If you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like Ulcerative Colitis (UC), life is a real ‘rollercoaster’. You’re probably here because you’ve already tried everything from meds and lifestyle changes to no prescription, to Hemp extract and marijuana. Now, you’re wondering medicinal marijuana could help relieve your symptoms.
It’s a hot topic within the IBD community and though some people recommend the cannabis for their colitis, you’re probably looking for something solid and practical. You're probably wondering if and how these treatments may or may not help your symptoms. So let’s dig in, shall we?
Which is Ulcerative Colitis and How Does it Fit in IBD?
Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis are types of IBD. Patients with Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but UC only impacts your colon and rectum. It’s an Swelling of your gut lining when your immune system doesn’t figure that this is a good idea. The result? It brought chronic loose stools, abdominal pain, bloody stools, and that awful, yucky feeling that you can never run far enough away from a bathroom.
Managing UC can be tricky. While medications do help, many patients are looking for something additional, something more natural — maybe. That’s all for the talking part; it’s where Cannabis oil and medicinal Marijuana come into play.
Benefits of CBD for Colitis: Understanding
Cannabidiol, is a simple compound of the cannabis plant; it's just one of hundreds of compounds produced by the plant alongside another critical compound, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Whereas Phytocannabinoid certainly does not affect your mood when ingested, the similarities between it and THC end there. It instead brushes off and goes on to promote relaxation in the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Importantly for those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the ECS helps regulate pain, mood, appetite and Irritation.
There is hope for people with Mucosal colitis that Hemp-derived compound may help to lessen the amount of Swelling in the gut and relieve symptoms like cramping, oose stools and other symptoms. The concept is straightforward: Having less Redness may mean fewer flare ups and a higher quality of life.
How does CBD fight inflammation?
CBD works with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, namely CB2 receptors on your immune cells. It might also be able to influence these receptors and reduce the immune system’s overactive response, which creates Swelling in your colon. Therefore, if you cool down that immune system overdrive, you should have fewer symptoms.
Medical Cannabis: How Does It Compare?
Some people swear by medical marijuana, which includes THC, if it’s a psychoactive option they are after, while Hemp-derived compound is a non psychoactive one. It's a game changer for people with chronic pain, nausea, or the loss of appetite from their IBD.
THC has psychoactive effects (yes it’s the compound that gets you high), unlike Cannabis. But it’s been proven to be anti inflammatory and can help with pain relief. This combo of CBD and THC (what you see in medicinal Marijuana) is more well-rounded relief for IBD patients.
Thus, how do you use medical cannabis?
If that’s not enough, you have edibles, vapes — you name it. Smoking is not usually recommended for people with Mucosal colitis, as it can make your already irritated gut worse. Instead, many patients tend to choose edibles or Cannabis oil as they are easy on the stomach and are seen a longer lasting effect.
Does Cannabis and CBD really help IBD symptoms?
It’s here that things start to get interesting. Of course, there's a lot of anecdotal evidence from IBD patients who tell stories about how cannabinoids or cannabis therapy have eased pain or edema and the stress that goes with it. The results are a bit more mixed with scientific research, however.
Cannabis (specifically THC) has been studied in some ways and found to help with IBD symptoms like abdominal pain and runny stool, but not so much with the underlying gut Swelling. According to other research, Phytocannabinoid may help to reduce irritation, but it’s not a cure.
Is There Any Proof?
Like one recent placebo-controlled trial, for example, that use cannabis extract increased quality of life in patients with IBD without changing the amount of the disease, there are some promising studies. But the study also found that the Cannabis sativa didn't seem to reduce inflammatory markers, thus it might not be addressing the source of the disease, only the symptoms. Thus, although the use of cannabis won’t cure your colitis, they may help ease your symptoms.
The Risks of Using CBD and Cannabis for Ulcerative Colitis
It does have its benefits but it is definitely a risk. Most Marijuana and CBD is well tolerated with side effects that include fatigue, diarrhea, and change in appetite. Before you dive in, though, it’s always a good idea to start slow and to talk your doctor first if you’re already taking other medications.
The kicker is that they also have some evidence that long term cannabis use might even make IBD worse for some patients. That’s why it’s important to consider the pros and cons before you start and to cheque with your healthcare provider.