Helping IBD Patients with Cannabis
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Welcome to the Green Bridge minute brought to you by Green Bridge Health and Green Bridge Society. My name is doctor Gerald Knepp.
Years ago, one of my first experiences in medical cannabis involved a patient driving over 3 hours one way to purchase an RSO product. I’ll describe RSO later in the video, but it’s not one of the most popular dosage forms. This patient told me how he had suffered from Crohn’s disease for years and how RSO had helped relieve his symptoms without the help of prescription drugs. This was the very first time that I witnessed cannabis change the life of a Crohn’s patient, and we have seen it help many others along the way.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, consists mainly of two conditions: Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Both involve an autoimmune response where the immune system attacks healthy tissue causing inflammation. Over 1.6 million people in the United States suffer from IBD. There is no known cure for IBD, and many patients will suffer from symptoms for decades.
We know cannabis to have immune regulating and anti-inflammatory properties with little to no toxic effects. Based on the anecdotal evidence seen in medical dispensaries and the current scientific evidence, cannabis products should be considered in these patients and further research needs to be funded.
Let’s take a look at how cannabis can affect the GI tract.
Our bodies possess the Endocannabinoid system which contains endogenous cannabinoids and receptors. In the gut, the endocannabinoid system helps maintain balance by modulating immune activity, motility, sensation, and secretion. Both CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in the GI tract. CB1 receptors are found in the nervous system in the gut, and many of the CB2 receptors in the gut are found on immune cells, such as activated macrophages. The CB2 receptors may play a larger role in inhibiting inflammation.
So we know that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in gut health. What evidence do we have relating cannabis to improving IBD symptoms?
Researchers have found abnormalities of the endocannabinoid system within the biopsy samples of patients with severe intestinal disease. These samples showed altered levels of endocannabinoids and /or CB receptors.
In 2011, an observational study was reported in the Isreal Medical Association Journal, that looked at 30 patients with Crohn’s Disease. 21 of the 30 patients improved significantly after treatment with cannabis. The need for other medications and surgery in these patients decreased remarkably as well.
A small placebo-controlled trial, published in 2013, looked at 21 Crohn’s patients who did not respond to therapy with steroids, immunomodulators, or anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. This study focused on an 8 week trial of inhaled Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or Delta-9-THC. 5 of the 11 subjects in the THC group achieved complete remission. 3 of the patients were weaned from steroid dependency, and patients receiving cannabis reported improved appetite and sleep, with no significant side effects.
Although this is a small study, almost complete remission in 50% of patients who did not respond to other treatments is impressive.
IBD patients are already using cannabis to help relieve symptoms, and many of them are not under the care of a medical professional. In another study published in 2011, 100 Ulcerative Colitis patients and 191 Crohn’s patients completed questionnaires at an outpatient clinic. 50% of the Crohn’s patients and 33% of Ulcerative colitis patients were lifetime users of cannabis to relieve IBD symptoms.
We encourage cannabis patients to work with an experienced medical professional. At Green Bridge Health, we work with patients one-on-one to find the best cannabis products and regimens for them. Although every patient is unique, we do see some general trends with patients suffering from Crohn’s Disease. Unfortunately, due to the lack of federal funding, much of this information is anecdotal.
It is always recommended to start at a low dose and to increase slowly. Patients are instructed how to safely titrate their dose to find the “Sweet spot”, where their symptoms are relieved but they are not experiencing unwanted side effects or feeling over-medicated.
In conclusion, cannabis should be considered for patients suffering from IBD, including Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis.
If you would like to learn more or schedule a medical cannabis consultation, please go to our website: Green Bridge Health.com and make an appointment to meet with one of our experienced medical professionals. We look forward to helping guide you on your cannabis journey back to health.