Did You Know That Tumors Have Their Own Endocannabinoid System?

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n (pain caused by damaged nerves), nausea, and anxiety, the American Cancer Society also discusses emerging studies of CBD and THC slowing cancer growth in lab dishes and animal studies.</p><p id="f02e">So as the green wave continues and as Western medicine, which has been heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, continues with research that further validates the medicinal properties of cannabis, it is worth reconsidering and reclassifying the nature of cannabis and its effects on our mental and physical well-being. Humans have evolved with an endogenous endocannabnoid system; we have ECS receptors throughout our body. We have co-evolved with this plant, and everyone has their own individual endocannabanoid profile. Education, decriminalization, legalization, and destigmatization around cannabis needs to continue to develop.</p><div id="f938" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/drugs-natural-o-ve-r-synthetic-56517e11986d"> <div> <div> <h2>“Drugs”: Natural O(ve)r Synthetic</h2> <div><h3>Are some drugs better than others? What makes something a drug?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*xeNtm6nZ3Ui9GXh1BZXZdQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="03ab">We must reclaim our power to heal ourselves.</p><div id="f6a4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/celebrating-feminine-energy-on-4-20-a9e76b49e07"> <div> <div> <h2>Celebrating Feminine Energy on 4/20</h2> <div><h3>As today marks 4/20, a cannabis appreciation day, & with the rise in the green wave, it’s significant to note the pull…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*LcpeVk434X0Y1a8AIVCQXQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="dd39">References:</p><p id="354e">American Cancer Society. (August 3, 2022). Marijuana and Cancer. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/complementary-and-integrative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.

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html">https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/complementary-and-integrative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html</a></p><p id="8fc0">Kienzl, M., Kargl, J., Schicho, R. (2020). The Immune Endocannabanoid System of the Tumor Microenvironment. <i>International journal of molecular sciences</i>, <i>21</i>(23), 8929. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21238929">https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21238929</a></p><p id="f1fe">Lake, Ricki & Epstein, Abby. (2018). Weed The People [video]. <a href="https://www.weedthepeoplemovie.com/">https://www.weedthepeoplemovie.com/</a></p><p id="e863">Merry Jane. (2020). The CBD Solution: How Cannabis, CBD, and Other Plant Allies Can Change Your Everyday Life. Lauren Wilson, Ed. Chronicle Books.</p><div id="a7f7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7728085/"> <div> <div> <h2>The Immune Endocannabanoid System of the Tumor Microenvironment</h2> <div><h3>Leukocytes are part of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are critical determinants of tumor progression. Because of…</h3></div> <div><p>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*eAbfDBhbIR0hO9fI)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="5bee">Like my reading? Use my <a href="https://healinglivmama.medium.com/membership">referral link to support me and become a Medium reader today</a>.</p><p id="7828">Your membership fee directly supports me as a writer and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium.</p><p id="4dbc">You can also support me by <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/healinglivmama">buying me a coffee </a>—</p><div id="f716" class="link-block"> <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/healinglivmama"> <div> <div> <h2>Olivia Love</h2> <div><h3>Holistic health and wellness coach and advocate. Self-published author.</h3></div> <div><p>buymeacoffee.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*k5cI-YqSOh1Cm_jh)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Did You Know That Tumors Have Their Own Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabanoid system (ECS) may have a role in influencing the tumor micro-environment (TME).

Photo by Washarapol D BinYo Jundang via Pexels

According to a research study published in 2020 by Kienzl et al., “To date, these data suggest that exogenous cannabinoids and ECS components have an influence on immune cells of the TME and that the ECS could be involved in the control of this immune cell network and hence in tumor growth.” In layman’s terms, this research suggests that endocannabinoids affect immune system functioning, and that targeting the ECS can provide immune support.

These findings re-iterate those highlighted by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein in the documentary, “Weed the People,” which showed how cannabis can help kids in their fight against cancer. As per the Weed the People movie website, “From filmmakers Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, this look beyond politics and propaganda will challenge everything you might have known about cannabis and reveals the brave stories of ordinary families who are exploring the benefits of medical marijuana to save the lives of their most precious loved ones — their children.” One has to watch the documentary to witness how powerful the testimony was from families who found the healing powers of medicinal cannabis.

Impressively, even the American Cancer Society has recognized that cannabis may have medicinal benefits for people with cancer. Their website discusses “Marijuana and Cancer” in a section on complementary and integrative medicine. In this section, it is acknowledged that cannabis has been used as a herbal medicine for centuries. It discusses that cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance federally, but that many state laws allow medical marijuana use. In addition to cannabis helping with inflammation, generalized pain, neuropathic pain (pain caused by damaged nerves), nausea, and anxiety, the American Cancer Society also discusses emerging studies of CBD and THC slowing cancer growth in lab dishes and animal studies.

So as the green wave continues and as Western medicine, which has been heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, continues with research that further validates the medicinal properties of cannabis, it is worth reconsidering and reclassifying the nature of cannabis and its effects on our mental and physical well-being. Humans have evolved with an endogenous endocannabnoid system; we have ECS receptors throughout our body. We have co-evolved with this plant, and everyone has their own individual endocannabanoid profile. Education, decriminalization, legalization, and destigmatization around cannabis needs to continue to develop.

We must reclaim our power to heal ourselves.

References:

Kienzl, M., Kargl, J., Schicho, R. (2020). The Immune Endocannabanoid System of the Tumor Microenvironment. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(23), 8929. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21238929

Lake, Ricki & Epstein, Abby. (2018). Weed The People [video]. https://www.weedthepeoplemovie.com/

Merry Jane. (2020). The CBD Solution: How Cannabis, CBD, and Other Plant Allies Can Change Your Everyday Life. Lauren Wilson, Ed. Chronicle Books.

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