Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has created a continuous buzz over the past few years with people attesting to its ability to treat different conditions—such as epilepsy, anxiety, and sleep problems. With its popularity booming particularly these worrisome pandemic era times — CBD products are abound in various forms, from flavored CBD oil, to gummies, from bath bombs, to dog treats—and even to THC-free versions (that is, without the psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC).
However, the persistent question on most everyone’s minds: Is CBD actually medically proven — and approved — for the treatment of certain conditions?
The medication, Epidiolex, was approved in 2018 by the US FDA for the treatment of two conditions related to epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Since then, no CBD product has been approved for medical purposes. However, research continues in exploring the possible medical applications of CBD, including cancer treatment.
At University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), researchers recently launched a study on the use of CBD oil in advanced liver cancer treatment—particularly for those living with cancer who have no further treatment options. The goal is to investigate the effects of CBD oil on the liver of cancer patients and observe potential anti-cancer properties that shrink tumors found in the liver. Previous studies have found that cannabis can curb the growth of liver cancer cells, which indicates that a possible anti-cancer effect of cannabis oil in patients cannot be explained, as no scientific research has been carried out.
The study participants include patients with advanced liver cancer who have exhausted available treatment options. At this terminal stage, these patients are typically given supportive care, pain management, and guidance for advance care planning. The participants, however, must have retained good liver function since CBD oil is broken down by the liver. Patients with severely damaged liver or advanced liver cirrhosis are not be considered for the study (unless in cases wherein the cirrhosis is not affecting their liver function).
This three-year venture starts with determining the correct CBD dose for each patient. Of note, the appropriate maximum dosage is observed so patients do not experience any side effects. To monitor the CBD effects on the liver tumors, blood and liver imaging will be collected at three, six, and nine months from the start of CBD treatment. Blood tests usually show markers for tumors and liver function, which are relevant to the study’s goals.
As we keep our fingers crossed for hopeful breakthrough discoveries from this ongoing study, be sure to keep your liver health in check: Screen. Vaccinate. Don’t hesitate!
To learn more about this study and monitor its progress, click here.
To know more about liver health tips, visit our blog.
