Are you looking for an effective ingredient that can help treat cancer? Hemp oil has been believed to be one such possible remedy for cancer. But how far is it true? Can you actually use hemp oil for treating cancer?

This post can answer those questions. Keep reading to know more.

Cancer – An Overview:

Cancer is among those diseases that continue to haunt and kill thousands of people all over the world (1). While medical science has made progress in treating and curing some forms of cancer, a full-fledged cure is still beyond the reach of humans. However, alternative treatments for this menace have appeared on the horizon in the last few decades, with varying efficacies and counter claims of their safety making a buzz as well. In recent years, the usage of hemp oil for treating cancer has increased, and it has drawn reactions from the mainstream medical community also. Both proponents and detractors have come up with their theories and logic on this.

What Is Hemp Oil?

Extracted from the seeds of the cannabis plant, Hemp oil has no specific color, and it comes with a nutty flavour (2). Its ingredients include omega-3 fatty acids, key minerals and vitamins and a compound called THC that is said to be beneficial for fighting cancer. The oil has been used widely in the skin care industry and for medicinal purposes.

Why Hemp Oil Can Be Used To Treat Cancer:

The medicinal value of hemp oil was discovered by the Medical College of Virginia way back in 1974. The study revealed how the compound helps in combating various cancers in lab mice. It contains pure Gamma-Linolenic Acid, which has anti-carcinogenic properties. The steroidal alcohols named Phytosterols found in this oil can be effective in fighting several types of cancer.

As per the view of the American College of Physicians, the Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC found in hemp oil is the main cancer-fighting ingredient in it (3). It binds to some cell-surface receptors in the human body that makes the compound effective in battling cancer.
Hemp oil is simple to procure, and it is available in many places nowadays. The proponents say the oil concoction with 72 percent THC and 11 percent cannabidiol can work wonders for treating cancer cases. It was made popular by Rick Simpson, the Canadian cannabis pioneer (4).

Medical Research And Studies Corroborating Hemp Oil’s Role In Fighting Cancer:

In the last few decades, a number of studies have been carried out supporting the role of hemp seed oil in fighting cancer. Led by some of the top notch university and institute researchers, these studies have highlighted how THC can be useful in fighting certain types of cancer.

Below listed are the findings of such studies conducted on THC:

1. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli researcher, first isolated THC and CBD several decades ago. His studies revealed that the human body has an endocannabinoid system (5). He showed that humans have receptors on cells made to interact with cannabis. What’s even more amazing is the fact that your body generates some marijuana-like compounds by default. It hints at their role in human physiology.
2. Dr. BurkhardHinz and Dr. Robert Ramer of the University of Rostock discovered medical marijuana can be used to treat cancer. Their study findings were published in 2007 in the National Cancer Institute Advance Access Journal, and it created waves in the medical community.
3. A study, which was published in the coveted Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics, showed that cannabinoids have anti-tumor properties (6). It highlighted the impact of CBD on human glioma (brain tumour) cells.
4. A Harvard Medical School study published in 2007 indicated that the usage of Marijuana can cut the growth of lung cancer tumor by half. The ingredient present in marijuana also reduces the risk of cancerous cells spreading to the other body parts. This study showed that THC can slow down EGF-induced growth. It can work on those lung cancer cases that prove to be resistant to chemotherapy, as it was discovered.
5. A study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Journal showed that brain tumors can grow resistant to existing anticancer treatments. The therapeutic strategies to treat such cancer cases need to be adopted.
6. Another study that was carried out by California Pacific Medical Centre showed that CBD thwarts human breast cancer cells from invading the healthy cells and proliferating (7). The US National Library of Medicine published the study.
7. Researchers reported in the American Association for Cancer Research’s journal in 2004 that the ingredients of marijuana can inhibit spreading of brain cancer in biopsies of the human tumor. A University of South Florida study reported that THC can slow down replication and activation of gamma herpes viruses (8). These viruses, capable of lying dormant for years, can enhance the risk of contracting various types of cancer in humans.
8. A research team hailing from Madrid’s Complutense University found out that THC usage can initiate cell death of the brain tumor cells (9). This does not lead to damage in the adjoining healthy cells. This Spanish team, which was led by Dr. Manuel Guzman, discovered in 2000 that injecting synthetic THC results in the elimination of malignant gliomas or brain tumors in lab rodents. The team reported success in destroying incurable brain tumors in the rats later.
9. Studies published in the US National Library of Medicine revealed the efficacy of cannabis on prostate cancer (10). These studies indicate how cannabis helps in reducing prostatic cancer cells.
10. With support from the Swedish Cancer Society, a study that was published in the coveted Molecular Pharmacology journal showed that cannabinoids stop growing in mantle cell lymphoma (11).
11. The International Journal of Cancer published a study showing that the exertion of cannabinoids can help in mantle cell lymphoma and various forms of cancer.
12. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology conducted a study on cannabinoids, which revealed that their use can induce apoptosis in cells affected by leukaemia.
13. A research team hailing from the University of Milan found out that marijuana compounds can be used to kill cancer cells selectively. Their study was published in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Journal.

