CBD and Chemotherapy, Supporting the Body’s Balance Through Treatment

Finding Balance in a Challenging Time

Chemotherapy places enormous demands on the body and mind.
It’s a time when comfort, rest, and balance are vital — yet difficult to achieve.

In recent years, many people have turned to CBD to support their sense of well-being during treatment. This doesn’t mean CBD treats or cures cancer — but it may help the body maintain equilibrium in the face of stress and disruption.

One of the commonest comments I’ve heard through the years about people when they begin taking CBD is words to the effect of, “I don’t know what it’s done but I just feel better.” 

Now that can’t be a bad thing can it?

The Endocannabinoid System: Nature’s Balancer

Inside everyone lies a network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) — a vast communication web connecting the brain, immune system, and organs. Its job is to maintain balance, or homeostasis.

The ECS regulates many of the processes chemotherapy affects:

• Energy and appetite
• Mood and sleep
• Immune and inflammatory responses

CBD interacts with this system not by overriding it, but by supporting its natural rhythm. It helps the body remember how to get close to being balanced. 

We are never fully balanced because our body is always making small adjustments, therefore, we never find equilibrium and should not look for it.

But aiding the body’s ability to be more balanced is very important.

 Why Balance Matters During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, whilst it can be life-saving, can disrupt many of the body’s normal signalling systems. The ECS helps to modulate the nervous and immune systems, and when this system is supported, people often describe feeling more centred or in control of their own bodies.

CBD appears to work indirectly through:

• Serotonin receptors (5-HT1A) — linked to calm and emotional steadiness
• TRPV1 receptors — involved in temperature and pain signalling
• GABA receptors — associated with relaxation and recovery

These pathways connect closely with the ECS, helping the body manage the complex stressors of therapy.

What the Research Says 

Studies in recent years have explored CBD’s potential to support comfort, appetite, and sleep during chemotherapy.
While findings are promising, they remain preliminary — which is why no responsible brand should make treatment claims.

What’s clear is this: CBD influences the same biological systems that chemotherapy affects — particularly stress, inflammation, and neural regulation — and may therefore help the body maintain stability.

These emerging findings are great but I must stress, make sure that if you are interested in trying CBD you speak to your oncologist. 

They may no less than you in which case you can go on a learning journey together!

CBD’s Holistic Role

Rather than viewing CBD as a treatment, it’s better seen as a companion — a plant-based compound that helps create a foundation of calm on which other therapies can work.

Many people report:

• Better rest
• Greater sense of control
• Reduced tension or unease
• Feeling more present in daily life

And if you’re on chemo and going through the potential trauma of dealing with cancer than what could be better than using a natural support that may bring a sense of calm to your life.  

Choosing the Right CBD During Treatment

If someone undergoing chemotherapy is considering CBD, the focus should always be on quality, transparency, and professional guidance.

What to Look For:

• Full-spectrum CBD oil: Contains the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes, maximising synergy.
• Lab-tested products: Independent analysis confirming safety and compliance (THC <0.2%).
• Organically grown: Free from pesticides, solvents, or heavy metals.
• Professional communication: Always discuss CBD use with an oncologist or pharmacist to avoid interactions.

Timing, Dosage, and Listening to the Body

CBD affects everyone differently.

• Start low (e.g., 5–10 mg daily) and increase gradually.
• Keep a journal of how you feel — sleep, digestion, mood.
• Take consistently, rather than sporadically, to help the ECS adjust.

Listening to the body’s feedback is part of the process. CBD encourages awareness rather than dependency.

Remember that stronger doses are not always better doses. We all have our own sensitivity so begin slowly and listen to your body.

Supporting the Whole Person

Healing isn’t just about removing illness — it’s about restoring wholeness.
CBD can be one small part of a broader approach: nourishment, especially the ketogenic diet, rest, gentle movement, and emotional connection.

This integrative view — body, mind, spirit — aligns beautifully with what the endocannabinoid system itself represents: connection and balance.

 Our Philosophy

At CBD One, we see CBD as a reminder of how intelligently the body is designed.
Our full-spectrum formulas are crafted not to override, but to support the body’s own wisdom — especially when life feels most demanding.

And if you’re really not sure where to begin and your oncologist is happy for you to give it a go, then get in touch with Nick, our resident health expert at www.cbd-one.co.uk/health where he answers everybody’s enquiries.

A Closing Reflection

When the body is under stress, nature offers support through connection. CBD is one such connection — a bridge between science, plant wisdom, and the body’s innate capacity for balance.

“Healing is not about fighting harder; it’s about remembering how to restore harmony.”

Never forget that of you give your body the right conditions it has a remarkable ability to heal itself.

AT Still, the founder of osteopathy declared that the body has its own medicine chest. We now know this to be true.

So put in place healthy factors in your life. Look for health and you may find you can tackle your disease.