Patient Education ►
Cannabis
For GI Tract and
Digestive Ailments
Cannabis does in many cases provide considerable GI tract relief .
by Peter Kershaw , contributing writer
Proper digestion and elimination play
vital roles in our overall health . Many millions of Americans suffer from a variety of gastrointestinal ( GI ) tract disorders , including but not limited to :
● Chronic constipation : 63 million
● Diverticulitis : 50 % of ages 60-80
● Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease : 20 %
● Peptic Ulcer and Gastritis : 15 million
● Irritable Bowel Syndrome : 15 million
● Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Crone ’ s Disease : 1.5 million
● Colorectal cancers : 150,000 new cases per year
● Gluten sensitivity : 5 %
● Celiac Disease : 1 %
These and other GI tract ailments are becoming even more widespread . Medical cannabis is providing considerable relief .
The first thing many people associate with weed is “ the munchies .” A trait cannabis has been known to exhibit going back to at least 5000 B . C . when used in India to stimulate appetite and counter weight loss . Contemporary Ayurvedic medicine calls for cannabis in treating a variety of digestive disorders , including Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ) and Crohn ’ s Disease . Before cannabis prohibition , it was one of the most common physician-prescribed medicines in North America and Europe in treating diarrhea and stomach pains .
The body ’ s endocannabinoid system interacts with and regulates virtually every function of digestion , including stimulating and regulating appetite , converting food to energy , and waste elimination . Endocannabinoid production levels increase in the brain between meals , eventually triggering the urge to eat . As we eat , those levels taper off .
An Israeli study demonstrated that over 50 % of Crohn ’ s patients treated with cannabis experienced remission of their symptoms .
The “ enteric nervous system ” is comprised of 100 million neurons located along the digestive tract . CB1 and CB2 receptors are abundant on these enteric neurons . Endocannabinoids and their receptors play vital roles in the way the body acquires and uses energy through the GI tract . The profusion of these CB1 and CB2 receptors is why cannabis is often effective in treating many GI tract disorders , from cramping , vomiting , diarrhea , and gut pain to inflammatory conditions . Cannabinoids help regulate GI tract motility , lipid metabolism , and gut secretions .
GI tract inflammation can occur due to any number of underlying causes , including a depressed immune system , food allergies , poor gut motility , or an unhealthy diet . An Israeli study demonstrated that over 50 % of Crohn ’ s patients treated with cannabis experienced remission of their symptoms .
Studies have shown that cannabis may prove an effective treatment for colorectal cancer . The THC molecule , in particular , stimulates apoptosis ( cell death ) of cancer cells . When consumed in high doses over a 90-day period , either orally or taken rectally , as a concentrated oil ( RSO / FECO ), cannabis has been shown to reverse tumor growth and kill cancer cells .
Cannabis does , in many cases , provide considerable GI tract relief . And while relief is a wonderful thing , it ’ s important to bear in mind that cannabis isn ’ t always an actual cure . There are always underlying causes for GI tract disorders . Accurately identifying the underlying cause can lead to the cure . Sadly , American medicine hasn ’ t always proven itself particularly good at that , and GI tract disorders are a prime example . Many billions are spent every year on GI tract