Natural Therapy SA have put this article together to explain the role of cannabis oil and cancer treatment. Cannabis oil contains cannabinoids which support our endocannabinoid system. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant gaining popularity in the world of natural medicine because it appears to offer the body many benefits.
Cannabis oil as a complementary therapy
Evidence available suggests that cannabis therapies may complement cancer treatment. Cannabis oil may help people with cancer by:
Stimulating appetite
Many people who are going through cancer treatment experience nausea and loss of appetite.
These symptoms can make it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight.
Cannabis that delivers THC and other cannabinoids to the bloodstream may help stimulate the appetite, but there is no evidence that CBD alone can have this effect.
Pain relief
Both cancer and its treatment can lead to pain. Cancer often causes pain due to inflammation, pressure on internal organs, or nerve injury. When the pain is severe, it can even become resistant to opioids, which are powerful pain relievers.
CBD indirectly acts on the CB2 receptors, which may help with widespread pain relief by reducing inflammation.
THC acts on the CB1 receptors, which may be helpful for pain resulting from nerve damage.
Nausea
Cannabis and cannabinoids such as CBD may also be helpful for people with cancer who experience regular nausea and vomiting, especially when this is due to chemotherapy.
However, the antinausea effect appears to come from THC in cannabis, rather than from CBD. People looking to try cannabis to reduce nausea should prepare themselves for the potential psychoactive effects of THC in prescribed cannabis products and discuss them with a doctor.
Many people find relief from low doses of THC. Prescription versions of synthetic THC that have fewer side effects are available.
Cannabis oil for cancer prevention
Some people wonder about using cannabis oil to prevent cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reviewed numerous studies regarding the link between cannabis and cancer and found that the research has mixed results.
An older study of 64,855 men from the United States found that cannabis use did not increase the risk of tobacco-related cancers. However, this same study also found that male cannabis users who never smoked tobacco had an increased risk of prostate cancer.
On the other hand, the authors of a 2015 study found a promising relationship between cannabis and bladder cancer. After adjusting for several factors, they found that that cannabis users had a 45-percent lower risk of developing bladder cancer.
While research has shown that cannabis smoke still produces carcinogens, the link between inhaled marijuana and cancer remains inconclusive.
However, ingesting CBD extract does not expose the body to the same carcinogens as smoking marijuana. More long-term studies in humans are necessary to determine what role, if any, CBD has to play in the prevention of cancer.
Conclusion
Cannabis oil is powerful and should be considered as a complementary treatment plan when battling cancer. If you would like to know more about the amazing benefits of cannabis oil in general, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.