The Science behind Marijuana and Crohn’s Disease

Researchers in the UK have shown that two compounds found within the cannabis plant – THC and CBD (Cannabidiol) – do interact with gut function.  This proves that, as many sufferers have testified, that medical marijuana does provide an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis.

Both of these disease are thought to be caused by a mix of environmental and genetic factors – so if you have the genetic susceptibility to the disease and are then subjected to environmental triggers, such as diet, stress, or bacterial imbalance, the chances are you will develop the defective immune response that leads to the unpleasant symptoms.

In very basic terms, people with Crohn’s disease have a defective barrier to their gut, which allows bacteria to leak into the intestinal tissue and set up an inflammatory response. It seems then that the answer to the problems posed by this illness is to restore integrity to the gut barrier.

Researchers found that plant-derived cannabinoids – that is, weed, encouraged tighter bonds between the cells that form that gut barrier, therefore making it less leaky.

While it has been known for a long time that cannabis is a powerful anti-inflammatory, the discovery that it actually reintegrates the intestinal lining is a new one.

What Type of Cannabis Helps Crohn’s Disease?

Patients using medical cannabis for the relief of ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease report that it is very good at relieving painful cramps and also for increasing the appetite.  This last effect is very important; Crohn’s patients are often undernourished because their leaky gut prevents them absorbing nutrients essential for health.

Indica strains of the plant are most beneficial due to their muscle relaxing properties.  Some of the cannabis strains said to help patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are:

• Auntie Em
• Blackberry
• Black Domina (Sensi Seeds)
• Blueberry
• Blue Fruit
• Chemo
• Cripple Creek (Tom Hill Seeds)
• Dynamite
• G13 (appetite stimulation)
• Mandala No 1
• Ultimate Indica (Legends)
• Purple Kush (appetite stimulation)
• Santa Maria
• Super Silver Haze (appetite stimulation)

Cannabis also helps these conditions