Given cannabidiol (CBD) oil’s growing popularity for addressing a wide variety of health issues, many people have asked about a correct dosage of CBD for cancer. Admittedly, the available dosing guidelines leave much to be desired. That’s why it may be time to collate as much helpful information as possible on how to use CBD oil for cancer—all in one easy-to-understand resource.
Table of Contents:
1. CBD Oil for Cancer: How to Use It
1.1 Speak with A Professional
1.2 Choose Your Route of Administration
1.3 Start with A Low Dose
1.4 Slow and Steady
2. What Does the Research Say About Cannabidiol Efficacy?
3. CBD Dosage for Cancer: Why Are There No Clear Guidelines?
3.1 Legalities
3.2 Anyone Can Sell It
3.3 Lack of Clinical Research Studies
4. In A Nutshell
1. CBD Oil for Cancer: How to Use It
No matter how you approach using CBD oil for cancer, everyone would be well-advised to follow the same series of steps.
Distilled from patient testimony, small-scale studies, and ongoing self-experimentation, these guidelines should still be considered only as suggestions.
It would also be wise to remember that each patient and illness is different. Rigorous and large-scale clinical research still needs to be done for more accurate CBD oil cancer dosage recommendations.
RELATED: CBD Dosage 101
1.1 Speak with A Professional
First, and perhaps most importantly, speak with a qualified physician about your plans to adopt CBD oil into your therapeutic regime. Many healthcare practitioners, especially in states that already have viable medical marijuana systems in place, have seen the beneficial results firsthand. (Click to tweet)
There are now more doctors than ever before who are open to discussing how best to use CBD oil in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments.
Because CBD is metabolized in the liver, and CBD oil cancer dosages tend to be at the higher end of the spectrum, they can affect the efficacy or potency of other drugs in your treatment plan.
Conventional cancer treatments often involve a complicated, customized cocktail of drugs. If CBD oil affects one of the drugs in any way, it could throw off the entire cancer treatment program. A doctor can monitor blood levels and make adjustments as needed.
This drug interaction is one of the primary reasons why it is so important to speak with your doctor beforehand.
1.2 Choose Your Route of Administration
CBD oils and tinctures taken under the tongue will typically work faster than edibles, with better systemic absorption. Using CBD sublingually helps it work from the inside out, avoiding the digestive system. (Click to tweet)
Digestion is something that capsules and edibles will have to endure, and most likely break down during the process. [1]
However, liposomal CBD, like SOL’s Advanced Liposomal Formula, is by far one of the most effective consumption methods. It is highly absorbable and bioavailable, providing your body with a potent and fast-acting dose of CBD every time you take it. (Click to tweet)
RELATED: The Known Side Effects of Cannabidiol
1.3 Start with A Low Dose
CBD oil is considered safe, but high-dose CBD taken without proper titration can cause some side effects. While these clear up by themselves over time and are harmless, they can be somewhat unpleasant.
Thankfully, CBD can easily be broken up into smaller doses throughout the day. Apart from allowing your body to get used to CBD at a pace it can handle, taking small doses intermittently also encourages better absorption, with less waste in the digestive system. (Click to tweet)
1.4 Slow and Steady
The next step is being patient with the process. While CBD oil has shown great potential, it's by no means a miracle drug that will evaporate a tumor overnight.
Studies have explored the ways CBD oil works within the body, and it seems to work through a slow process of therapeutic accumulation rather than an acute treatment.
In many cases, it can take a few weeks to achieve the optimum dosage.
However, if you choose, you could discuss a more aggressive, robust dosage regimen with your doctor. As mentioned, CBD is not associated with toxicity in high doses, but do not attempt to try this on your own.
2. What Does the Research Say About Cannabidiol Efficacy?
At the moment, most traceable data seem to be only in the preclinical stage of study. Still, the existing body of research, mainly conducted on animals, appears to indicate strongly that CBD oil may be of some benefit to cancer patients.
The popularity of CBD oil as a potential cancer therapy has grown so much over recent years that even the American National Cancer Institute acknowledges that CBD oil may be helpful in fighting cancer.
