Many who are seeking a less toxic path for their cancer or other health problems turn to Cannabis. Scientists have reported that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids such as Cannabidiol (CBD) slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer. However, few states have fully legalized cannabis and while some have made it legal for medicinal purposes, there are many restrictions and limitations.
That said, the FDA considers hemp products that have legally-unsubstantial levels of THC (non-THC hemp based cannabinoids), including CBD, to be “food based” and therefore sale-able. Cannabidiol (CBD), a natural constituent of the hemp plant derived from commercial hemp stalk and seed, is one of at least 85 active cannabinoids identified in cannabis. CBD is considered by some to have a wider scope of medical applications than THC, and people are finding it to be the answer in their search for legal cannabis. While the debate of THC vs CBD is beyond the scope of this post, I am always looking to the power of nature to fix what ails us, so when Dose of Nature offered me a sample of their Redstrap CBD in exchange for a review, I thought, why not?
One of my clients, Joe, had been seriously considering moving to Georgia or Colorado in order to procure cannabis for his cancer (Georgia being preferred with its warmer climate), so I asked him to be my test-case and passed the sample along to him. Joe has stage 3 colon cancer, and is treating it holistically. Joe also has an even bigger issue—advanced sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body, most commonly the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin, and has serious and life-threatening consequences. In Joe’s case, they seem to congregate around his lungs, heart and kidneys. While there is not a tremendous amount of research on Cannabidiol and Sarcoidosis, given that sarcoid is an autoimmune condition, in theory, CBD–with its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating capabilities, should be effective for his sarcoidosis. While boosting the immune system is essential for his cancer, modulating that immune system is equally important given his autoimmune issue.
From Joe:
He reports that he started taking Redstrap CBD on March 8th. By day five, he started to feel a bit groggier at night and thus slept 3 hours, which is monumental for him. The next night he slept for 6 hours, and since then mostly four hours per night. He reports that overall, he does not feel much different, just that he sleeps better. He still does not have much of an appetite, but his attitude has improved, even feels somewhat jovial! On March 20th he reported that his ACE/sarcoid marker was under 40, which is considered to be within normal range, and that his CEA had dropped from 1.3 to 1.1. He also reports that for the first time in 7 years, his WBC/WBC/LYMPH levels are rising.
At this point Joe is considered in remission for both the cancer and the sarcoid. Doctors are still concerned about inflammation, but are more watching than waiting. Joe will continue with the Red Strap (as part of his protocol) and redo his marker tests on March 31st. He will report in when he gets the results, so stay tuned for the update.
Update on Joe:
On 4/20 Joe reports that his sarcoid is not improving, but believes that given more time on the CBD, this may change. He also reports that he has some extremely fast-growing (non-cancerous) polyps. On the more positive side, his sleep continues to improve with a steady 5 hours a night. He is also in a far superior mood, more so even upon the last report. His appetite is slowly coming back and his weight stable. He has less pain, but no improvement in energy. His blood pressure is fantastic, something that has been problematic for many years. He reports that his quality of life is “off the charts” better than two months ago.
There you go. Just remember that CBD is only one part of Joe’s protocol and that results are not the same for everyone. However, Joe wishes to share that he would recommend this CBD to everyone, sick or not!
CBD– the Cure for Cancer?
Is CBD the sole cure for cancer? Certainly not. But Cannabidiol has been at the forefront of the news lately in its application to treat pediatric epilepsy, autism, cancer, pain, PTSD, brain injuries, anxiety, and various neurological conditions.[i] CBD is non-psychotropic, anti-inflammatory, helps alleviate insomnia, reduces the autonomic response to stress, and has the highest anti-cancer potency of all cannabinoids that have been tested. CBD has anti-proliferative effects against multiple cancer types; it also reduces neovascularization, cancer cell migration, adhesion, invasion and metastasization. [ii] However, like surgery, chemo and radiation, CBD may remove the presenting symptom of cancer—the tumor, but it will not resolve all of the reasons for your cancer. (But unlike chemo and radiation, CBD is has low toxicity and is highly tolerable.) To be clear, CBD does address many of the reasons for cancer—inflammation, insomnia, stress, etc. But to cure cancer, you have to address all the root causes as well as the stem cells; cancer is a multifaceted dis-ease with many triggers. Chief among these causes, in addition to environmental toxins, are poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, subpar immunity, and chronic, unresolved stress, among others. And, no matter what treatment path you take, it does not end when someone declares you ‘cancer free’—you must maintain health to reduce the risk of recurrence or further cancer. Nevertheless, as many with cancer would likely agree—removing the symptom while you are addressing the cause feels darn good. And because CBD does address many of the causes of cancer, it is most definitely worth consideration.
So what is my opinion of Dose of Nature CBD? I like the ingredients, the science and technology; from all that I have read and researched, Dose of Nature seems to have an excellent product. For more information on CBD and Dose of Nature, please view this video.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any diseases or conditions. These recommendations do not represent medical advice, and I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist or naturopathic doctor. It is always advisable to discuss the use of supplements with a naturopath, integrative or functional medical doctor before use, as often supplements may interact positively or negatively with other drugs. You are advised to check product information (including packaging inserts) for changes and new information regarding dosage, precautions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, supplement, compound, therapy, treatment and or preventative measure discussed herein. NOTHING CONTAINED ANYWHERE HEREIN IS OFFERED AS OR CONSTITUTES MEDICAL ADVICE.
For more information on CBD (Cannabidiol) and Health Conditions http://www.doseofnature.com/library/
Resources:
http://www.evenbetterhealth.com/symptoms_of_sarcoidosis.php
http://www.projectcbd.org/news/cbd-misconceptions/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748879/
http://phys.org/news/2010-12-marijuana-suppresses-immune-functions.html
Elyn
~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~
Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Magazine. Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. She is on the Medical Advisory Board for Beat Cancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.com/about/
If you are interested in working with Elyn to navigate your way through cancer and regain your health, please sign up HERE.
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