When you’ve been treated for any type of cancer, you will experience pain, exhaustion, loss of appetite, joint stiffness, and a lot of other symptoms due to all the ongoing cancer treatments. That’s when you might have heard from other cancer patients or oncologists about CBD as a palliative agent to kick away all these symptoms. And it is normal for a cancer patient to have the following questions.
What is CBD?
- What does it does to my body?
- Will it help in reducing the pain due to the side effects of cancer treatment?
- From where can I get CBD and whom to take advice from?
First, let’s jump into some terms that might sound confusing,
CBD – CBD or cannabinoids is a well-known chemical in the Cannabis Sativa L plant. It is not intoxicating, even though people technically consider it psychoactive. It affects the brain differently than THC. CBD derived from hemp is permitted on the federal level, but not in all states.
THC – Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most well-known of the cannabis plant’s cannabinoid chemicals. Its psychoactive components produce intoxication.
ECS – The Endocannabinoid system is a biological system composed of endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are endogenous lipid-based retrograde neurotransmitters that connect to cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R, and cannabinoid receptor proteins are distributed throughout the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system of vertebrates.
More than 500 bioactive chemicals are found in cannabis, including more than 70 distinct cannabinoids. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two primary cannabinoids (CBD).
It is assumed to be the most psychotropic component of cannabinoids. It may provide the following advantages for a cancer patient:
- Pain relief
- Improvement in nausea
- Muscle relaxation.
Psychosis, sedation, and intoxication are all possible adverse effects of THC.
CBD, on the other hand, is non-intoxicating and has shown some benefits in anxiety, psychosis, inflammation, epilepsy, and neuroprotective properties in animals. CBD may modulate many of THC’s negative psychotropic effects, but research on this is still in its early stages.
CBD’s effects on human cancer cells
The effects of CBD on the central nervous system (CNS) are the reason for its effectiveness in health problems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its receptors are responsible for CBD’s effects on the body. Endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes are the three main components of the ECS. Endocannabinoids are chemicals that play a part in regulating several interval functions. The central nervous system has CB1R endocannabinoid receptors, while the peripheral nervous system contains CB2R endocannabinoid receptors. Because of its chemical nature, CBD can bind to both types of receptors.
When it binds to a receptor, our body releases neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that connect nerve cells to other regions of the body like the brain, organs, and muscles. The placement of CBD receptors can determine the effects of CBD on a certain body area. Endocannabinoids, for example, could reduce pain by targeting CB1R receptors in the spinal nerve. Others may connect to a CB2R receptor in your immune cells to signal inflammation, which is a typical symptom of autoimmune illnesses.
Cannabinoids as Palliative Agents
Cancer, as well as its treatment, can cause pain and exhaustion. Inflammation, the strain on internal organs, and nerve injury are all common causes of discomfort in cancer patients due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. When the pain is extreme, opioids, which are potent pain relievers, can become ineffective.
CBD acts on the CB2 receptors indirectly, which may provide widespread pain relief by lowering inflammation due to its palliative effects on the pain’s origin. THC works by interacting with the CB1 receptors, which may aid with nerve pain.
Cannabinoids as Curative Agents – Based on studies
Some people believe that CBD or cannabis can help prevent cancer. Numerous studies on cannabis and cancer have yielded inconsistent results, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Cannabis use did not raise the incidence of tobacco-related malignancies in an earlier investigation of 64,855 persons in the United States. However, males who used cannabis but never smoked tobacco had a higher risk of prostate cancer, according to this study.
A 2015 study on men, on the other hand, discovered a positive link between cannabis and bladder cancer. After controlling for several variables, scientists discovered that cannabis users had a 45 % decreased incidence of bladder cancer.
While research has indicated that cannabis smoke contains carcinogens, there is no solid evidence linking breathed cannabis to cancer. dependable S
In contrast to smoking cannabis, CBD extract does not expose the body to the same carcinogens. We need more long-term human research to evaluate whether CBD plays any impact on cancer prevention.
Choosing CBD products
CBD is a natural product. But you should select CBD products with more caution and diligence. Many variations of CBD are available in the medical market. If you are a cancer patient, always be aware that many substances can interact with therapies. Always talk to the doctor or oncologist to understand the benefits of CBD and what to look out for in the market. You can get in touch with ZenOnco’s expert oncologists for their advice and care on your treatment journey.
CBD is available in the following forms:
- Pills
- Sprays (used along the gum line)
- Oils for inhaling in a vaporizer
- Oils to mix with tea, honey, or eatables
- Creams, for tropical applications
- Dried leaves or dried leaf extract
CBD leaf extracts are available at ZenOnco as MediZen Medical CBD.
To know more about how to include MediZen medical CBD in your treatment regime, please connect with our CBD expert oncologist at ZenOnco.io.
