Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a modern, western phenomena. Virtually unheard of 50 years ago, it includes conditions such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Symptoms of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis
Both share a malfunctioning immune system responding to an imaginary threat, with resulting chronic inflammation at their core. In the case of Ulcerative Colitis this inflammation is contained within the bowel, whereas in Crohn’s it can affect the entire Gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, excessive bowel movements, rectal bleeding, fatigue and extreme weight loss.
In a study of almost 200 patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's, between 33-50% reported to have used cannabis to "relieve IBD-related symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and reduced appetite."
in many of the countries or states where medical cannabis is legal, Crohn's Disease is considered a qualifying condition, based mostly on what would seem to be anecdotal evidence.
Cases like Coltyn Turner, the American teen with Crohn's who turned to medical cannabis after the immunosuppressant and anti inflammatory medication prescribed by the doctor did little to abate his illness.
Coltyn believes the significant improvement in his health is thanks to the cannabis plant, with his days of being wheelchair bound and wracked by abdominal pain a thing of the past.
Shona became so ill with Crohns disease that she describes herself as 'waiting to die.' As soon as she began taking cannabis Shona saw a marked improvement in her symptoms, eventually being able to wean herself off the pharmaceutical medication she’d been prescribed.
It's an experience shared by Spanish scientist, Ekaitz Agirregoitia, a researcher specialising in the Endocannabinoid system in the reproduction of humans and animals.
Fourteen years ago Ekaitz was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.
"I weighed 10kg less, and was very tired and weak," says Ekaitz. “I had a fever, as my body thought there must be some bacterial invader to be causing the inflammation. When I went to the toilet, there was blood in my faeces. I had anemia, ulcers in my bowel and was very tired all the time. And then I had bowel movements at least 10 times a day, including at night. You don't know when. All of which affects your quality of life.”
About a year and a half ago after the conventional medicine was failing to halt his illness, he started smoking marijuana before moving on to cannabis oil.
For Ekaitz it wasn't the immediate miraculous relief that some of the headline grabbing stories claim, but more a gradual improvement of symptoms over 6 months to a year.
"Now, I haven’t had a temperature for a year and a half, I’ve put on the weight I’d lost. Normally I go to the bathroom 3 or 4 times a day, and not at all at night. It’s made a big difference to my life."
As a cannabinoid research scientist, it's no surprise to Ekaitz that the cannabis has eased his symptoms, due to the plant’s ability to stimulate the endocannabinoid system – the network of receptors and natural cannabis like chemicals in the body that modulate sleep, appetite, mood, inflammation and the immune system.
I'm convinced that in all illnesses the endocannabinoid system is out of balance, because if it were working correctly, your body would be in homeostasis,
the gut contains at least 70% of the body's immune cells and is even considered as a second brain due to its extensive network of neurons, chemicals and hormones constantly relaying messages back and forth about the state of our digestive system and warning about any microbial attacks.
The lining of the colon also contains cb1 and cb2 endocannabinoid receptors. With a higher propnderance of cb2 receptors in IBD patients, this suggests a heightened anti-inflammatory response.
For an IBD sufferer the endocannabinoid system’s natural anti-inflammatory chemicals alone cannot bring the immune system back into equilibrium again, and they may benefit from an extra helping hand in the form of some plant cannabinoids.
THC the most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, has a strong binding affinity with the CB1 receptors, and has been found to be effective in reducing the excessive level of bowel movements and diarrhea.
THC also binds to the CB2 receptors, bringing about an anti-inflammatory effect, but scientists have found that when it works alongside its non-psychoactive cousin, Cannabidiol (CBD), this inflammation reducing effect is potentiated.
It's CBD’s anti-inflammatory action that has particularly peaked the interest of the scientific community because it comes unaccompanied by the often unwanted feeling of being high. Its therapeutic action is more difficult to pinpoint as CBD doesn’t bind directly with either receptor in the endocannabinoid system, instead showing an affinity with other non-endocannabinoid receptors.