Theories Put Forward By The Proponents Of Hemp Oil In Fighting Cancer:

The proponents of hemp oil who think the substance is ideal and better than other anticarcinogenic substances to combat the disease, have their reasons. They are of the view that THC in hemp oil is more effective than other anticarcinogenic substances like Sodium bicarbonate. It is also easier to administer, since cannabinoids can be absorbed by the human body easily. These do not need any intravenous applications and can be given orally.

The proponents of THC also point out how a lot of conventional cancer drugs can lead to the development of serious side effects in the people who receive them. The side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment are well known, they point out. Compared to these clinically and legally approved cancer treatments and drugs, the side effects of hemp oil are minimal.

After the 1990s, the number of research studies on hemp oil and cannabis for their medicinal benefits including cancer treatment have been few. The sources of funding have dried out, and changes in federal policy have dealt a blow for scientists who are willing to carry forward studies. Two major California research centres, namely UCSF and University of California‘s Center for Medical Cannabis Research, have been hit hard by funding troubles. Legal loopholes and lack of approval by the FDA have stopped many more studies to be conducted in this regard.

Documented Instances Of Hemp Oil’s Cancer-Fighting Properties:

A number of cancer patients who claim to have benefitted after taking hemp oil were reportedly diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 cancers. It means they had malignant cells affecting other body organs, and cancer reached a life-threatening stage in their cases. Some of them even claim that using hemp oil defeated the medical prognosis of a short lifespan. A section of them used hemp oil while adhering to conventional cancer treatments and drugs.

The Potential Risk And Shortcomings Of Using Hemp Oil For Treating Cancer:

Despite the claims made by the proponents of hemp oil for its cancer-fighting properties, the mainstream medical community has lambasted its usage as unscientific and refuses to acknowledge it as suited for cancer treatment. They also point out several loopholes in claims and findings made by the proponents.

1. The Canadian Cancer Society, in its website, has put an explicit warning on the usage of hemp oil and cannabinoids for treating cancer.
2. It may not be suitable for every person afflicted with cancer. Unless you start with a very small dosage, risk of dizziness is there. It can be quite costly as well.
3. Most of the testimonials published in the web by people who have used hemp oil to treat cancer and say it has helped them cure cancer are not medically sound. Their experiences, in most such instances, are not backed by a qualified doctor or supervisor.
4. The number of studies on the effect of hemp oil on cancerous cells and tumors that report positive findings are basically indicative of its efficacy⁽¹²⁾. As a matter of fact, most such studies have been conducted on lab rodents, in a controlled environment. These are called preclinical data. It does not necessarily mean that when the substance is applied to humans, the results will be the same. There are lots of genetic structure differences between mice and humans, beyond doubt.
5. The American Cancer Society echoes this view and says that the absence of controlled studies concocted on humans prevents THC and other cannabinoids from being deemed as a treatment for cancer. It also says that a few studies that show hemp oil is safe in treating cancer, do not prove its efficacy for curing the disease.
6. Cancer Research UK did find out one instance of human trial for hemp oil. In that instance, 9 candidates with brain tumors were administered THC. While most of them showed some response to treatment, all of them died within one year. It does not really indicate much positive findings for the cancer curing properties of THC.

Where Does It Lead To?

There are several chemicals and substances that have been hyped to be miraculous cures for cancer over the years, but they have failed to emerge as a viable remedy. They are yet to get the approval of medical science. While the efficacy of prevalent cancer drugs approved by medical fraternity is limited and side effects are not negligible, these natural cures are not completely viable either. The cancer fighting efficacy of cannabinoids is still at an experimental stage, and more intensive research should be conducted to reach a conclusion. As it is, a section of medical experts and cancer researchers are becoming more open about working on hemp oil and THC. This may eventually lead to a breakthrough in research on cannabis and cancer remedy.

The bottom line is that hemp oil today can be safely used as a cancer remedy. The next few years will see the integration of hemp oil in the treatment of cancer. Yes, there is hope for cancer patients who are battling for their lives.

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by Maanasi Radhakrishnan via STYLECRAZE