Treating Liver Disease with CBD – Benefits & Effects

A liver disease also known as hepatic disease is any disease that negatively affects the functioning of the liver. The liver plays many vital roles in the body, including turning nutrients into chemicals that the body needs, filtering out poison as well as turning food into energy. When the liver does not work well, the whole body can be affected.

The most common cause of liver problems are infections that inflame the liver. Viral hepatitis, including Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common cause of liver disease. Liver problems could also be caused by immune system disorders and some of such liver conditions include, autoimmune hepatitis, Primary biliary cholangitis, and Primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Liver diseases can also be caused by cancers and tumors, whereas others, such as Hyperoxaluria, Wilsom’s disease and Hemochromatosis can be inherited. Other common causes of liver disease include chronic alcohol abuse and fat accumulating in the liver.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of liver disease include jaundice of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain/swelling, swelling in the leg and ankle, itchy skin, dark urine, chronic fatigue, loss of appetite as well as the tendency to bruise easily.

The treatment of liver disease depends on the diagnosis. Some liver problems can be treated with lifestyle modifications, such as stopping alcohol use or losing weight, whereas other liver problems may be treated with medications or surgery.

Over the years, there have been insinuations that CBD could be effective in the treatment of certain liver diseases. Several studies have already shown that cannabis could be a great boon to viral hepatitis. CBD is one of the major components of medical marijuana is effective is ameliorating depression symptoms that most hepatitis patients often suffer from.

CBD has also been reported to be effective in alleviating chronic pain and nausea that most viral hepatitis patients suffer from. Besides, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD makes it possible for it to relieve inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis disease.

There are also indications that CBD could be effective in treating Fatty Liver Disease (FLD), which is commonly caused by alcohol abuse. This claim was corroborated by the findings of a study that was conducted at Massachusetts Medical School. This study aimed at examining the impact of cannabis use on liver health. Interestingly, the authors of this study found out that there was a direct correlation between CBD consumption and lower risk of fatty liver disease. The link was, however strongest with heavy cannabis users, who reported a whopping 52% lower risk.

It should be noted that the study at the Massachusetts Medical School wasn’t the first to examine the impact of cannabis on fatty liver disease. Another study that had been conducted in 2010 actually found out that CBD plays an important role in treating fatty liver disease. This assertion can be explained with the stimulations of both CB1 and CB2 receptors in breaking down fat especially in the liver.

It has also been revealed that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system for the better functioning of many bodily organs, the liver inclusive. The findings from a 2005 study that was conducted at the Hebrew University Medical School showed that endocannabinoids were important in the proper functioning of the nervous system as a whole, including the proper functioning of the liver.

The findings from a 2011 study that was published in the journal Cell Death and Disease also showed that CBD is helpful in killing malignant cells found in liver fibrosis.

More research is definitely needed on this subject in a bid to obtain definitive answers.

Sources

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