What you should know about CBD and cancer

Previously only available in special shops and online shops, CBD oil can now also be bought in drugstores, natural product stores and pharmacies.

There are many forms: Oils that are dripped under the tongue, roll-ons to be applied to the skin and even solutions for steaming and inhalation. Some manufacturers extract CBD oil and add it to foods to make edible products.

CBD can help people with cancer by relieving symptoms of the disease as well as side effects of treatment. Scientists are currently investigating how CBD could support cancer treatment itself.

What is CBD oil and how is it different from marijuana and hemp?

Marijuana and hemp are both varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant. Both contain cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the two most commonly known active ingredients.

The main difference is that hemp contains far less THC than a typical marijuana plant. And unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive agent.

Let's take a closer look at how CBD can help people with cancer.

There is clear evidence that cannabinoids can reduce tumor growth in animal models.
Excerpts from promising studies:

• A review from 2019 of in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on pancreatic cancer found that cannabinoids can slow tumor growth, reduce tumor invasion and induce tumor cell death.
• Another study from 2019 showed that CBD could provoke cell death and make glioblastoma cells more sensitive to radiation, but without any effect on healthy cells.
• A 2014 study conducted in vivo in experimental models of colorectal cancer suggests that CBD may inhibit the spread of colorectal cancer cells.
• Further in vitro and in vivo studies conducted in 2014 showed that cannabinoids are promising compounds in the treatment of gliomas.
• Studies from 2010 showed the efficacy of CBD in preclinical models for metastatic breast cancer. The study found that CBD significantly reduced the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells.

These are just some of the studies dealing with the potential of cannabinoids for the treatment of cancer. However, it is far too early to say that CBD is a safe and effective treatment for human cancer. CBD should not be considered a substitute for other cancer treatments.

include areas for future research:

• the effects of CBD with and without other cannabinoids such as THC
• safe and effective dosage
• the effects of different administration techniques
• how CBD works for certain cancers
• how CBD interacts with chemotherapeutic drugs and other cancer treatments
• as complementary treatment for cancer

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can cause a number of side effects such as nausea and loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss.

Research suggests that cannabinoids may relieve neuropathic pain and nausea. It is also believed that CBD has anti-inflammatory and anxiety-relieving properties.

When it comes to cancer prevention, CBD research has a long tradition.