Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of more than hundreds of cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis family of plants. It became popular among users due to its many potential health benefits, which it produces by stimulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Besides, health and wellness products infused with it can be used for relieving pain, reducing inflammation, healing minor wounds, headaches, etc. More research is conducted to find other medical applications of cannabidiol. Read on to know about the potential usage of CBD for cancer.
CBD As Complementary Therapy
Scientists and researchers speculate that CBD health benefits could be useful for mitigating the symptoms of cancer and relieving the side effects due to cancer treatment. So, it may be used as a complementary treatment, and this is explained in detail below.
Appetite Stimulation: Two of the common side effects of cancer treatment are nausea and loss of appetite. This can cause weight loss if not taken care of on time. Research studies show that ingesting cannabidiol (CBD) may help with stimulating appetite and relieving nausea due to its positive effect on the ECS, which regulates homeostasis.
Easing Nausea And Vomiting: One of the major potential therapeutic effects of CBD is its anti-nausea effect. So, it could be used as a safer alternative to pharmaceutical antiemetic drugs that have potential side effects.
Pain Relief: Both cancer and cancer treatment cause pain; this is usually managed with pharmaceutical painkillers that produce side effects on long-term usage. CBD can be used as a safer alternative to them because of its analgesic effect, along with its lack of side effects at normal doses, and it does not have the risk of developing an addiction on long-term usage. Also, research studies show that a combination of CBD and THC produces a better pain-relieving effect.
Cancer Prevention: Anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD might be useful for preventing the development of cancer. However, evidence from research about this remains inconclusive, and hence it is not used as part of conventional treatment.
Can Cancer Be Treated With CBD?
Currently, there is no conclusive evidence that shows CBD can be used for treating cancer. However, scientists believe that it shows promise, and they are conducting more research. Also, some studies show that it inhibited the growth of some types of tumor cells and promoted apoptosis. Finally, this may also depend on various physiological factors of the individual as well as the stage of the disease.
These are the important points that you must know about using cannabidiol (CBD) for cancer treatment, and we hope that the details shared above were useful for you.