As the movement to legalize marijuana continues to sweep the nation, it seems as though more and more discoveries are being made about the potential healing power marijuana offers the body. New research suggests that cannabis may relieve symptoms related to Crohn’s Disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
An inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to describe conditions with chronic or recurring immune response and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s Disease is a disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract.
Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia and fatigue. Other symptoms include joint soreness and pain, and muscle fatigue. Some people may be symptom free most of their lives, while others can have severe chronic symptoms that require ongoing medical care.
Common treatment for Crohn’s Disease include steroids and immunosuppressants that help slow the progression of the disease. In some cases further treatment is required, such as surgery and regular screening for colorectal cancer.
Cannabis has recently been shown to be another treatment for Crohn’s Disease.
Endocannabanoids, which are molecules found in the body have been found to closely resemble compounds found in the cannabis plant. These compounds have been found to reduce symptoms associated with Crohn’s Disease.
Recent studies have shown that these molecules limit intestinal inflammation. Patients who smoke marijuana reported having less symptoms, especially less abdominal pain.
Some patients, like Fatin Phoenix Ward, found relief from symptoms just three days after taking CBD. Ward was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease after 11 months of abdominal pain and diarrhea. The doctors put Ward on steroids and cortisone for many months, but Ward reported several side effects and that her colon was still swollen. She even began to feel pain in her elbow joints and legs.
The medication that had been prescribed to Ward seemed to making her disease worse. After months of feeling extremely sick and in pain, she decided to try cannabis as a treatment.
Ward noticed huge improvement in her health and said within six months she was healed of Crohn’s Disease. Ward has been using cannabis ever since and has not reported any outbreaks from Crohn’s Disease. Her colon wall has also completely healed and according to a recent colonoscopy, does not show any signs of Crohn’s Disease.
Other patients have found the same relief by using cannabis. And not only has it been shown to decrease and possibly cure Crohn’s Disease symptoms, cannabis has also been shown to improve other areas of the body.
Many people that are using cannabis to treat their Crohn’s Disease have also found that cannabis has helped them sleep better at night, decreased their anxiety and depression, and improve their overall mood.
