Cancer is a disease that ails a large portion of the world population and the lack of cure thereof has brought in an estimated number of more that 8 million cancer related deaths in the year 2015. There has, however, been reports that the total number of survivors reaches almost 33 million patients. The intense treatments currently offered for cancer patients often leave the patient feeling bereft of wellness and dealing with painful symptoms. Many patients are seeking out more natural and alternative treatment methods and this is where cannabis and cannabis products such as cannabis oil is gaining traction in the alternative treatment world.
Many people are wanting to know a straightforward, black and white question, “Does Cannabis Cure Cancer?” Unfortunately, the straightforward answer would be “No.” However this, for now anyway, is only due to a lack of scientific data and research. Due to the barriers presented by marijuana being illegal on a Federal level, research and clinical trials have been limited. There have been no efficient human trials done to prove that any marijuana product or cannabinoid product can literally cure cancer.
This lack of conclusion results have prevented scientists and researchers from declaring a conclusive result. However, preclinical trials have revealed that certain compounds (the cannabinoids) within the marijuana plant do have the ability to kill cancer cells. It is important to note that these preclinical trials took place in a closed environment, in a lab, and with cancer cells that were grown and developed for scientific research.
Evidence has been presented, note that this evidence is based on heresy of the patients, in patients that have used medicinal marijuana oil. These anecdotes present the idea that the cannabis oil has been helpful in assisting to ease the disease.
One such famous Anecdote comes from Rick Simpson. Simpson is an outspoken activist for cannabis oil and has reported to have been successful in the fight against his own skin cancer by using cannabis oil. Rick Simpson then proceeded to create a documentary about medicinal cannabis oil and the documentary, Run From The Cure, brought awareness and inspiration to thousands across the world.
Cannabis has been in use by humans since long before any politician decided to make it illegal and long before and youth decided to use it as a rebelling tool against society. In 2014 researchers discovered that cannabis was used as much as 2,500 years ago. Using MRI scanning technology, the team found breast cancer present in what remained of a Siberian woman in her mid-20’s. The body, which had been preserved in ice, showed signs of cannabis use to fight against the disease. Surely 2,500 years ago a different diagnosis was used however the evidence was present in the body that the marijuana plant had indeed been used. With the buried body was a glass container, the contents of which was cannabis. The team concluded that the young Siberian woman had been using the plant as a pain reliever for the disease. While there still needs to be evidence gathered to answer the question about how cannabis could assist in the fight against cancer, the evidence is there that is was used thousands of years ago for what researchers are assuming as a pain reliever and/or healing tool.
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Scientist have been experimenting with cannabis and cancer cells in laboratories. The cannabinoids found within the cannabis have shown to successfully kill cancer cells. This is by no means the conclusive evidence however these preclinical trials couple with the surge of anecdotal evidence do show that cannabis and the compounds therein could have a promising future in the fight against cancer, or at the very least an effective and natural pain reliever.
Cancer is a disease that effects every patient differently. This complex disease has varying responses to each person and each medication. Clinical tests and trials have been done in Rats and other rodents and have produced dome promising results. The results of which should lead to human trials. The following is three ways in which cannabis was found to have killed cancer cells in the laboratory:
Programmed cell death is a complicated term for the process that normal cells go through when they are old or damaged. This process stops the growth and spread of damaged or mutated cells. Cancer cells are actually immortal. So this means that cancerous cells stop the programmed cell death. Twenty years worth of (restricted and limited) research has gone into discovering THC and CBD can cause the cancerous cells to undergo the process of programmed cell death (in certain types of cancer).
THC is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants while CBD is non-psychoactive. THC has a stimulating effect on the mind while CBD is the counter to calm down the mind.
These compounds within the cannabis plant have been found to stimulate a very specific kind of cell death. This cell death is known as cell suicide, or more scientifically as apoptosis.
Cannabis is also active in killing cancer cells by stopping the rapid reproduction of cancer cells. Cancer cells are in a sense ‘immortal’ and are therefore prone to rapid reproduction rates. the cancer cells eventually grow into a tumour and this tutor can be fatal for essential functioning of the human body.
The cannabinoids THC and CBD have shown significant results in putting a stop to the rapid reproduction rate of cancerous cells. The cannabinoids have been shown to stop the development of cancerous tumours in studies and trials performed on rodents and in cell line trials done within the laboratory.
These cannabinoids have also been shown to halt the progression and movement of one tumour to another site within the body. A mestatic tumour means that part of that cancerous tumour can move and spread to another part of the body. The cells from the me static tutor can move through the bloodstream to find another area of the body to grow in. This makes it almost impossible to treat these type of tumours. Trials and studies performed on rodents as well as on cellular models within the laboratory have found that cannabinoids CBD and THC have anti-metastic properties. This is indeed laboratory evidence that cannabis (THC and CBD cannabinoids within cannabis) do indeed stop the growth and spreading of me static tumours. The lack of human trials, studies and research on a federal accepted level is what prevents these cannabinoids from being accepted as an official fighter against cancer, cancerous cells and cancerous tumours.
Ashley jacobs is a professional blogger covering various news and topics related to health benefits of cannabis. Currently, working for Pot Valet- a leading online marijuana dispensaries shop that delivers marijuana. Ashley jacobs has extensively written about medical marijuana and related products. Follow his company on G+ and Facebook.
This article was written by Ashley Jacobs, a professional blogger covering news and other latest topics related to health benefits of cannabis. Currently, she is working with Pot Valet – online marijuana dispensary. Ashley loves to share research oriented work with others. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
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