Crohn's Disease

[HappyKitty]

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Do you suffer from Crohn's Disease?

Does Cannabis help ease your Crohn's Disease?

Please share your experiences with us.

Thank you

[HalfOrange]

Hi HappyKitty.

First of all you might want to edit the thread title, it´s "Crohn´s Disease".

I´ll make a full post here in a day or so.
Take it easy :)

[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 corticosteroids 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 -- infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira) and certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) -- 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 opiate 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 prednisone 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 opiate 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 opiates 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.