By It is common to ask if any complementary therapies can be helpful if you are receiving treatment but are still suffering Crohn’s disease symptoms. Cannabis and CBD are two options that are comparable and have recently grown in popularity. Both come from different strains of the Cannabis sativa plant, also referred to as marijuana. CBD is another name for plant products made from hemp.
Some patients with IBD, particularly those with Crohn’s disease, utilize CBD in some form to treat their symptoms. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that CBD may improve some Crohn’s symptoms like appetite and sleep. However, there are several things to consider before you really try it. For starters, it is unknown whether CBD benefits patients’ illnesses, despite the fact that some people do seem to feel better after consuming it.
What the Study Finds
Experts agree that the data on CBD potential to treat Crohn’s disease is currently suspect. Three minor clinical studies provided the only evidence in Crohn’s disease patients. Less than 100 people with active Crohn’s disease are included in those trials.
Only one of the three people said that smoking marijuana may be able to assist folks who have had trouble managing their illness with traditional treatments. Compared to one participant in the placebo group, five of the 11 patients in the study who smoked cannabis cigarettes for eight weeks obtained remission. The focus of the other two studies was CBD oil.
Studies are currently being conducted on more patients with Crohn’s disease, but more research is needed. Cannabis can be found in a variety of forms, which is one of the reasons it’s challenging. The two primary chemical compounds in the plant are THC (short for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (short for cannabidiol). The high from marijuana is caused by the THC. Products with CBD are frequently made from hemp and should have very low to no THC. Investigations into the numerous cannabis-found chemicals require more time.
While the research isn’t conclusive, it doesn’t rule out the chance that cannabis could treat some Crohn’s patients. According to Kinnucan (Trusted Researcher), one reason previous studies may have failed to show a benefit is because they did not employ the optimal cannabis formulations. Cannabinoids (CBD) have some experimental evidence that they can aid with inflammation. However, she believes that seeing those advantages in persons with IBD will require a more tailored approach. Existing investigations have likewise been small and brief.
What to take into account
Kinnucan (Trusted Researcher) contends that if a Crohn’s patient is currently healthy and experiencing remission from their illness, there is no reason to anticipate that cannabis will be beneficial. It’s possible that combining cannabis with other medications will assist if you have Crohn’s disease but don’t experience any symptoms, but this hasn’t been shown. If you want to replace their prescribed medications with CBD, she says, “We certainly don’t have any research to back that.”
She suggests discussing your interest in CBD and the symptoms you wish to treat with your doctor. She pushes for them as a way to learn more about symptoms, even if many doctors might feel awkward having those discussions, and patients are using cannabis on their own. In conclusion, due to a lack of information and uncertainty around cannabis’ safety, doctors are unable to offer advice on it.