RELATED: National Cancer Institute Acknowledges CBD Oil May Be Helpful in Fighting Cancer
This is where things get more interesting:
A recent study from 2020 claimed that cannabidiol showed incredible promise as an anti-cancer drug. Researchers observed how the CBD affected cancer cells, and their findings revealed that CBD demonstrated powerful anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on various types of cancers, including both cultured cancer cell lines and rodent tumor models. [4]
A year later, in 2021, another study concluded that cannabinoids and Cannabis sativa L. extracts may be used for the treatment of colorectal cancer, and that their use is strongly supported in literature. It also stated that evidence showed a high potential of cannabinoids to be turned into promising drugs, and that these compounds can target the key signaling pathways of cancer development. [5]
More research indicates that CBD, when combined with THC, works in conjunction with conventional radiation treatments. Combined together, the benefits of CBD, THC, and radiation therapy synergistically became stronger than the sum of the individual parts. [7]
Preliminary research has also shown that taking CBD together with chemotherapy may make the latter more effective by increasing cancer cell death but without harming healthy body tissue. [3]
Studies furthermore demonstrated, either through in vitro or in vivo models, that CBD may be useful in supporting the treatment of cancer in the following ways:
- Antiviral
- Relieves pain
- Antispasmodic
- Stimulates appetite
- Anti-inflammatory
- Keeps cancer from spreading
- Reduces nausea and vomiting
- Helps stop cancer cell growth
- Relieves anxiety and insomnia
- Helps stop the growth of blood vessels that supply cancer tumors [2][3]
3. CBD Oil Dosage for Cancer: Why Are There No Clear Guidelines?
If you’re reading this, you probably have already looked up “CBD dosage for cancer” at some point or another. You’ve also most likely noticed that there aren’t a whole lot of solid results or reliable sources telling you where you should start. This is due to various factors, which we will briefly discuss.
3.1 Legalities
While research appears to be highly in favor of CBD as a treatment for various types of cancer, legal gray areas are forcing companies to avoid any and all health claims. This in itself can make it hard for users to find a good beginning dose for certain conditions.
3.2 Anyone Can Sell It
CBD made from hemp with less than 0.3% THC is legal. There are also certain guidelines that vendors are supposed to follow when advertising, labeling, and selling their cannabidiol products. However, it’s not always a guarantee that sellers are following the set of rules and guidelines created by the FDA.
The fact that virtually anyone can sell CBD isn’t good news for consumers, as some will put more attention and effort into creating their product than others. Random CBD you’ve never heard of from your corner gas station may not be the right choice.
This lack of control is the reason it is so important to source quality CBD oil. Pay careful attention to labeling, strength, origin, and ingredients when sourcing your own. If uncertain, there are helpful guidelines to ensure that the CBD oil you are using is pure.
Products that are cheap, don’t have thorough labeling, aren’t lab tested, are full of unnecessary fillers or additives, are from a brand you can’t find reviews for, etc. are all red flags and should be avoided. Always source your CBD with care, as this is something you are putting into your body and it should be pure, organic, and natural.
RELATED: How to Ensure the CBD Oil You're Using Is Pure
3.3 Lack of Clinical Research Studies
America is certainly making more of an effort to research CBD and its various health benefits. However, the research is further along in other regions—particularly in Europe. The European Union has even approved a cannabis oil for medicinal purposes, produced and patented by Big Pharma.
Now:
The FDA has approved one CBD product, called Epidiolex. This product contains highly pure CBD used for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet Syndrome, Lennox Gastau syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex in individuals one year and older. [6]
RELATED: Why the FDA Just Approved Cannabidiol for Epilepsy
Unfortunately for those seeking FDA approved CBD products for cancer in the U.S., we aren’t quite there yet. However, this doesn’t mean it will stay that way forever.
4. In A Nutshell
Formalized guidelines on how to use CBD oil for cancer are currently unavailable, but the momentum of research on cannabis oil for cancer is picking up speed. Cancer patients are also increasingly open to the idea of using CBD for managing cancer symptoms, and many have already decided to use it and have seen noticeable results. (Click to tweet)
Hopefully we will soon see CBD oil taking the place it deserves to address this dreaded disease that nearly all of us have been affected by in one way or another.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5176373/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5852356/
- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq#link/_76
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7693730/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.713153/full
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/better-data-better-understanding-use-and-safety-profile-cannabidiol-cbd-products
- https://aacrjournals.org/mct/article/13/12/2955/116211/The-Combination-of-Cannabidiol-and-9