How Can CBD Oil Help in Liver Disease Management?

Liver disease or liver failure is the malfunctioning of the liver. Many experts have found that CBD oil can be the perfect remedy for this condition. CBD oil treats several types of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, hepatic Ischemia, hepatic encephalopathy, and autoimmune hepatitis. What is the right dosage? Read on to find out more.

While CBD is gaining popularity in the medical world, researchers are putting in more effort to find out how useful CBD oil can be in managing liver disease. Recent studies have raised concern regarding the effects of CBD oil on liver functioning. Like any other supplement, the cannabinoid in CBD oil has side effects, including endangering liver health. Although CBD oil has side effects, many people can still use it without worrying about harsh impacts on liver functioning. It's important to know the basics regarding liver disease and CBD oil to know how CBD can help manage liver disease.

What Is Liver Disease?

The liver plays an important role in keeping you healthy. This special organ detoxifies your body while converting food to energy. However, the liver is one of the most sensitive organs in the body. Any slight damage can lead to overall malfunction, leading to liver disease. Therefore, liver disease can be described as a general liver malfunction.

There are several types of liver diseases, and they have similar damage. Since the liver is responsible for various activities in the body, any malfunction can lead to body damage. When a large percentage of liver tissue is affected, it can decline liver function, compromising liver health. Various types of liver diseases include:

• Viral hepatitis
• Alcohol liver disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Liver cancer
• Hepatic Ischemia
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Autoimmune hepatitis

Liver disease is increasing, leading to research to find the perfect treatment. And one of the perfect treatments in the limelight is CBD oil. CBD oil is backed by multiple studies to address liver issues with little to no side effects.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is a cannabis derivative and is shown to have significant benefits on liver functions.

CBD Oil and Liver Disease

You may question the relationship between CBD oil and liver disease and whether it addresses this condition effectively. Here is how CBD oil works to address liver disease:

CBD Oil and Fatty Liver Disease

All mammals have an endocannabinoid system consisting of CB1 and CB2 receptors. The system also has endogenous cannabinoids and enzymes to facilitate the production of natural cannabinoids in the body.

According to Silvestri et al. (2013), the endocannabinoid system regulates many homeostatic processes in the body. The study above also showed that CBD  regulates the balance of different body systems and organs, and the liver is one of them.

Any liver damage triggers the release of endocannabinoids by the body to handle the problem. A healthy liver is often correspondent for the activities of the endocannabinoid system. Pain due to inflammation in the liver triggers the activeness of the endocannabinoid system. Fatty liver disease is often due to an overactive endocannabinoid system. Therefore the reaction of the endocannabinoid system needs to be moderate. The cannabinoid in CBD oil modulates CB1 and CB2 receptors. In other words, CBD prevents these receptors from going haywire in the liver.

CBD improves the function of the system (endocannabinoid system) that balances processes in the body. Although CBD oil is not a straightforward solution, it prevents its development. However, if the disease occurs, it reduces the severity of inflammation in the liver.

CBD oil and liver cancer. CBD can eliminate both tumor and cancer cells. CBD uses other mechanisms to treat liver cancer.

CBD triggers anti-metastatic actions to prevent the formation of tumor masses. It stops the growth of the blood vessels, which can lead to tumor proliferation. CBD enhances apoptosis – a programmed cell death. Although CBD is not shown to treat liver cancer, it can be used as a complementary therapy.

CBD Oil and Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is among the common liver infections symptomized by inflammation. It is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Hepatitis can cause liver cancer and cirrhosis.

CBD can prevent the model of viral hepatitis, more so hepatitis C.  CBD is also shown to prevent the duplication of hepatitis C virus by up to 90%.

CBD oil and hepatic Ischemia

Ischemia is an injury that occurs after liver surgeries and transplantation. It is characterized by inflammation and can lead to loss of life. Oxidative stress can make the condition worse.

According to Watt et al. (2017), CBD oil's cannabinoid (CBD) has anti-inflammatory and oxidative effects, which can reduce the inflammation response. It can shield the liver against oxidative damage.

CBD Oil and Hepatitis Encephalopathy

Hepatitis encephalopathy is often due to liver damage and failure. It alters the personality, leading to confusion and movement problems.

The major cause of hepatitis encephalopathy is inflammation. The anti-inflammation properties of CBD can be the perfect solution for this condition.

CBD Oil and Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is due to a weak immune system attacking the liver. Again, the major cause of this liver condition is inflammation. TRPV1 activates the myeloid, lowering inflammation.

According to Anand et al. (2020), CBD activates the TRPV1 receptors to reduce pain and inhibit the growth of T cells, which can lead to inflammation.

CBD Oil and Alcohol Liver Disease

Excessive drinking can lead to liver fibrosis. When left untreated, liver fibrosis can lead to liver failure and cirrhosis. According to ohammed et al. (2021), CBD has anti-fibrosis properties, eliminating cells that secrete collagen and lead to fibrosis. It can prevent various impacts led by alcohol injury.

What is the Right CBD Oil Dosage for Liver Disease?

You must wonder how much CBD oil you should take to relieve inflammation-related pain. There is no standard dosage for CBD and liver conditions. However, it's advisable to start with a small dosage. You can increase your dosage when your body is accustomed to CBD. Therefore for those who wish to address liver disease using CBD, it's advisable, to begin with, 5 – 10 mg CBD. Also, confirm the concentration of CBD in CBD oil to ensure that you take the right dosage.

The Bottom Line

Live is one of the important organs in the body. This special organ plays an important role in nearly every activity in the body. Liver disease can lead to anomalies in other body organs. CBD oil is one of the perfect remedies shown to treat several types of liver disease. And that's due to the cannabinoid (CBD) in the entire product.

References

Anand U Jones B Korchev Y Bloom S R Pacchetti B Anand P & Sodergren M H (2020). CBD effects on TRPV1 signaling pathways in cultured DRG neurons. Journal of Pain Research, 13, 2269.

Mohammed R A Shawky H M Rashed L A Elhanbuli H M Abdelhafez D N Said E S & Mahmoud, R. H. (2021). The combined effect of hydrogen sulfide and mesenchymal stem cells on mitigating liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation: Role of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic biomarkers. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 24(12), 1753.

Silvestri C & Di Marzo V (2013). The endocannabinoid system in energy homeostasis and the etiopathology of metabolic disorders. Cell metabolism, 17(4), 475-490.

Watt G & Karl T (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.