By Stephanie Kolding
CBD oil for Chrohn’s Disease is not a new topic of conversation, but for some people, turning to a cannabis extract is not the first port of call when it comes to a condition such as Chrohn’s. So how exactly can CBD oil for Chrohn’s Disease make a difference on the symptoms experienced by those suffering from the condition?
What is Chrohn’s disease
Chrohn’s Disease is a gastrointestinal disorder and is one of many Inflammatory Bowel Diseases that are becoming more and more prevalent in the modern world. Chrohn’s Disease, like other IBD’s, are hallmarked by severe inflammation of the colon, rectum and gastrointestinal tract. Severe cramping and pain, bleeding from the rectum, loss of appetite and fatigue, watery and potentially bloody stools, and even fever or anemia (due to blood loss) are symptoms that could be experience by a sufferer of Chrohn’s having a ‘flare up’.
Sometimes, symptoms can be so severe that the sufferer needs to be admitted into hospital and/or even require surgery. Symptoms can vary, and can come and go, but in the long run can have very serious health ramifications later on in life. Treatment for Chrohn’s is only for symptom management. Medication usually comes in the form of anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids, antibiotics and many more, with the goal being simply keeping the patient in remission to try and allow the body to heal from the damage done during flare ups. These modern medications, however, can have their own health ramifications, so what’s the alternative? Well, perhaps Cannabidiol, a compound found in the cannabis plant.
So, what exactly is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in cannabis called a cannabinoid. Our body actually produces cannabinoids, or more specifically, Endocannabinoids (Endo meaning inside). These Endocannabinoids interact with a little-known system in the human body called the Endocannabinoid system, responsible for regulating a huge variety of functions including sleep, inflammation, stress, appetite, mood, memory, pain and many others.
There are many reasons why our body might not be producing enough Endocannabinoids, but what we do know is that without enough endocannabinoids in our body, our body will not be in homeostasis. When our body is not in homeostasis, we are susceptible to a whole range of conditions and illnesses due to, to put it simply, our body being unbalanced or not functioning at its full potential.
We have endocannabinoid receptors all throughout the body, and luckily for sufferers of Irritable Bowel Disease’s, there are a high concentration in our gastrointestinal tract. So where exactly is the research? What does the science say?
CBD oil and Chrohn’s disease – What is science telling us?
One of the most well-known attributes of CBD is its anti-inflammatory qualities. Chrohn’s disease is essentially very extreme inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which is why medications given to sufferers are prescribed to reduce inflammation, first and foremost. This is why CBD oil for Chrohn’s disease is being heralded as a potential game changer for inflammation ridden Chrohn’s sufferers.
Let’s start off by looking at some studies relating to CBD for Chrohn’s Disease. One such study, looking specifically at CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties within the gut, deduced that “cannabidiol reduces intestinal inflammation through the control of neuroimmune axis” and concluded that “CBD indeed unravels a new therapeutic strategy to treat inflammatory bowel diseases”
In another study carried out on mice that had induced colitis, Cannabidiol or CBD “exerts pharmacological effects… and mechanisms… potentially beneficial for the inflamed gut” and after further investigation, was deduced that “Cannabidiol reduced colon injury” in the animal models studied. The study was summarised in saying that “In conclusion, cannabidiol, a likely safe compound, prevents experimental colitis in mice.”
Dr Jeffery Hergenrather, a respected doctor in the field of medical cannabis, presented a study of Crohn’s patients as a template for clinical research on Cannabis all the way back in 2013. Earlier on, Hergenrather as well as other physicians conversing with patients using cannabis for IB conditions, noticed “that people were saying cannabis was working for Crohn’s Disease”, prompting him to conduct a more in-depth study on the topic. His findings were significant, with the patients seeing improvements such as “stools per days… reduced by a third, pain reduced by half, vomiting was down, appetite up” and overall, Hergenrather concluded that the “patients’ quality of life is improved significantly.” He found that by “activating the CB1 receptor… down-regulates intestinal motility and intestinal secretions while decreasing inflammation, pain and the risk of tumours” while activating “the CB2 receptor decreases visceral pain and inflammation, and also down-regulates intestinal motility.”
Does CBD oil for Chrohn’s disease really work?
Well, until we have more clinical research on the topic, perhaps it will be a while before physicians around the world are prescribing CBD oil for Chrohn’s disease. Until then, many are taking their health into their own hands and giving CBD a try on their own.
Unfortunately, until our medical system catches up with the promising research out there, we are left to be our own doctors on the matter. This is why we encourage everyone curious about CBD to conduct their own research, learn as much as possible about the compound and its potential therapeutic qualities, and try it for themselves.
Want to know more?
Still have questions about CBD and how it might help you with your conditions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable customer service team. Convinced that you want to give CBD a try yourself? Head over to product overview here and contact us today!
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