According to those who have used CBD to cope with cancer, the two best options are vaping (for quick relief) or tincture.
Because studies (referenced below) have shown that CBD may actually kill some cancer cells, the goal is to get it into your system and keep a steady level. This can be achieved both through oral tinctures and vape.
If you do not vape or are not interested in vaping, then your choice is the oral tincture.
Some suggest a two pronged approach for the best results, using both methods together, as they each have some distinct benefits. For more in depth look at your options, check out our ranking of the best CBD for coping with cancer.
Cancer. It is an incredibly distressing diagnosis, and can be a turning point in a person’s life. There is no one cure, and it can lead to tremendous suffering, even if it does not become fatal.
But a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, with new treatments over the past few decades finding ways to either eliminate the cancer or keep it from spreading. There are also many types of cancer, some of which are very treatable with surgery, chemotherapy, and alternative remedies. It also develops in stages, and the later you catch it, the more difficult it is to treat.
As with other cancer treatments, CBD is not one-size-fits-all. It has to fit in with your treatment regimen, either as an important component or as a treatment for some of the symptoms. Either way, there are reasons to see CBD as an exciting treatment. Research is consistently showing its effects, and it circumvents some of the problems with other treatments.
Table of Contents
- Chemotherapy has its problems
- CBD kills cancerous cells and inhibits growth…
- …but it is not a panacea
- CBD for palliative care
Chemotherapy has its problems
Chemotherapy can be a lifesaver. If the cancer cannot be fully eliminated, chemo can slow down its progress, significantly prolonging a patient’s life.
However, in order to be effective, chemotherapy comes with risks. In order for it to be effective at killing cancerous cells, it has to be highly toxic. And unfortunately, there is no chemotherapy treatment that can target the cancerous cells alone. It therefore has a harmful effect on the rest of the body, leading to extreme nausea, hair loss, weakness, fatigue and more. Some patients even opt out of chemo, despite its potential to lengthen their lives, because they’d rather not compromise the quality of the time they have left.
CBD kills cancerous cells and inhibits growth…
CBD is very exciting because study after study finds that it both kills cancer cells as well as inhibits further growth. This is true of other cannabis compounds as well, but CBD is particularly desirable as it does not come with the psychoactive effects of THC which may impair day-to-day functioning.
This research has shown it has potential far beyond the palliative aspects for which it has long been used.
Studies have shown that CBD may be effective against neuroblastoma, one of the most common cancers in children. Brain cancer, which is particularly aggressive and hard to treat, has also been a focus of studies on CBD, which have found the substance to potentially decrease tumor size and prevent it spreading.
Furthermore, CBD has been found to kill cancerous cells and inhibit the spread of lung cancer, another form of the disease that is notoriously difficult to treat.
This is just a sample of the most dangerous types of cancer that CBD can treat. Research has found it to be effective across the board, and is a potential treatment for every kind of cancer.
…but it is not a panacea
CBD is a very exciting component of cancer treatment. But we must be sure not to fall into the trap of treating it as a panacea or cure-all. Research is still in early stages, and while we know it works, we can’t yet use it in a targeted way with guaranteed results. It should certainly be a part of treatment – and at this point it’s irresponsible not to use it – but should not replace other treatments.
CBD for palliative care
Finally, a quick point on the subject of CBD as palliative care. Palliative care is treatment for those in the final stages of cancer that can no longer be cured or slowed down. Cannabis has long been used as a palliative treatment, and CBD is effective even without the psychoactive effects of THC. For those who are suffering, it can vastly improve the quality of life in the final months.
CBD is an exciting cancer treatment. Research indicates that it should be a part of the treatment regime for any type of cancer. It can provide hope to patients in the early stages of cancer, and alleviate the pain of those for whom it is too advanced.
