Cannabis kills cancer cells
through more than one mechanism namely anti-angiogenesis, apoptosis and
autophagy. There are a few processes involved, starting with the boosting of
the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), the treating of inflammation and the
strengthening of the immune system.
Autophagy (pronounced
or-tof-o-gee) is one of the secrets to the success of Cannabis Medicine because
Cannabis is the only known botanical that can induce this biological process. In
plants, autophagy evolved as a defense-mechanism to environmental stresses for
example nutrient starvation and drought. Autophagy is a process involving
cellular clearing and destruction of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular
components and organelles as well as mutant cells, like mis-folded proteins aka
amyloid deposits that cause Altzheimer’s disease and other neuro-degenerative
conditions. Damaged organelles, cell membranes and proteins are broken down and
excreted, without any damage at all to healthy
cells, unlike most cancer-fighting drugs which kill off healthy and
damaged cells.
Both CBD and THC as well as
certain terpenes and flavinoids are able to induce autophagy and thereby
decrease tumor growth and progression.
Through the process of
autophagy the body can suppress the growth of tumors by preventing damaged
components of the cells to accumulate. These mutant cancerous cells are
dreadful and deadly because they have lost their ability to undergo another
process known as apoptosis. This is also programmed cell death, but sometimes
these tumors are just too strong, and this is the reason that they don’t simply
die and just carry on multiplying. Today we even have tumors with hair and
teeth called ‘teratomas’.
We need the vital components
from the Cannabis plant to assist in inducing apoptosis and autophagy in cancer
cells, through the healing powers of the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavinoids, antioxidants
and polyphenols contained within the plant. [1-3]
Cannabis is the only known
botanical that is capable of inducing autophagy
Cannabis induces the
biological process of autophagy through the mechanism that is now famously
known as ‘the munchies’. The only other real way to induce autophagy is to
teach the patient how to fast by withholding food and forcing the body into a
state of hunger. Cannabis does this quite successfully with the minimum of
effort for the patient.
Autophagy is not only useful
for preventing cancer formation but also for a number of other health benefits
for example resetting of the nervous and immune systems. In my opinion one of
the most potent effects of autophagy is the virtual elimination of inflammation
in the body. There is no doubt that autophagy is a therapeutic target to
reverse many diseases including so called ‘auto-immune’ diseases as well as
age-related degenerative conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis and even
dementia. Autophagy is also deeply concerned with homeostasis and the
perfection of body balance.
Restricting calories and
exercising intermittent or alternate-day fasting has so many benefits for
achieving excellent health. If you look to the ancients you will realize that
the practice of fasting for health purposes has been done for as long as man
has dwelled on Earth. According to one of my mentors Dr Henry Ealy, in order
for good health to prevail the human body needs to become hungry every single
day for the sole purpose of inducing autophagy to protect us against mutant
cellular activity and to ensure that the body rids itself of these damaged
mutant cell organisms as a defense mechanism against all disease. This is one
of the greatest secrets of Cannabis medicine so we can see how important this
maintenance system is for the health and longevity of human beings.
It is a privilege
and honor to dedicate this post to Dr Henry Ealy who inspired me to write this
paper with his brilliant explanation of how Cannabis induces autophagy and I
give thanks for wisdom!
Beside the affects of CBD and
THC, another reason why Cannabis is able to induce autophagy is because of the presence
of a terpene known as D-limonene and together with
Humulene, another powerful Cannabis terpene, these two terpenes form a major
part of the cancer-defense system of Cannabis because both together with the
cannabinoids are able to trigger the production of Reactive Oxygen Species
(ROS) and this is what causes autophagy and apoptosis to occur. [4-14]
The failure of the process of
autophagy is the main reason for on-going cell damage and cancer, and this is
also what speeds up the aging process. It seems obvious that we need to boost
our systems with Cannabis in order to maintain good health and longevity into
our golden years. [15] We know that Cannabis can cure cancer, and it is now a
well-known scientific fact that Cannabis has effectively killed all the
different types of cancer cells that science has tested the plant against to
date. [16]
There is now scientific proof that the EC system is
involved in the cellular death of human proximal tubular (HK2) cells. [17]
These human kidney cells originate from the kidney cells of the HK2 gene on the
2nd chromosome, and these cells are required in the formation of
tumors in most cancers because they cause renal tubule hypertrophy (enlargement
of cells). Through the function of autophagy the ECS is able to cause these
cells to commit cellular suicide, a type of programmed cellular death, for
example in the case of nutrient starvation.
This is how Cannabis contributes to reducing
hypertrophy throughout the body by providing the supplements that our ECS needs
to perform its functions. Every single one of us needs a daily dose of Cannabis
to sustain our health and the fact that we have Cannabis receptors in our
brains is proof that we are literally wired to consume this plant. [18-23]
Personally I find it completely
fascinating to realise that as human beings we have evolved to produce the
human versions of CBD and THC in the form of our two endocannabinoids named
Anandamide and 2-AG. The wonderful thing about human body wisdom is that these
two endocannabinoids already know how to use autophagy to suppress tumor
formation inside the body. In the same way Cannabis phytocannabinoids also
carry out these functions within the body. Incrediby interesting to note is
that Cannabis also knows that autophaphy will stimulate the vagus nerves and
this has numerous health benefits that I will address in my next paper. The
secret to this plant medicine is simply to supplement the ECS with Cannabis in
order to enjoy your life without illness, depression or suffering. [24]
Heal Thy Self ~ Healthy Self
CITATIONS:
[1] (Tomko et al, 21 July 2020)
“Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonids Present in
Cannabis.” Journal Cancers Volume 12 Issue 7 page 1985 PMCID: PMC7409346 PMID: 32708138
[2] Armstrong
J.L., Hill D.S., McKee C.S., Hernandez-Tiedra S., Lorente M., Lopez-Valero I.,
Eleni Anagnostou M., Babatunde F., Corazzari M., Redfern C.P.F., et al.
