CBD Oil For Cancer: What Does It Really Do?

In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has become a popular natural remedy for many conditions, and most people agree by now that it can be life changing for some users. While it seems to excel in some areas, does using CBD for cancer accomplish anything? Will CBD cure cancer? Can you use CBD oil for cancer treatments? A growing number of people are turning to this oil as a potential treatment for cancer and other illnesses, but should they be? In this article, we will explore the science behind the relationship between cannabidiol and cancer, and discuss whether or not it may be a viable treatment option.

TL;DR – There is currently no scientific evidence, at all, that supports using CBD oil, or any other CBD product cures cancer. That said, some patients may benefit from using CBD oil products to help manage the discomforts that come along with cancer or chemotherapy.

Cannabidiol (CBD) Explained

Cannabidiol, or CBD, oil is a natural product derived from the cannabis plant. Unlike its better-known counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce a ‘high’ and is therefore more desired in the medical community.

The school of thought here is, if something doesn’t get you high, it will be much less addictive, or even non-addictive.

CBD oil is used to treat various medical conditions, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and epilepsy.

The cannabis plant contains many compounds which are known as cannabinoids. Cannabidiol is one such cannabinoid, and is usually extracted from hemp – a species of the cannabis plant that contains high levels of CBD. The other species is known as marijuana, which almost everyone knows about.

The medical community has long known CBD, but its therapeutic properties were not heavily scrutinized until it became legal in 2018. Before 2018, CBD was lumped in with all other controlled substances because it was associated with marijuana – even though CBD cannot get you high.

Related: Is CBD Oil Legal?

Can CBD Oil Help With Cancer?

CBD does not cure cancer, but it may help cancer patients cope with their discomforts from having cancer, if that makes sense.

Cannabinoids are the active chemicals found in cannabis. They interact with the body’s Endocannabinoid System, which is responsible for keeping various functions such as sleep, mood, and pain tolerance balanced.

This system has been found to play a role in cancer development and progression, which has sparked interest in using cannabinoids as a treatment for cancer.

The use of cannabinoids for cancer is still being studied, but so far, the findings are pretty promising. Different cannabinoids have been shown to cause reduce the ability of cancers to spread, stop the development of blood vessels, block cell growth, and reduce inflammation and cell death.

Some scientists have also discovered that cannabinoids can sometimes encourage cancer cells to grow and cause damage to blood vessels, but more research is needed in this area.

Though there is still much to learn about the potential benefits of CBD oil for cancer patients, some preliminary research suggests that it may help to enhance the uptake or increase the potency of certain drugs used to treat cancer.

Additionally, CBD oil may help slow tumor growth, reduce tumor invasion, and induce cell death.

Though more research is needed, these findings suggest that CBD oil may have therapeutic potential for treating certain cancers.

Can CBD Oil Help Treat Cancer Symptoms and Side Effects?

Cancer patients often suffer debilitating symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and pain. Several treatments can help reduce these symptoms.

One treatment option that has shown promise is cannabinoid-containing medications. The FDA has approved some cannabinoid-containing medications to reduce the side effects of cancer treatments.

Examples include dronabinol and nabilone, synthetic THC medications that can help reduce nausea.

Another study found that cannabinoids helped to improve sleep in people with cancer. It also showed that cannabinoids reduced inflammation in cancer patients. A 2012 study found that CBD may help to reduce pain and inflammation in people with arthritis. Of all age groups, seniors with arthritis dominate the demographics for using CBD.

More research is needed to determine the full extent of the benefits of cannabis oil for people with cancer.

However, it appears that cannabis oil may help to reduce some of the symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment with minimal side effects.

CBD Oil and Cancer Treatment

Most people will use CBD oil when going through cancer treatment to help with the horrible side effects of cancer-fighting medication. Cannabis-based medicines, like CBD oil, are becoming a popular treatment for cancer side effects. The most common use of cannabis-based medicine for cancer patients is to help with nausea and vomiting.

CBD oil can also help relieve pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Presently, three prescription marijuana-based medicines are legal in the United States, but they have limited diagnostic capabilities.

Two of the three approved medicines are currently used to treat cancer side effects.

Cesamet

Cesamet (nabilone) is a prescription drug that is used to treat the symptoms of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is a member of the antiemetic agents class of drugs, which means it is designed to reduce nausea and vomiting.

Cesamet may be used alone or in combination with other medications. Although it is not known if Cesamet is safe and effective in children younger than four years of age, it is commonly prescribed to pediatric patients.

Marinol

Marinol (dronabinol), a synthetic cannabinoid, is supplied in capsules for oral use. It is used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments.

Dronabinol is a man-made form of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. It can help relieve nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Dronabinol may also be used to increase appetite in people with AIDS.

These medications can be helpful for cancer patients, but they also have some limitations. For example, dronabinol can cause dizziness, anxiety, and hallucinations.

Nabilone can cause sedation and confusion. Additionally, both medications can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

Is CBD Oil Safe to Use? Is It Bad For You?

Read full article: Is CBD Safe?

When it comes to CBD oil and cancer treatment, many patients are understandably eager to start using the oil as soon as possible to help them fight the disease. However, knowing the potential risks associated with using CBD oil for this purpose is important.

One risk is that CBD oil may interfere with the patient’s other medications. This could lead to higher concentrations of those medications in the system, which could potentially cause problems. Another concern is that CBD oil may have a few side effects, such as decreased appetite, diarrhea, tiredness, and weight changes.

However, it’s important to note that there is no evidence that CBD oil has any public health-related problems. CBD is not bad for people to consume. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that CBD has a good safety profile.

So, while some risks are associated with using CBD oil for cancer, they appear to be relatively minor and manageable.

CBD May Interact With Other Medications

While rare, cannabidiol (CBD) has the potential to interact with other medications. Many people on cancer treatment are on a host of other medications, so it is extremely important to discuss using CBD with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to reference whether or not your medications are safe to use along with CBD.

Choosing CBD Products

When choosing CBD products, it’s important to select those that are high quality and from a reputable source. This will help ensure that the product is effective and safe. Also, talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you take other medications.

CBD oil is a promising treatment option for cancer patients, but more research is needed to determine its full potential. In the meantime, it’s important to know the potential risks and benefits of using CBD oil for this purpose.

By doing so, you can make an informed decision about whether or not CBD products are right for you.

Confused on what to buy? Check out our CBD starter kit bundle. This bundle comes with several different forms of CBD products. You can see which type of product you like best. Maybe you like them all, maybe you prefer a balm, or a CBD tincture. With this kit, there is no guessing. You get it all.

Summary – CBD Oil For Cancer Treatment

CBD oil is a promising approach to dealing with the pain associated with cancer. It will not cure cancer, but it can help people cope a little bit better if they are suffering from this nasty disease. It’s also important to remember that CBD oil is not a cure-all and is not right for everyone.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment, especially if you are currently undergoing cancer treatment. Pure CBD oil may help ease some cancer symptoms and side effects and may help you feel better.

However, more research is needed to determine whether CBD oil is effective for cancer treatment. Maybe CBD oil will be a standard cancer treatment in the future, but for now, it’s important to proceed with caution.

References

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
Frontiers in Pharmacology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204604/
Journal of Experimental Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/
MD Anderson Cancer Clinic: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/cbd-oil-and-cancer–9-things-to-know.h00-159306201.html