Most of us have heard of cannabidiol or CBD or maybe even used it for various ailments. Scientists are now recognizing all the benefits CBD has against cancer and it is being studied as a cancer treatment. Of course, the pharmaceutical companies are coming up with their own synthetic versions of the cannabinoids, but in this post I will be talking about CBD as a naturopathic treatment that may benefit you in your journey to becoming cancer-free.
To understand how CBD oil can help defend against uterine cancer, it is important to understand the endocannabinoid system in the body.
THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM (ECS)
The ECS is a complex cell signaling system that is present throughout our entire body. It is crucial for regulating multiple functions and processes in our bodies including, sleep, appetite, mood, temperature control, pain, liver function, nerve function and more.
The ECS is comprised of three main components: endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes.
ENDOCANNABINOIDS
These are lipid molecules that act as neurotransmitters. They are produced by our bodies and have multiple functions. The two key endocannabinoids they have identified are AEA and 2-AG.
RECEPTORS
There are two main receptors the endocannabinoids bind to CB1 and CB2 that have been studied extensively. Recently, the TRPV CHANNELS are a type of receptor that is being studied as well.
CB1 receptors are present throughout the body, but particularly in the brain and nervous system. They coordinate movement and regulate pain, mood, emotion, thinking, appetite and memory.
CB2 receptors are more common in the immune system, found in the spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils. They mainly affect inflammation, immune responses and pain.
ENZYMES
Enzymes are responsible for synthesizing the endocannabinoids and then breaking them down once they have carried out their function.
PHYTOCANNABINOIDS
Phytocannabinoids come from the cannabis sativa plant and are very similar to the endocannabinoids in our bodies. They can link to the same receptors and influence the same signaling pathways to carry out various cell functions. There are two main phytocannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC)
Also called THC for short, this is the most potent phytocannabinoid and has psychoactive effects causing a “high”. It can bind to both receptors CB1 and CB2 and is more potent than the endocannabinoids, explaining these effects on the brain.
CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
CBD is another phytocannabinoid. It only binds weakly to the receptors, if at all. Its mechanisms of action are not really known fully, but they believe it acts on a variety of systems including the serotonergic, opioid and cannabinoid systems in the body. It may also prevent the breakdown of the endocannabinoids or increase their production. CBD does not cause the psychoactive effects of THC, which makes it a more desirable treatment option for many women.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MARIJUANA AND CBD
- Marijuana is a plant in the cannabis sativa family, that contains a variety of active phytochemicals including the cannabinoids, CBD and THC, but it has much higher amounts of THC than CBD
- It has been used for medicinal and religious purposes in many cultures for 5000 years, dating back to ancient China. Marijuana was used as a remedy for multiple things including pain, fatigue, malaria, seizures (epilepsy), female troubles, constipation, inflammation, eczema and more all the way into the 1930s
- In the United States, due to misinformation and the advent of pharmaceutical drugs, marijuana was banned from use and criminalized. This is a rabbit hole I will not go into here, but suffice it to say, the medical system is now recognizing all the benefits of marijuana again and starting to research it
- Marijuana (THC) is still considered a Schedule I drug (highly restricted) and is illegal in many states and by the federal government
- CBD comes from hemp, also a plant in the cannabis sativa family, but it has far less THC than marijuana, <0.3%. CBD does not have all the psychoactive effects of marijuana and it is legal in all 50 states
- CBD and marijuana have many components that also contribute to their therapeutic actions, including terpenes, flavonoids, polysaccharides and other plant nutrients
DIFFICULTIES WITH CBD RESEARCH
Most of the scientific studies on CBD have been done in cell cultures and animal (mouse) models. It is hard to do clinical trials in humans because there are so many different forms and strengths of CBD. Not only that, but there are different ways of using CBD including smoking or vaping, edibles and topical formulations. It has not been standardized by any means.
Another issue is the differing amounts of THC in CBD formulations, which can cause undesirable side effects for some like hallucinations and sedation. CBD products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and some studies have shown discrepancies between the label and what is actually in the product.
In spite of these difficulties, I have come across a large number of studies demonstrating the benefits of CBD against cancer. Stay to the end to learn how to use CBD and who shouldn’t use it.
