Study Proves Cannabis Is a Viable Crohn’s Disease Treatment
Brandon Marji, Staff WriterNovember 21, 2017
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There is an alarming number of people who suffer from Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is defined as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It affects the body by causing inflammation in the digestive tract. This leads to severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and severe fatigue. According to statistics, as of August 2017, about three million adults in the United States suffer from IBD. There has been no record of a cure for Crohn’s, until now! Scientists believe that cannabis can treat Crohn’s disease.
There is a lot of speculation in regards to the medical use of cannabis. Its social use has overshadowed its medical use over the years. But with laws being passed that will eventually legalize it; it’s now starting to get recognition.
The root cause of Crohn’s disease is still unknown, but scientists are hoping that cannabis can treat Crohn’s disease and become a viable option.
Before I get into the study that illustrates how cannabis can treat Crohn’s disease, let me give you some background on the actual disease. As I mentioned, the cause is unknown. But research shows that the immune system is what triggers the disease. It attacks good bacteria and food in the gut, which causes it to become inflamed.
Crohn’s disease severely impacts the everyday lives of people who suffer from it. People take numerous trips to the doctor’s office. If someone is extremely active, that will change if they are diagnosed with Crohn’s. Working will also be extremely difficult, especially if the Crohn’s is triggered during work hours.
The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the symptoms will develop gradually. In other cases, the symptoms will suddenly appear. When Crohn’s is active, you may experience fatigue, fever, blood in the stool, sores on your mouth, loss of appetite and weight loss, and pain around the anus.
In more severe cases, you may experience inflammation of the eyes, joints, and skin. You may also experience inflammation in your bile ducts or liver.
Just when we thought all hope was lost, researchers published a study in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The study illustrates the effects cannabis has on patients suffering from Crohn’s disease.
The study included 21 patients suffering from Crohn’s disease. There were 13 men and 8 women. The average age of the patients was 40. Each patient had previously tried treating their disease with anti-tumor agents, steroidal therapy, and immunomodulators. No one was successful with any of these treatments. Researchers split the patients into two groups. They began a 10-week study which included eight weeks of treatment and a follow-up two weeks later. One group was given rolled up cannabis containing 115mg of THC, and instructed to smoke it twice a day. The placebo group was given the same instructions, but their cannabis contained no THC.
The results of the study are astonishing. In the THC group, 5 of 11 patients saw complete remission. In the THC group, 10 of 11 patients saw their Crohn’s Disease Activity Index drop from 200 to 100. Each patient from the THC group reported that they were sleeping better and they regained their appetite. The main reason researchers believe cannabis may be the answer is because of the THC. Our bodies naturally produce THC, its called endocannabinoids. People suffering from Crohn’s have low levels of endocannabinoids. But cannabis seems to provide cannabinoids which help reduce inflammation which triggers any one of the Crohn’s disease symptoms.
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