Delta-8 for Cancer & Chemotherapy: Does It Work?

Chemotherapy helps treat cancer and various immune-related conditions. For the most part, chemo is effective, with survival rates after the treatment at their highest ever. Still, many patients pay a high price to obtain results from chemotherapy. The side effects of chemo can range from nausea to loss of appetite, pain, and lowered immunity, begging the question… does delta-8 for cancer and other health conditions that require chemotherapy work?

Can chemotherapy patients enjoy the treatment benefits of chemo without experiencing its harsh side effects? One product identified with the potential to help is delta-8 for cancer patients, although research is still in its early stages. This post looks at delta-8 THC and its potential unique benefits for chemotherapy patients.

What is Delta 8?

Delta-8 THC is among the 100 cannabinoids (a chemical compound that naturally occurs) in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Food and Drug Administration classifies delta-8 as a schedule I controlled substance, meaning it’s restricted in some states. Just like delta-9, the delta-8 compound contains the psychoactive and intoxicating properties seen when using marijuana.

Still, the National Cancer Institute Drug Dictionary admits that delta-8 THC has several health benefits after various studies appeared to suggest so.

Benefits of Delta-8 for Cancer Patients

Although the American government is reluctant to promote extensive research on cannabis, ongoing studies in other countries show that specific cannabinoids may help improve human health.

Delta-8 THC has been identified as one of the hemp-derived CBDs with the efficacy required to help chemotherapy patients. Some of the ways delta-8 products may help with chemotherapy side effects include:

Suppressing Nausea

Nausea and vomiting are common when undergoing chemotherapy. Nausea is a feeling of sickness in the throat or stomach that may lead to vomiting. Research suggests that delta-8 may have antiemetic properties that help curb nausea.

In 1995, Israeli scientists discovered that delta-8 might positively impact nausea while researching the antiemetic properties of the cannabis plant. After administering delta-8 to pediatric cancer patients who had nausea from chemotherapy, researchers found that it reduced patients’ nausea symptoms by 100%.

Moreover, the federal government has documented proof of delta-8’s antiemetic properties obtained during the research done for cannabinoid patenting. The discovery showed that delta-8 was 200 percent better than delta-9 as an antiemetic.

Increasing Appetite

Losing appetite can sometimes occur during chemotherapy. The treatment alters taste buds, changing the taste of food in a patient’s mouth. It may also tamper with the sense of smell among cancer patients, which is crucial for eating. All these factors together contribute to chemo patients losing their appetite.

Delta-8 has proven to have the same appetite-stimulant properties as cannabis. In a 2004 study by Avraham et al., researchers treated rodents with delta-8 in low doses. They found that delta-8 THC stimulated appetite more in mice.

Pain Relief

Chemotherapy can induce painful side effects in patients. Some feel burning and tingling pains in their hands and feet, whereas others have stomach aches, headaches, and mouth sores. Pain can also come from cancer itself.

Like every cannabinoid, delta-8 binds with the CB1 receptors in the nervous system and regulates the sensitivity of the nerves for pain relief. Multiple studies show that delta-8 may have analgesic properties on the nervous system that could help with pain management.

Other studies indicate that delta-8 may also have anti-inflammatory effects that are often accompanied by pain. The research suggests delta-8 regulates the body’s inflammatory response, reducing pain and other inflammation symptoms such as swelling.

Boost Cognitive Function

Cancer chemotherapy has a detrimental impact on the central nervous system. It reduces the cognitive ability and promotes neurotoxicity. As a result, patients may have short memory spans or reduced verbal abilities.

Ongoing research suggests that delta-8 can help boost cognitive function. Early studies show that cannabinoids can increase choline and acetylcholine levels in the body, which can help prevent neurodegenerative disorders.

The research also suggests that delta-8 promotes the formation of neurons in the brain, resulting in improved cognitive function.

Fighting Cancer

The most significant way delta-8 THC can help chemotherapy cancer patients is by helping treat the condition that got them to chemo in the first place. Besides, the condition is a heavy burden for those affected and those around them.

Research done by scientists in 1974 revealed that delta-8 might have cancer-fighting properties after administering the cannabinoid to rodents with lung cancer. The scientists found that delta-8 helped reduce the size of tumors in the rodents’ lungs and increased their survival time.

While this study was a step in the right direction, researchers are still far from ascertaining whether delta-8 can help treat cancer in actual people.

Anxiety Relief

Chemotherapy-treated cancer patients experience a heightened sense of anxiety, not because of the fear of dying but due to the entire experience itself. The first thing that induces anxiety is the fear of pain during the entire chemo process. The many cancer treatments combined with chemo can also increase the feeling of anxiety in patients.

Delta-8 is considered tetrahydrocannabinol with anti-anxiety properties. Specifically, the cannabinoid is said to have anxiolytic effects similar to the usual anxiety medication given to calm patient anxiety.

All these benefits of delta-8 are made even better because it has fewer psychotropic effects than delta-9. This means users can expect a much lower high than with recreational cannabis.

Hemponix Provides Consistent Access to Delta-8 Products

Delta-8 products exist on the market in various forms. Each product has its own way of delivering delta-8 into the human body. Hemponix provides access to the following delta-8 products for chemotherapy cancer patients:

• Delta-8 vape: Our disposable delta-8 vapes allow users to inhale the compound into their system. The vapes deliver 1gm delta-8 and promote an immediate effect of the compound in the body for immediate pain relief, improved appetite, and better sleep. The effect is often potent and short lasting. All our vapes contain less than 0.3% THC, so you feel high as with delta-9 products.
• Delta-8 Edibles: Our CBG + delta-8 vegan gummies deliver that much-needed power that may help boost cognitive function, improve sleep, alleviate pain, support digestion, and promote relaxation. What’s more, the neuroprotective properties of delta-8 may be beneficial to treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Effects may take longer than vapes to kick in, but they last longer.

Note that there are other delta-8 products in the cannabis market, such as tinctures and delta-8 topicals (although not as common). However, at Hemponix, we currently have vapes and edibles available in our inventory. Check out our inventory and choose the best delta-8 product for you.

Contact Hemponix for the Best Delta-8 for Cancer Products in the Market

Delta-8 is still a rough diamond in the sand, but a diamond nonetheless. If well utilized and the government supports research into the compound, numerous other health benefits might become evident. For now, chemotherapy patients should take advantage of delta-8 for cancer and other chemotherapy conditions.

If you’re looking to benefit from some of the potential effects of delta-8 for cancer and other chemotherapeutic conditions, Hemponix can help. We’re a leading and trusted source of quality cannabis products.

All our products are pure and have a certificate of analysis available. Visit our website to view our delta-8 products and get ready to explore delta-8 like never before.