HOW CBD CAN HELP WITH CANCER
- Anti-proliferative, can reduce the number of active tumor cells
- Promotes apoptosis (death) of cancer cells by acting on and blocking signaling pathways that promote tumor growth
- Anti-migratory, CBD seems to inhibit the spread of cancer cells
- Anti-invasive, limits the rate and extent of invasion of cancer cells from the primary tumor site into the surrounding healthy tissues
- Stops angiogenesis, new blood vessel formation by the tumor. Interferes with VEGF and EGFR pathways
- Anti-metastatic by down-regulating the signaling pathways and genes that promote cancer growth and spread
- Improves appetite and sleep and reduces anxiety
- Analgesic, promotes pain relief, especially nerve and muscle pain caused by chemotherapy
- CBD with higher amounts of THC acts a natural anti-emetic, relieving nausea and vomiting
- In one study, using Ishikawa and Hec50 endometrial cancer cells (type I and type II cells), CBD reduced cell viability and was linked to an increase in markers of apoptosis. Interestingly, in both cell lines, THC had no effect on tumor cell survival Read More
- Can inhibit epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a process where tumor cells acquire stem cell properties making them more aggressive
- May reduce depression
- Very safe to use with few to no side effects and is non-addictive
- In one study, CBD with paclitaxel on ovarian cancer cells showed anti-proliferative effects and the CBD did not hinder the cytotoxic effects of the chemotherapy
- Potent effects against methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA) bacteria. This is helpful for cancer patients who are immunosuppressed or hospitalized
- Regulates oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby reducing tumor growth and improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation
- Helps modulate the immune system with inhibitory effects during inflammation and auto-immune conditions and stimulatory effects with infections or immunosuppression
- May help with metabolic syndrome by regulating glucose, sensitizing adipose tissue to insulin and reducing fasting glucose levels Read More
- Besides the scientific studies, there are 100s of anecdotal reports of people being cured of cancer using CBD oil and cannabinoids. I have especially heard of this in people who have had lung metastases
- Although doctors don’t acknowledge anecdotal reports, there is something to be said for all these people swearing by CBD and how it saved their lives! They also report significant reduction in the side effects of treatments and who doesn’t want that?
SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES
Here are just a few references if you want to do more reading. There are many more.
- Exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in cancer by modulating signaling pathways and addressing clinical challenges Read More
- Cannabidiol on the Path from the Lab to the Cancer Patient: Opportunities and Challenges Read More
- Cannabidiol (CBD) in Cancer Management Read More
- Cannabidiol: assessing activity in ovarian and endometrial carcinoma cell lines Read More
- The Effects of Cannabidiol and Prognostic Role of TRPV2 in Human Endometrial Cancer Read More
THE BIPHASIC DOSE RESPONSE CURVE OF CBD
This is a really important fact you need to know. What this means is that at different doses a drug can have opposite effects and this is true for CBD.
With CBD, low doses may have stimulating properties, while moderate to high doses can have more sedative effects. CBD can affect people differently depending on things like body weight and metabolism too. Read More
CBD AND IMMUNOTHERAPY
Here are two studies showing that cannabis products may inhibit the effects of immunotherapy by suppressing the immune response.
I think the studies are difficult to interpret and it is too early to tell if this link between CBD and immunotherapy is a direct cause and effect relationship.
In the first study, there were 8 different companies that supplied the cannabis/CBD products to the patients. Only 6 of those products were analyzed. These were stage 4 cancer patients. Some of them received steroids during their treatment. There was a reduced response rate to immunotherapy when patients used cannabis products, but no difference in progression free survival and overall survival.
In the second study, the patients had very advanced metastatic cancer and the cannabis users were often tobacco users. They were all using varying forms of cannabis containing different amounts of THC and CBD and many were smoking it recreationally. Some of them were given a prescription cannabis drug. They showed a worse overall survival of the cannabis users vs. the non-cannabis users with immunotherapy.
To be safe, you may want to hold off on using CBD if you are getting immunotherapy or talk it over with your doctors. Until there is more research, I don’t think we can know for sure if there is an adverse effect here, but better to be safe than sorry.
HOW TO USE CBD FOR UTERINE CANCER?
With all the ways you can take CBD and all the formulations out there, what do you do?
