Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the cannabis plant that may have many potential therapeutic uses. By mixing CBD with a carrier oil, people can create a CBD oil. Although more research is necessary, evidence suggests that CBD oil may have some use in the treatment of cancer.
While it is too early to make strong claims about using CBD oil for cancer treatment, evidence indicates that it may help to manage symptoms resulting from the disease or its treatment.
Although initial results from small and animal studies on cancerous cells and CBD oil are promising, they are not yet conclusive. More research is still necessary to determine how effective CBD oil may be in the treatment of cancer.
A person should always check with their doctor before using CBD oil to ensure it will not interact negatively with any current medication or forms of treatment.
This article contains information on what researchers know related to CBD oil and cancer, and how to choose and use CBD oil products.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
CBD is one of
THC is the chemical responsible for the “high” that many people may associate with cannabis. CBD, which
Learn more about the differences between CBD and THC here.
To create a CBD oil, manufacturers extract CBD from the C. sativa plant, then mix it with a carrier oil. A common extraction process that manufacturers use is the
Producers then dilute the CBD with a nontoxic oil to produce CBD oil. According to the
While more research investigating the use of cannabis or cannabinoids as a cancer treatment is necessary, some evidence shows promise. In 2016, researchers noted that cannabinoids may reduce tumor growth in different types of cancers in test tube and animal models.
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However, it is worth noting that research is still in its early stages. Most evidence is largely from laboratory- or animal-based studies. Therefore, more research and human studies are necessary to determine the potential anti-cancer properties of CBD oil.
Investigating CBD and its use as a cancer treatment may also be difficult due to ethical issues. Many studies investigating CBD may incorporate chemotherapy medication. Therefore, this may make it difficult to interpret how effective CBD is in treating cancer by itself.
While cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be effective in treating cancer, they can result in an array of side effects. (Most research has investigated the benefits of CBD, although CBD oil may work similarly.)
Some of the cancer side effects CBD may help to reduce include
Nausea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved some cannabinoid-containing medications to reduce side effects of cancer treatments. Examples
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However, these medications are not the same as CBD oil products a person can purchase over the counter (OTC). While CBD oil may help with nausea, it will likely be less effective than prescription cannabinoid-containing medications.
Click here to learn more about CBD and nausea.
Pain
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A 2017 review also found that CBD may help with chronic neuropathy pain in humans, which can be a side effect of chemotherapy and cancer.
Click here to learn more about CBD oil and pain.
Sleep
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Click here to learn more about CBD and sleep.
Appetite
Current
However, more long-term studies in humans are necessary to determine what role, if any, CBD has to play in the prevention of cancer. Additionally, as CBD oils contain roughly 1–5% CBD, they would likely have less effect than the stronger doses in prescription medications.
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Research suggests that potential side effects
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Research also indicates that CBD
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When considering CBD products, it is advisable for people to choose products that:
- are not from a company subject to an
FDA warning letter - contain no more than
0.3% THC, per theAgriculture Improvement Act - have proof of third-party testing by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory
- pass tests for pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and microbes
- pass product potency evaluations and safety testing
- are from a company that provide certificates of analysis for their products
Additionally, people may also consider:
- flavor
- price
- CBD potency
- retailer’s and manufacturer’s reputation
- customer reviews
As with any CBD products, people should closely follow all instructions on the packaging and not exceed the correct dose on the label. People new to CBD oils should start with the lowest possible dosage. Once they know how their body reacts to the substance, they can gradually increase the dose.
Manufacturers sell CBD oil in a number of forms. These can include:
- oils to place under the tongue or tinctures to add in food
- oils in creams, lotions, or balms for topical applications
- oils in gummies or other edibles for people to consume
Currently, there are no definitive studies on CBD’s effectiveness, so it is hard to know exactly what dosage people should use. Dosage can also vary due to the potency of the product and the method of application.
According to a
CBD may have some benefits for reducing cancer symptoms and may have some anti-cancer properties. However, research is still in its early stages. Furthermore, as manufacturers dilute CBD with a carrier oil to produce CBD oils, they may have less of a beneficial effect than other CBD products, including prescription products.
People should always talk to a doctor before using CBD products or any other compound during cancer treatment to ensure they will not react with any current medication.
For more information and resources on CBD and CBD products, please visit our dedicated hub.