Crohn's Disease

[HappyKitty]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you suffer from Crohn's Disease?

Does Cannabis help ease your Crohn's Disease?

Please share your experiences with us.

Thank you

[HalfOrange]

Crohn's - Info.

Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the small and/or large intestine, with accompanying pain, cramping, tenderness, gas, fever, nausea, and diarrhea. Though usually mild, bleeding may occur and may sometimes be massive.

Although the inflammation and scarring can affect any region of the gastrointestinal tract, typically the ileum (part of the small intestine) and colon are affected. The inflammation caused by Crohn's disease damages the mucosa, where nutrient absorption occurs. As a result, the ability of the intestine to do its job is severely compromised and in many cases requires surgery.

Weight loss is common due to reduced intake because of abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhoea. In addition, the ability of the intestine to absorb the energy-yielding macronutrients, in particular, protein and fat, may be reduced.

Iron deficiency is common in individuals with Crohn's disease due to poor intake and blood losses via the gastrointestinal tract. Deficiency of vitamin B12 is also common, as it is absorbed in the ileum. Anaemia can result from deficiency of iron and/or vitamin B12. Both B12 and iron can be administered via injection if needed. Individuals with Crohn's are at risk for osteoporosis (loss of bone) because of both the disease and the corticost*roids that are used to treat the disease. Therefore, most individuals take supplemental calcium and vitamin D.

Conventional treatments have significant side effects (even when they work, and they don't always) more than half of people with Crohn's disease turn to natural therapies.
In September 2008, the FDA ordered stronger warnings for common Crohn's drugs -- inflix*mab (R*micade), ad*limumab (Hum*ra) and c*rtolizumab pegol (C*mzia) -- after an association with the risk of developing fungal and yeast infections such as Candidiasis was found.

Typical alternative treatments include:

Probiotics - Specifically: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus.
Fish Oil + Antioxidants
Vitamin B12 supplements (preferably sublingual, shots are painful)
Acupuncture - This has been gaining support from Crohn´s patients in recent years.
Diet Control - Just avoid processed foods, white breads and dairy.
Stress Control - Stress makes Crohn´s worse physically, we don´t fully understand why.
Marijuana is not a typical treatment for Crohn´s....however:

"The major active constitutent of the plant Cannabis sativa (marijuana), THC, and a variety of natural and synthetic cannabinoids have been shown to possess... anti-inflammatory activities...
Results indicate that the endogenous cannabinoid system represents a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of intestinal disease conditions characterized by excessive inflammatory responses."
Apr. 2004 - Journal of Clinical Investigation

and

"While marijuana might temporarily reduce pain and nausea, there is, as yet, no evidence that it can control chronic intestinal inflammation--the underlying cause of these symptoms in Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis...
CCFA's expert consensus remains: The harmful side effects of marijuana far outweigh its potential benefits."
Aug. 4, 2005 - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)

All of the above information has been taken from reputable sources.
However, please bear in mind that this disease can vary immensly from patient to patient, i.e. what works for one, won´t automatically help another.

[ReactiveLlama]

Hi,

I am pretty sure you can get medical MJ for Crohn's here in Canada. I thought I had it (pretty much everything I eat upsets my stomach badly and comes out.. well I won't go into the details) and tried to get a prescription but my doctor said I didn't and won't even talk MJ. So I've taken to medicating myself.

At first I thought it was his reputation that he was worried about then a friend pointed out that the villians (big pharma companies) kick back to doctors who prescribe their drugs, hold conventions in nice places in fancy hotels, ect. These multinationals go to big efforts to seduce doctors into prescribing their meds and little of that has anything to do with improving the quality of life for their patients. MJ dispensaries spend their time rebuilding from raids and on other costs not sending doctors to Miami. People blame the politicians but forget that most politicians are empty headed automatons for their special interest groups. Politicians do what their campaign contributors tell them to do.

God, I'm sorry for the rant. What I wanted to know more than anything is what strains people are finding best for Crohn's since I'm about to start growing in a few months and unlike what I get from dealers I want to pick something targeted more specifically at my problems. I was thinking of Blueberry or God Bud... Heavy Indicas.

Thanks!

[HalfOrange]

you should check out this thread:
Ailment Specific Medical Marijuana Strain Guide

[Angus McSpuds]

My buddy has Crohn's, and is on all kinds of pharmaceuticals. Especially for pain.

mmj USED to help stimulate his appetite, take the "edge" off the op*ate effects, and he could gain some weight.

then... they pissed him, and told him if he pissed positive again, he wouldn't be able to get his pain meds.

now he only puts weight on when his pr*dnisone cycle comes around.

i told him to move to michigan. those mmj folks really have their stuff together.

personally, i prescribe to an old indica strain that KILLS my gut pain within 5-15 seconds of first exhale. this strain has been in my family for years... way b4 all these fancy names. but i think indicas are a good starting point for you.

i am completely op*ate and gluten free.