DOSE
- This is an herbal medicine and it does need to be individualized. Everyone is different and for that reason it is recommended to start with a low-dose and gradually increase it until you have desirable effects. For instance, if you have insomnia or anxiety, you would slowly increase the dose until you were able to sleep better and relax
- Full Spectrum CBD is better than broad spectrum CBD because it has small amounts of THC in it, usually <0.3%. Broad spectrum CBD has all the THC removed and may not work as well
- As far as dosing for cancer, some studies have shown 5mg/kg of CBD taken daily is an effective dose, however, you have to find what works best for your body. Some doctors and CBD practitioners recommend 300mg daily for treating cancer
- 30-40mg of CBD is often used for pain, sleep and improved mood
- If you decide to use CBD, I suggest you get a free consult on dosing from the company I will be referencing below. Keep reading for more on this
ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION
- The best way to administer CBD for uterine cancer is via a rectal suppository. Some women use a vaginal suppository. You did not read that wrong. It’s true
- CBD is known to have poor bioavailability (13-19%) via oral routes. It is affected by enzymes and gastrointestinal fluids and quickly metabolized by the liver before it reaches the whole body
- Smoking or vaping has the poorest results and you should not be doing this anyway
- Sublingual (under the tongue) is a good route for problems like insomnia and anxiety, but not the most effective for uterine cancer treatment where you may need higher doses
WHY A RECTAL SUPPOSITORY IS THE BEST ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION
- More rapid onset of action and prolonged activity
- Much lower enzymatic activity than the oral route preventing break down of the product
- The rectum is very vascular (has a lot of blood vessels). The CBD can be absorbed directly and reach the systemic circulation avoiding metabolism in the liver first
- Great if you have nausea or vomiting and can’t tolerate oral medications. Plus CBD often tastes bad so you avoid this
- Minimal to no THC side effects with this route of delivery. Even though THC is very low in good CBD products, some people still feel its effects, so this helps avoid that
- Topical placement in these sites allows the CBD to be absorbed directly near the most common sites of recurrence (vaginal cuff and pelvis)
- Can relieve pelvic, bladder and nerve pain from radiation or chemotherapy in this area
The easiest way to do this is to purchase CBD in a syringe like below and measure a small amount into an empty capsule. Apply a small amount of coconut oil as a lubricant, wear a glove and insert it into the rectum as far as it will go. There are also applicators you can use if this would be easier.
WHERE DO YOU GET GOOD CBD OIL?
A very good resource for excellent quality CBD is from Beautiful Earth Organics located in Florida. They ship all over. If you are in a country outside the United States, you just have to call them to set up shipment. I know several women who use this CBD and believe it really helps.
Their CBD products are organic and the oil is extracted by CO2 extraction methods. C02 extraction is considered the gold standard and doesn’t destroy any important cannabinoids or terpenes. It also provides a clean, precise extraction that massively reduces contamination.
They have a certificate of analysis for their products as well, which is very important. It shows the product was tested in a lab and exactly what is in it.
Make sure to request a free consultation regarding dosing for your particular needs.
If you order products from Beautiful Earth Organics, make sure to enter the code Lynda10 for a 10% discount.
PRO-TIP ON YOUR HEALING JOURNEY
Today I want to encourage you to start a daily gratitude journal. Are you wondering how that could really help you heal from cancer? Let me count the ways!
- Gratitude every day can actually cause our brains to emit more positive, feel good neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine. It’s like activating the reward center of our brain. These hormones can help reduce anxiety and stress and make us feel happier
- It can promote a stronger immune response to illness by reducing the stress hormone, cortisol. By reducing cortisol, gratitude helps calm down the nervous system too. These are definitely things we need when going through cancer
- Daily gratitude helps you stay focused in the present moment. When you are thinking of all the blessings in your life, you are no longer focused on the future and all the worries you have
- We can actually reshape our brains! Science has shown that the brain can be rewired with our thoughts. This is called neuroplasticity. By practicing gratitude on a daily basis, we can train our brains to become more focused on positivity instead of negativity
- Gratitude has been shown to increase mental clarity and focus helping us to make better decisions and think clearly about what we need to do
- It can help reduce pain. By focusing on positive emotions, you may experience less subjective pain or your pain tolerance may increase
- Studies have shown that people who consistently practice gratitude, especially before bed (instead of watching TV or scrolling on their phone), had better sleep quality. This included falling asleep faster and longer duration of sleep
I could list many more things, but you get the idea. This simple daily practice can work wonders for your health!
Make it a point every day to write down at least three things you are grateful for and if you can do more even better
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18