Before we discuss the best CBD dosage for cancer, we first have to understand how CBD oil and cancer are even related.
Cannabis has known benefits for treating a range of ailments, including pain management. So many today ask, “Does marijuana help cancer?” However, “help” is a very general and vague term.
If by “help” you mean “can it cure cancer?” The answer is maybe. If “help” means does it help certain symptoms, the answer is yes.
For decades, cancer researchers suggested that the cure for cancer was somewhere in the Amazon forest. Today, cancer researchers are looking closer to home…to cannabis and, more specifically, to Cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
Knowing that cannabinoid oils can ease many symptoms, people want to know more about CBD oil and cancer. So what is the right CBD dosage for cancer?
CBD Oil and Cancer: Can Cannabinoids Cure Cancer?
A study performed at St. George’s University of London led by Dr. Wal Liu isolated six cannabinoid compounds and applied them to leukemia cells. They found that CBD and the others were effective at killing the cancer cells.
The St. George’s team cautioned that the results with other cancers may not be the same. Worldwide, researchers continue to examine THC, CBD, CBG, and other cannabinoids as potential cures or killers of cancer cells. However, at present there is no conclusive data.
CBD Oil and Cancer: Can Cannabinoids Treat Cancer Symptoms?
CBD oil can help the symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatments. When you undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments for example, the chemicals make you sick. Symptoms common to cancer treatments and the disease itself include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Chronic pain
- Constipation
- Insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction
- Itching
Because marijuana can provide relief to so many cancer symptoms, many patients turn to it. This is true, even in locations where the product remains illegal. One study by the American Cancer Society found that 25 percent of cancer patients use marijuana for treating symptoms.
What is the Right CBD Dosage for Cancer Symptoms?
The use of CBD oil and cancer is a tricky subject. Many physicians recognize the medical benefits of using cannabinoid oil for symptoms related to cancer and treatments. However, many do not know how much to prescribe.
A large part of the problem lay in the fact that regulations differ from location to location, throughout much of the world. In addition, there has not been ample research available for doctors and physicians to reference. This is because the drug has been illegal for so long, allowing little research to be done to answer questions like these.
The Mayo Clinic has a very in-depth (and rather confusing) article related to cannabinoid dosages for various ailments. For example, it states that some have taken between 40-160 mg of CBD for sleep disorders and one milligram CBD to increase appetite in cancer patients.
The biggest thing taken from the Mayo Clinic article is that there are no hard and fast conclusions related to an exact CBD dosage for cancer yet. The fact is, using marijuana to treat cancer symptoms is still fairly new or at least untested. There is no “best CBD dosage for cancer” because symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient.
Still, there are some guidelines available to follow.
One known fact is that CBD and THC are more effective in combination. This is why smoking dried marijuana is often the simplest way to achieve treatments. However, many want to avoid the smoke and the high.
This can be achieved by finding the right ratio of CBD oil to THC for you. A higher ratio of CBD to THC will provide the necessary relief without the undesirable “high” effects. But too low a ratio will fail to provide relief.
For instance, a 1:1 ratio of CBD:THC is good for pain, but other symptoms may be better managed with a lower ration of THC. Some recommend starting with a 10:1 ratio of CBD:THC and adjusting as needed from there.
The best CBD dosage for cancer that we can recommend is testing different strains and starting with low doses of both CBD and THC. It’s best to start with a low dose and work up to the dose that works best for you. Also, keep a list of the strains and doses you’ve tried so that you can reference it before making future purchases.