Exploiting cannabinoid-induced cytotoxic autophagy to drive melanoma cell
death. J. Investig. Dermatol. 2015;135:1629–1637. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.45.
[3] Glodde
N., Jakobs M., Bald T., Tüting T., Gaffal E. Differential role of cannabinoids
in the pathogenesis of skin cancer. Life
Sci. 2015;138:35–40.
doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.04.003.
[4] Hajizadeh
M., Maleki H., Barani M., Fahmidehkar M., Mahmoodi M., Torkzadeh-Mahani M. In
vitro cytotoxicity assay of d-limonene niosomes: An
efficient nano-carrier for enhancing solubility of plant-extracted agents. Res. Pharm. Sci. 2019;14:448–458.
doi: 10.4103/1735-5362.268206.
[5] Hafidh R.R., Hussein S.Z., MalAllah M.Q., Abdulamir A.S.,
Abu Bakar F. A high-throughput quantitative expression analysis of
cancer-related genes in human HepG2 cells in response to limonene, a potential
anticancer agent. Curr. Cancer Drug Targets. 2018;18:807–815.
doi: 10.2174/1568009617666171114144236.
[6] Zhang X.-Z., Wang L., Liu D.-W., Tang G.-Y., Zhang H.-Y.
Synergistic inhibitory effect of berberine and d-limonene on human gastric
carcinoma cell line MGC803. J. Med. Food. 2014;17:955–962.
doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.2967.
[7] Bishayee A., Rabi T. d-Limonene
sensitizes docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity in human prostate cancer cells:
Generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of apoptosis. J. Carcinog. 2009;8:9.
doi: 10.4103/1477-3163.51368.
[8] Berliocchi L., Chiappini C., Adornetto A., Gentile D.,
Cerri S., Russo R., Bagetta G., Corasaniti M.T. Early LC3 lipidation induced
by d-limonene does not rely on
mTOR inhibition, ERK activation and ROS production and it is associated with
reduced clonogenic capacity of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Phytomedicine. 2018;40:98–105.
doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.01.005.
[9] Russo R., Cassiano M.G.V., Ciociaro A., Adornetto A.,
Varano G.P., Chiappini C., Berliocchi L., Tassorelli C., Bagetta G., Corasaniti
M.T. Role of d-limonene in autophagy
induced by bergamot essential oil in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e113682.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113682.
[10] Yu X., Lin H., Wang Y., Lv W., Zhang S., Qian Y., Deng
X., Feng N., Yu H., Qian B. d-limonene exhibits antitumor
activity by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer. Onco Targets Ther. 2018;11:1833–1847.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S155716.
[11] Haag J.D., Lindstrom M.J., Gould M.N. Limonene-induced regression of
mammary carcinomas. Cancer Res. 1992;52:4021–4026.
[12] Gould M.N., Moore C.J., Zhang R., Wang B., Kennan W.S.,
Haag J.D. Limonene chemoprevention of mammary carcinoma induction following
direct in situ transfer of v-Ha-ras. Cancer Res. 1994;54:3540–3543.
[13] Elegbede J.A., Elson C.E.,
Tanner M.A., Qureshi A., Gould M.N. Regression of rat primary mammary tumors
following dietary d-limonene. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1986;76:323–325.
[14] Nakaizumi A., Baba M.,
Uehara H., Iishi H., Tatsuta M. d-Limonene inhibits
N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine induced hamster pancreatic carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett. 1997;117:99–103.
doi: 10.1016/S0304-3835(97)00207-3.
[15] Manuele M.G., Barreiro Arcos M.L., Davicino R., Ferraro
G., Cremaschi G., Anesini C. Limonene exerts antiproliferative effects and
increases nitric oxide levels on a lymphoma cell line by dual mechanism of the
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[16] Cannabis is the Human
Companion Plant Chapter 3 page 24 and 18
[17] (Weeks, 2018) “Standard cancer
treatment must be adapted to the type and location of tumor,whereas Cannabis is
an equal opportunity killer. Cannabis can kill all types of cancer cells” www.rxleaf.com
27 November 2018
[18] (Velasco PhD et al 2016) “Anti-cancer mechanisms of cannabinoids”. Current
Oncology Journal 16 March 2016 Volume 23 (Suppl 2) pages 523-532 PMCID: PMC
4791144 PMID: 27022311
[19] (Dr Edward R Laskowski
MD, Mayo Clinic, 2018) “What are the risks of sitting too much?” 8 May 2018
[20] (Jenkin KA et al, 2010) Physiology and
Biochemistry Journal Volume 26 Issue 6 (879-86) Research Gate January 2010
[21] (hemphealer.com, 2012) “Hemp
repairs DNA” The Inspired Observer 14 April 2012
[22] (Jan Komorowski et al 2007) “The Role of the
Endocannabinoid System in the Regulation of Endocrine Function and in the
Control of Energy Balance in humans”. Journal High Med Dosw. Volume 61
pages 99-105 PMID: 17369778
[23] (J Garcia-Leme and Sandra
P Farsky 1993) “Hormonal Control of Inflammatory Responses” Journal
Mediators Inflammation Volume 2 Issue 3, PMC 2365405 PMID: 18475521
[24] (Patsos et al, December 2005)
“The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, induces cell death in colorectal
carcinoma cells: a possible role for cyclooxygenase2.” Journal GUT Volume 54
Issue 12 pages 1741-1750 PMCID: PMC1774787
PMID: 16099783
Heal Thy Self ~ Healthy Self
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