Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many compounds in the cannabis plant. It is gaining popularity because it seems to offer many benefits. While there is an ongoing debate, some people recommend using CBD in the treatment of cancer.
Overall, it is too early to make any claims about CBD as a cancer treatment. While the initial results of small studies on cancer cells are promising, they are not conclusive.
Meanwhile, this compound may helpTrusted Source manage some cancer symptoms and side effects of treatment. ResearchersTrusted Source are also looking into many other, potentially related, uses of CBD, which may help treat anxiety and chronic pain.
It is important to note that CBD is not the same as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a different compound in cannabis that causes a “high” when a person smokes or ingests it.
In this article, learn about the ways that people with cancer may benefit from CBD.
THC and CBD as a complementary therapy
The majority of the available evidence suggests that CBD and cannabis therapies may complementTrusted Source cancer treatment. CBD may help people with cancer by:
Stimulating appetite
Many people who are having cancer treatment experience nausea and loss of appetite, issues that can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
Ingesting a cannabis product that delivers THC to the bloodstream may help stimulateTrusted Source the appetite. There is no evidence, however, that CBD alone has this effect.
Relieving pain
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 become resistant to opioids, which are powerful pain relief medications.
CBD acts indirectly on the CB2 receptors, which may provideTrusted Source widespread pain relief by reducing inflammation. THC acts on the CB1 receptors, which may help with pain that results from nerve damage.
Easing nausea
Cannabis may help people with cancer who experience regular nausea and vomiting, especially when this stems from chemotherapy.
However, the antinausea effect appears to comeTrusted Source from the THC, not the CBD, in the plant. Anyone looking to try cannabis to reduce nausea should prepare for the psychoactive effects of THC in prescribed cannabis products and discuss them beforehand with a doctor.
Many people find relief from low doses of THC. Prescription versions of synthetic THC that have fewer side effects are also available.
CBD for cancer prevention
Some people wonder whether cannabis or CBD might help prevent cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI)Trusted Source has reviewed numerous investigations into cannabis and cancer, and it has found mixed results.
An older study of 64,855Trusted Source people in the United States found that cannabis use did not increase the risk of tobacco-related cancers. However, this study also found that men who used cannabis but never smoked tobacco had an increased risk of prostate cancer.
On the other hand, the authors of a 2015 studyTrusted Source in men found a promising relationship between cannabis and bladder cancer. After adjusting for several factors, they found that participants who used cannabis had a 45% lower risk of developing bladder cancer.
While research has shown that cannabis smoke produces carcinogens, the link between inhaled cannabis and cancer remains inconclusiveTrusted Source.
Meanwhile, ingesting CBD extract does not expose the body to the same carcinogens as smoking cannabis. More long-term studies in humans are necessary to determine what role, if any, CBD has in preventing cancer.
Can CBD treat cancer?
No large clinical trials are currently investigating the use of cannabis or cannabinoids, such as CBD, as a cancer treatment. There are small pilot studies, including an investigation into the use of THC and CBD in combination with chemotherapy as a treatment for a type of brain cancer. However, the research is still in its early stages.
In 2016, scientists concluded that cannabinoids show promiseTrusted Source in the fight against cancer after determining that these compounds inhibited the growth of many types of tumor cell in test tube and animal models.
However, they also noted that some dosages and types of cannabinoid might suppress the immune system, allowing tumors to grow unchecked.
Overall, determining whether cannabinoids can combat cancer will require much more research.
Side effects of CBD
The cannabinoid receptors in the brain do not act like many other drug receptors. For this reason, using CBD, for example, may involveTrusted Source a lower risk of side effects than using a medication.
Also, there are no apparent lethal doses of CBD or THC, which is not true for traditional pain management medications. This is because cannabis does not affect respiration function in the central nervous system like opiates do.
It is worth noting, though, that the body has widespread cannabinoid receptors. This is why CBD affects not only the brain, but also many other organs and tissues.
Small-scale studies have found that people generally tolerate CBD well, but some people may experience mild side effects, including:
CBD can also interact with a range of medications and cause liver damage. These medications include:
- antibiotics
- antidepressants
- antianxiety medications
- anti-seizure medications
- blood thinners
- chemotherapy drugs
- muscle relaxers
- sedatives, or sleep aids
CBD products can also interact with some over-the-counter aids and supplements, so it may be a good idea to speak with a doctor before trying them.
Also, people should exercise cautionTrusted Source when taking CBD alongside prescription medications that warn about possible interactions with grapefruit.
In addition, increased liver toxicity is a possible side effect of CBD. In one 2019 study, researchers administered varying doses of CBD to mice. The mice had that received higher doses experienced liver damage within 1 day.
Some people might be concerned about the possibility of becoming dependent on CBD. Clinical trials of Epidiolex, the CBD product that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved to treat epilepsy, found no indications of physical dependence. The manufacturers of Epidiolex do warn about the potential for liver problems in the product’s safety information.
Finally, as the NCITrusted Source notes, CBD inhibits specific enzymes that may be important for cancer therapies. Cancer treatments that rely on these enzymes could be less effective in people who take CBD.
Takeaway
While CBD appears to helpTrusted Source ease some cancer symptoms and side effects of treatment, no research suggests that CBD can combat cancer itself. And as the NCITrusted Source points out, taking CBD may actually inhibit certain cancer treatments.
As with any new supplement, speak with a doctor before using CBD during cancer treatment to ensure that it will not cause interactions.
