Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Basics of Medical Marijuana for Crohns Disease?

By David Greene, MD, CEO


Medical marijuana turned into an excellent treatment for painful gastrointestional disorders involving cramping and bowel inflammation. These diseases include Crohn's disease, Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome. Patients with these diseases can suffer from chronic pain, inflammation, diarrhea, weight loss, and cramping. Medical marijuana may work very well to reduce symptoms.

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune bowel disorder that inolves chronic inflammation. It causes severe, intense pain and has an unknown cause. The disease is destructive to one's intestines. Over half a million people in the US are afflicted with Crohn's. In most states approved for medical marijuana, Crohn's is an acceptable qualification.

Conventional medications utilized for Crohn's include immunosuppressive ones such as Imuran, methotrexate, 6 MP, steroids, Mesalamine, and Remicade. These medications may cause the same symptoms as the disease including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Steroids have some side effects that may include adrenal dysfunction, bone thinning, ulcers, and glucose intolerance.

Various studies have displayed excellent results for medical marijuana helping with the symptoms of GI disorders like Crohn's.

A study in 2005 done by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians in CA was done in about a dozen patients. Marijuana helped dramatically in patients with Crohn's. Improvements were seen in appetite, fatigue, depression, and vomiting. There were less stools daily and less exacerbations. The amount of medicaitons needed for the immunosuppression was able to be reduced.

Another study from 2001 called Cannabinoids and the Gastrointestinal Tract found that the cannabinoids found in marijuana represent a potentially excellent option for the treatment of numerous GI disorders - including inflammatory bowel diseases, functional bowel diseases, gastro-esophageal reflux conditions, secretory diarrhea, gastric ulcers, and colon cancer. There are receptors both in the brain and the GI system named CB1 receptors. In animals the study showed that agonists for these receptors delayed gastric emptying and inhibited gastric acid secretion. CB1 receptors are mostly located in the brain.

In the Journal of Endocrinology in 2006, it was shown that activating CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor exerts biological function on the GI tract.

There are CB2 receptos in numerous cells outside of the brain - including the gastrointestinal lining. Cannabinoids in marijuana are the substances that activate the CB2 receptors. This is thought to decrease inflammation in the GI tract and decrease pain and swelling. Beta--caryophyllne is another ingredient in marijuana which turns on CB2 receptors.




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