multidisciplinary approach for treatment, sometimes requiring critical care. Several definitions and scoring systems of sepsis exist (SIRS, Q-SOFA, etc) but still generally rely on the basic concept of identifying and treating the cause of sepsis, often but not always representing a body and blood-based infection. 

Currently, scientists are working on understanding the vast cellular, genetic, and molecular mechanisms that are involved when an infection turns systemic (8). One of these biological systems researchers are focusing on is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Researchers believe that cannabinoids can potentially play a positive role in sepsis through modifying inflammation, oxidative stress, the immune system, and epigenetic expression.

Cannabis, its cannabinoids including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and terpenes begin working in the body after they have been consumed and meet with the endocannabinoid system. The ECS is made from endocannabinoids, or fat-based neurotransmitters found in our bodies. These important neurotransmitters help our bodies with several processes including our perception of pain, modulating inflammation, and maintaining proper body temperature. They can also influence the way our immune system handles infections. Cannabis begins its work through cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 that are in the central nervous system and throughout other areas of our body. Through the stimulation of these receptors, researchers have seen important changes in both biological and cellular mechanisms involved in sepsis (8).

Cannabis & Sepsis Cellular Interactions

Through the ECS and other cellular routes, researchers have found that cannabis may help several different bodily processes that are essential for proper recovery from sepsis and the original infection that caused it. Some of these mechanisms are detailed below.

Digestion

Because endocannabinoids respond quickly to cannabis when CB1 receptors are activated in the brain, feeding-regulation hormones are released (8). Additionally, both CB1 and CB2 receptors are responsible for the body’s metabolism and the release and control of glucose levels. Both cellular pathways are important in the process of keeping a patient from suffering from malnutrition so they can stay as strong as they can while recovering from sepsis.

Researchers often conduct medical experiments on mice because of similarities in bodily functions and processes. Keeping this in mind, a mice study was conducted focusing on slowing gastrointestinal motility with the use of CB2 receptors (22). This also slowed the intestines’ inflammatory response to sepsis, which was able to help slow the GI effects of sepsis. Alternatively, when digestive motility is slowed in sepsis, adverse intestinal reactions to the infection such as diarrhea may also be slowed with CBD according to limited septic mice studies (6). 

Inflammation & Immune System Modulation

Cannabis is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects which typically result from its ability to influence how the immune system is functioning. Sepsis along with autoimmune diseases and arthritis can benefit from this effect. In sepsis, various inflammatory markers that cause cellular damage may be reduced with cannabinoids like CBD (8). Check out our page on inflammation to learn more about how this works.

Medical Cannabis as an Antimicrobial

A study found in The American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy provides support that several of the cannabinoids found in medical marijuana have antibacterial properties (23). These researchers tested CBD, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), and THC against even antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria S. aureus. All cannabinoids in this study showed potent antibacterial activity (19).

Similarly, a 2020 study found that the cannabinoids listed above also showed potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and inhibited the growth of MRSA biofilm (19). This is significant because MRSA is a very dangerous infection that often occurs in nursing homes and hospitals. Doctors are struggling to treat it, using more complex antibiotics to keep it from turning into sepsis. However, each time new “big gun” antibiotics are used, the chance for resistance increases, especially if patients do not finish the entire prescription.

Terpenes & Sepsis

There are several components of cannabis that have been tested and praised for their antimicrobial effects. Many researchers believe that it is hard to tell whether the scent profiles called terpenes or cannabinoids cause these effects (19). Additionally, many researchers believe that terpenes and cannabinoids work together to have a greater antimicrobial potential, due to an effect called the entourage effect. Cannabis contains over 120 cannabinoids and 200 different terpenes whose presence depends on the strain of cannabis that has been selected. 

The following terpenes have scientifically been shown to have an antimicrobial effect on their own (19). Many of these terpenes are also active components of essential oils (19):

• Beta-caryophyllene
• Caryophyllene
• Myrcene
• Limonene
• Alpha-pinene
• Beta-pinene

It is important to note that the effect of terpenes on sepsis and infections is dependent on the type of bacteria that is causing the infection. A 2019 study looked into the effects of terpenes, or essential oils found in hemp. However, many of these terpenes are also present in cannabis, the form of plant that many use for medicinal and psychoactive effects. Though they tested a total of 17 different terpenes, this research found that antibacterial activity depends on the type of bacteria that it is put up against (24).

