Can CBD help in Cancer and How?

Why CBD might help Cancer patients?

CBD might help cancer patients by controlling cancer development and reducing the side effects of conventional cancer treatment:

- Help control tumor growth: CBD is suggested to help reduce cancer because it can support homeostatic function and lead cancerous cells to death.

In a homeostatic environment, a normal cell has a set lifespan and is programmed to die. Once the cell dies, it is replaced by a new cell. However, the deregulation of the homeostatic system disrupts the cell’s biological clock, which allows it to live longer and proliferate.

Scientists suggest that cannabinoids can boost the immune system and help kill the abnormal cancer cells, especially in the early stages of cancer.

A study titled “Cannabinoids reduce ErbB2-driven breast cancer progression through Akt inhibition” showed that THC could fight against breast cancer.  The study also showed that breast cancer cells had low expressions of CB1 and CB2 receptors as compared to normal cells.

- Reduce side effects of medical treatment: CBD can reduce the side effects of cancer medical treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, pain, and decreased appetite. 

A study titled “Detal-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may palliate altered chemosensory perception in cancer patients: results of a randomized trial, double-blind, place-control pilot trial” showed that cancer patients who took THC reported that their food tasted better.

Their caloric intake increased as compared to a placebo group. Therefore, cannabis helped cancer patients feel better during their cancer treatment.

How CBD is suggested to work for Cancer

The cannabinoids available in CBD are suggested to play a similar role to endocannabinoids in the body, in terms of maintaining homeostasis and system functions.

Accordingly, when the body’s homeostatic system fails, which can be due to several factors, cannabinoids can play an important role in fixing and resetting the system to help the body maintain normal functions.

As a result, cannabinoids can slow cancer cells reproduction, and inhibit the spread of cancer to other surrounding tissues by stopping cancer cells from dividing and invading normal tissue.

Cannabinoids can also positively stimulate the brain and immune and endocrine system so they can fight back against tumors. This can help reset the cell biological clock and program cancer cells to die. Furthermore, cannabinoids may block the blood supply to tumors, so they end up choking and die.

The cannabinoids do this by binding to specific receptors (CB1 and CB2) of the endocannabinoid system and perform a variety of biological effects necessary to maintain homeostasis and normal bodily functions.

Furthermore, cannabinoids can relieve the side effects of cancer treatment by binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system to stimulate them.  When these receptors are activated, the body sends signals to reduce pain, nausea, vomiting, and increase appetite.

How to take CBD for Cancer

Cannabis can be used in the following forms for cancer:

1- Oral use (per oz.): hash oil can be taken as drops under the tongue, especially for medical purposes, or it can also be swallowed as baked products or herbal tea. For instance, cannabis leaves, hash, and oil can be mixed into brownies, cookies, and other foods.

It takes longer for someone to feel the effects of cannabis if a person eats it because it needs to go through the digestive system before it gets into the bloodstream. It might take anywhere between 30 minutes to 5 hours for the body to absorb cannabis properly. 

2- Smoking: this is the quickest way to feel the effect of cannabis. It can be rolled into a cigarette or smoked in a water pipe, either as herbal cannabis or hash. When it is inhaled, THC would need between 1 and 10 minutes to reach the brain for someone to feel its effect.

How much CBD to take for Cancer

There is no official recommended dose of cannabis to take for cancer. The dosing would  vary depending on your condition, weight, gender, and age. It’s important to always consult your doctor before using cannabis to avoid taking the wrong dose.

Given that the use of CBD is a relatively new treatment option, healthcare providers are still learning about the appropriate dosages of CBD and are trying to determine what dosing is considered safe and effective.

Some experts suggest taking 25-50 mg/day of mixed cannabinoids (THC and CBD) to ease the treatment’s symptoms. Meanwhile, some doctors recommend higher doses of up to 300 mg/day to cure cancer.

It is important to note that the cannabinoids’ strength might depend on the different ways people consume cannabis. Its potency might also vary from one plant to another, depending on the quality of the plant.

Factors affecting Cannabis quality and dose

Several factors can impact the plant’s potency and alter its effects on the body. These factors affect the dosage each person can take. They include:

- The type of cannabis plant

- The quality of the plant

- How cannabis was used i.e., whether it was smoked or ingested

- How the plant was processed

Therefore, defining the exact dosage remains challenging. It will be subject to disparity until a specific product is defined and tested properly and officially approved by the government.   

Using Cannabis for Cancer: precautions

If you are considering taking CBD for cancer, there are some precautions that you should take into consideration:

- Alcohol: cannabis should not be mixed with alcohol since it may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired judgment. Alcohol will increase these effects.

- Medications: cannabis can increase the effects of medications that cause drowsiness such as antihistamines, antidepressants, seizure medicine, and pain relievers among others. 

- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: women should avoid using cannabis during pregnancy or if they are planning on becoming pregnant. Smoking may increase the risk of having a child born with physical and mental defects, and a lower birth weight.

- Driving: cannabis use can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired judgment. Therefore, it’s important to avoid driving so you don’t endanger yourself or harm others.

Using Cannabis for Cancer: side effects

Smoking cannabis might have some negative side effects. That is why doctors recommend taking CBD oil rather than smoking cannabis for medical purposes. These harmful effects might include developing:
 
- Respiratory problems: smoking cannabis can irritate the lungs and increase the risk of several conditions like chronic bronchitis and cancer of the respiratory tract.

- Heart disease: smoking cannabis increases the heart rate and might aggravate existing heart conditions.

- Mental health problems: the THC component of cannabis can decrease concentration levels, which can worsen short-term memory. When taken in high doses, it can even cause hallucinations and delusions.

- Addiction: many people who smoke cannabis long term might develop an addiction and depend on it because its THC component makes them feel “high.”