Today in Irvine I took care of 2 patients who were suffering from Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis that were using medical marijuana to help control their symptoms. Primarily they stated the cannabis reduces abdominal cramping, decreases diarrhea and decreased the amount of “flare ups” that they had in the past 12 months.
Many patients are unaware that cannabinoids (the medically active ingredients in the plant) have anti-inflammatory properties in addition to having analgesic properties. At it’s roots Inflammatory Bowel Disease is caused by inflammation in the walls of the large and small intestines. Essentially immune cells congregate and cause inflammation which leads to its symptoms of cramping, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia etc.
Typically patients are treated medically with drugs that block the inflammatory response. Mesalamine, corticosteroids and immune modulators all essentially do the same thing which is reduce inflammation. However many of these medications have unwanted side effects and patients need “something else” to help them.
IBD effects a very high percentage of the population. It can be extremely debilitating and often times leads to early death. Many patients have to have portions of their intestines removed because the inflammation is so severe.
I have found in my practice that patients who supplement with cannabis have better control of their symptoms. They require less corticosteroids (like prednisone), have less hospitalizations, trips to their doctor and have a healthier appetite. Once patients get used to vaporizing the cannabis they realize that they can incorporate it into their treatment regimen with ease.
If you or someone you know is suffering from IBD, Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis and would like more information to see if cannabis can improve the quality of your life feel free to give us a call at 877-721-0047 . You can also pre-qualify for free by visiting our website at www.mcsocal.com
Be blessed,
Dr. Breen
Thank you for helping us spread the word with Social Media
Tags: corticosteroids, crohn's disease, IBD, immune modulators, inflammatory bowel disease, marijuana clinic, medical marijuana card, mesalimine, ulcerative colitis
- Chronic Pain, Oxycontin and Medical Marijuana; Opiate Abuse
- Insomnia, Growth Hormone and Medical Marijuana; A Serious Illness
- Medical Marijuana Reduces Chronic Pain Study Shows; Dr. Sean Breen