Of the two major categories of bacteria, Gram-positive and Gram-negative, this study found that many of the terpenes tested only had antimicrobial effects against gram-positive types of bacteria (24). In addition to the CBD that was tested, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and beta-myrcene were shown to be especially strong against Listeria and Enterococcus bacteria when compared to antibiotics including ampicillin and ciprofloxacin (19).

A similar study focusing on essential oils from hemp found that all the terpenes that were tested had a good effect on gram-positive Enterococcus and Streptococcus bacteria (25). Alpha-pinene was shown out of the typical terpenes tested (as opposed to man-made mixtures) to be the most effective essential oil against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Notes on Cannabis & Infections

Just because there are studies that tout the benefits of cannabis cannabinoids and terpenes for treatment doesn’t mean that medical marijuana is currently a substitute for being treated by a medical professional for sepsis. Sepsis can be caused by a variety of different types of bacteria as well as results from infections in different parts of the body. It may also occur from severe heart, temperature, or brain dysfunction. 

The treatment for sepsis is not a one-treatment fits all scenario, which is why emergency medical healthcare intervention is always recommended over medical cannabis. Proper antibiotics and fluids are classic mainstays of sepsis treatment, and even pressors or intensive care unit (ICU) stays are needed in severe critical cases. Currently, cannabinoids like THC are contraindicated in severe or critical illnesses due to hemodynamic (blood pressure) effects.

Sepsis Terminology

Unfortunately, many other labels relating to sepsis can be confusing and may be used interchangeably, though these terms are not completely interchangeable (26). Doctors have tried to sit down and agree on sepsis terms but often use different definitions anyway based on familiarity of training and scope of practice. These terms are important to understand if you or a loved one are seeking medical care for sepsis. The provider should be able to explain their reasoning for the diagnosis and treatment course.

Sepsis

Sepsis is defined as “life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (27).” In easier terms, it is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body responds to an infection and ends up injuring its own tissues and organs.

Septic Shock

Is a subset of sepsis in which circulatory system and cellular/metabolic abnormalities are serious enough to cause end-organ damage and substantially increase patient death (27).

Bacteremia

Some people use the term bacteremia interchangeably with sepsis, but they are different. Though bacteremia can lead to sepsis, it specifically refers to the presence of bacteria in the blood. A diagnosis of it does not mean you have sepsis, which is caused by a systemic inflammatory response (26).

Blood Poisoning

Blood poisoning is considered a “general (systemic) disease that is due to the presence and persistence of germs or their toxins in the bloodstream (28).” It is used interchangeably and can refer to bacteria in the blood, also known as bacteremia. It has also been used to describe sepsis and septicemia, but it is important to know this is a generalized medical term and not considered a specific diagnosis (27).

Septicemia

This term appears frequently in medical literature and can refer to bacteremia or sepsis. It is confusing because you must know which definition it is referring to. This is why it is no longer recommended to be used (26).

Stages of Sepsis

Sepsis is known for causing life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infections that have become severe and lead to the body becoming dysregulated (26). In order to be diagnosed with this deadly blood infection patients must experience an altered mental status, a fast respiratory (breathing) rate greater than 22 breaths a minute, and low systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg. When a patient has at least two symptoms, they are typically labeled as septic. 

Many researchers believe that sepsis has three stages of infection, but not all believe that is the case. Commonly, doctors will still use older SIRS criteria instead of Q-SOFA to diagnose and define sepsis. Example stages of this alternative criteria that attempted to replace SIRS are detailed out below (26):

• Stage one (Q-SOFA ≥2) is the least severe and is associated with a 10% mortality rate for those who are hospitalized (27). Stage one usually consists of the following symptoms:
  • Fever
  • Increased heart rate
• Stage two usually includes the symptoms above as well as:
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Possible organs malfunctioning and organ failure
• Stage three, which is also known as septic shock, is the most severe stage. Septic shock is associated with a 40% mortality rate of those who were treated in the hospital (27). The symptoms are very severe and include the stages above in addition to:
  • Life-threateningly low blood pressure
  • Raised lactate acid levels in the body (27)
  • Reduced hepatic or liver function (27)

Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infections, especially when it is not quickly recognized and treated (27). It can be caused by many types of infections in various locations in the body and several different types of bacteria. This is important to note because they can change how sepsis needs to be responded to.

Note: Veriheal does not intend to give this as professional medical advice. Do not attempt to self-diagnose, or prescribe treatment based on the information provided on this page. Always consult a physician before making any decision on the treatment of a medical condition.