One of the most profound uses for CBD is the treatment of various cancers. CBD has two major functions in the treatment of cancer; slowing/stopping the growth of cancerous cells (prevention) and dealing with the symptoms of cancer treatments like chemotherapy (symptom management). In the United States, the most common treatment for cancer is chemotherapy – an administration of intense anti-cancer drugs that induce severe side effects like nausea, fatigue, gastrointestinal disease, etc. Believe it or not, CBD actually combats all of these side effects! This is the beauty of plant-based medicine – experience an improved quality of life without any risk of overdose or side effects.

What’s more? CBD has been shown to stop cancerous cells dead in their tracks. Studies have been performed evaluating CBD’s ability to treat various types of cancer including; bladder, brain, breast, colon, endocrine, Leukemia, lung, prostate, and skin. In order to better understand the mechanisms by which CBD helps treat cancer patients, we turn to a series of medical studies that have been conducted over the past twenty years. We will address the results below.

Study Results:

A 2013 study concluded that, “Collectively, the non-psychoactive plant-derived cannabinoid CBD exhibits pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative actions in different types of tumours and may also exert anti-migratory, anti-invasive, anti-metastatic and perhaps anti-angiogenic properties. On the basis of these results, evidence is emerging to suggest that CBD is a potent inhibitor of both cancer growth and spread. Interestingly, the anticancer effect of this compound seems to be selective for cancer cells, at least in vitro, since it does not affect normal cell lines.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579246/

A 2012 study found that, “CBD exerts a potent anti-angiogenic effect by widely affecting several pathways involved in this process. Its dual effect on both tumour and endothelial cells further suggests that CBD could represent a potential effective agent in cancer therapy.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3504989/

A 2010 study evaluated the impact of CBD on cancer cell invasion. The study findings “provide a novel mechanism underlying the anti-invasive action of cannabidiol and imply its use as a therapeutic option for the treatment of highly invasive cancers.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19914218

A 2004 study concluded that, “The nonpsychoactive CBD was able to produce a significant antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo, thus suggesting a possible application of CBD as an antineoplastic agent.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14617682

A 2016 study evaluated CBD in the treatment of Neuroblastoma (NBL), one of the most common solid cancers in children. The results“demonstrate the antitumourigenic action of CBD on NBL cells. Because CBD is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid that appears to be devoid of side effects, our results support its exploitation as an effective anticancer drug in the management of NBL.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27022310

A 2011 looked at the effects of CBD in the treatment of breast cancer. The data demonstrated “that CBD inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion through differential modulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways…”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20859676

A 2012 study investigated the chemopreventative effect of CBD on colon cancer. The study concluded “that cannabidiol exerts chemopreventive effect in vivo and reduces cell proliferation through multiple mechanisms.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22231745

A 2013 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology provides evidence “that plant-derived cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, are potent inhibitors of prostate carcinoma viability in vitro.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570006/

Recommended CBD Regimen for Cancer Treatment

When formulating a CBD regimen for a specific disease or illness like cancer, it’s important to understand that CBD should be used regularly for maximum effect. Meaning it should be used as a preventative first – it can also be used to manage your symptoms, but the preventative maintenance is most important! Think about it like any other anti-cancer drug, you want to establish a baseline concentration of CBD in your system.

Daily Maintenance

In order to treat cancer, we recommend ingesting full spectrum CBD oil daily in the form of Tinctures or Gel Capsules. The ingredients in the two products are the same; the only difference between the two is the form factor and dosage – pills vs. sublingual tinctures. We suggest those suffering from any kind of cancer start with 20-40mg per day of CBD. If relief is not felt at this dosage, we suggest increasing by 10mg until the desired effects are achieved. In addition to their anti-proliferative properties, these ingestible products provide sustained symptom relief for several hours – many people find they provide relief for the whole day! The one thing to keep in mind with ingestible CBD products is the delayed onset time – it can take up to 90 minutes for the full effects of the tinctures or capsules to be felt.