[geoaboy]

I have taken several tests to see if i had Crohn's Disease and none were positive. However, my Dr. still insists that he suspects that i might have it. I have had no side effects and he is letting me just go day to day until i experience anything related to Crohn's. I have my medical marijuana license in California and have been a member for 3 years. Maybe keeping up with my daily intake of cannabis has helped in the long run. I have my license for other medical reasons by the way.

Happy Tokin..

[sqrt176400]

I have severe Crohn's disease, it's pretty much everywhere from my mouth to my rectum and even the newest drugs can't remove the inflammation completely. I quite often use pot in a bubble vaporizer. Works wonders for the pain due to bowel/stomach inflammation and nauseau due to stomach inflammation. Better than op*ates and with less side effects! I don't really have an idea what kind of strains are best. I suppose higher CBD strains (including indica's) are better due to the fact that CBD increases pain reduction and has some immuno-modulatory/anti-inflammatory effects. Technically this would also make Sativex a good drug for Crohn's and I believe it's currently in clinical trial somewhere.

It's pretty cool that THC has been proven to reduce TNF-Alpha secretion, meaning it has a similar effect to many of the new Crohn's drugs which are bloody expensive.

[BWC BayArea]

Originally Posted by sqrt176400

this would also make Sativex a good drug for Crohn's and I believe it's currently in clinical trial somewhere.

Sativex is/was being tested in Spain if I'm not mistaken. In recent months I was told that they approved it to market.
I know the post is old, but how do edibles affect Crohn's? My docs are leaning toward IBS for me. MMJ helps the appetite for sure. Sometimes when ingested it calms my stomach. I eat cookies, cakes, rice krispy treats, firecrackers. it definitely helps.

[HalfOrange]

As with any edible mj, the end result is pretty much the same, however its quite dificult to control the high (duration/strength) compared to smoking or vape. Personally, I´ve eaten hash melted into hazelnut yogurts and its worked fine for me during a few of my bad days.

The main problem is a lot of people with Crohn´s or ibd would have problems injesting any type of food, beneficial or not, whilst suffering severe bouts of diarrhea or stomach pain.


By the way, a side note: New treatment for Crohn´s being sucessfully used in Barcelona, it uses your own body´s stem cells to "reboot" your immune system:
Stem Cell Treatment

[BWC BayArea]

Originally Posted by HalfOrange

its quite dificult to control the high (duration/strength) compared to smoking or vape. Personally, I´ve eaten hash melted into hazelnut yogurts and its worked fine for me during a few of my bad days.

I don't know if medical cannabis is available to u where u are, but ask whoever u get ur edibles from "what's the dosage?" meaning "how strong is this?" In California, a good dispensary will have products with all of the information labeled right there on the package. If u make your own, be consistent with the ratio of butter/oil to cannabis. Also be consistent, use the same amount when making ur edibles. This way u have an idea of how ur body responds to the medicine. Then u should have a better idea of how much to ingest for what problem or amount of pain. Just my opinion. Oh yeah. How did u know how much hash to use for the yogurt? U ever over do it?

[PFirefly]

I have Crohn's and it is a life altering disease. Of all the things I used to worry about dying from when I was younger, Crohn's sure was a surprise. When I get a flare up, at least once a month, I ulcerate from my lips to my colo, rectum. They put me on this new aids medicine, As*col, and the cure was worse than the disease. Constant puking, depression and no energy, forget sleeping. And that's just from the medicine. Odd enough, my doctor had no problem in putting me on the MMJ program. The kick in the pants is that it wasn't my gastro doctor but my regular doctor, the only doctor who seems to be truly interested in the benefits of MMJ.

A really heavy Indica, 100%, takes my pain away almost within 30 seconds. Thank God for this plant. As I have learned recently, today, Sativas give me awful headaches. But that's just me.

I have to take so many other drugs for my body that I get really heart sad. I think of my lost youth and my children and wonder where the time went.

I hope everyone has a safe week and blessings to you and yours,

PFirefly

[Propa Gator]

A really heavy Indica, 100%, takes my pain away almost within 30 seconds. Thank God for this plant.

Thank God for this plant and for enlightened doctors more concerned with their patients' welfare.