Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract. Although it has no known cure, people suffering from it try to alleviate the symptoms through antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines.
Recent research on CBD has shown positive effects of CBD oil on Crohn’s disease symptoms. The use of CBD oil for Crohn’s disease treatment may prove an excellent option.
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The inflammation in this disease may affect any area in the digestive tract from mouth to anus and even the bowel’s deeper layers.
Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease
The primary symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal Pain
- Blood in Stool
- Sores in Mouth
- Loss of Appetite
- Weight Loss
- Inflammation in Anus
According to the severity of the condition, the symptoms may even lead to more severe, deadly issues.
Causes of Crohn’s Disease
To date, scientists haven’t pinpointed the exact reason for Crohn’s disease. However, some potential causes and risk factors play a more significant role in the disease’s contraction.
Immune System Malfunction
In many people, the presence of a bacteria or virus may trigger the immune system to attack the invading microorganisms. The immune system may also attack the digestive system’s bacteria due to abnormal immune system response.
Genetics
Many researchers have proven that genetics may also contribute to the development of the disease. Most people with Crohn’s disease have a family history of this disease. However, it is not a deciding factor of the disease.
Age
Crohn’s disease is not limited to any age group but its most common in children. People below 30 are more at risk than people above 40.
Ethnicity
The person’s race may account for but is not the sole deciding factor for Crohn’s disease. People from Eastern Europe are most likely to develop the symptoms.
Smoking
Smoking is also one of the risk factors for developing the disease. Constant smoking can lead to even more severe symptoms and even cause surgery.
Treatment of Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a debilitating chronic disease and, as of now, has no known cure. Patients with this disease usually take many medications and therapies to appease their symptoms. Lack of medication may lead to surgery.
Some of the medication types taken regularly by Crohn’s Disease patients are listed below.
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Steroids
- Suppressors of the immune system
- Biologics
- Anti-diarrheals
- Pain relievers
- Vitamins
A low-fiber diet and nutrition therapy may also help treat Crohn’s disease.
The use of medication over a long period may lead to problems in other organs, bone diseases, and damage to the immune system, which leads to infections.
Surgery for Crohn’s Disease
If the medication and dietary changes have no effect on Crohn’s disease and do not help relieve symptoms, then the ultimate treatment is surgery.
The surgery comprises removing the damaged part of the digestive tract and connecting its healthy parts.
The side effects of surgery include the production of fistulas and abscesses.
There is no assurance that the disease won’t return after the surgery. Usually, the disease comes back near the reconnected part.
Research on CBD Oil as Potential Treatment
In the past few years, the number of people who use CBD to treat Cohen’s disease symptoms has been rising. A study highlights that about 10% to 20% of people who suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease rely on CBD oil to appease the symptoms.
In another study conducted by the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology by Tel Aviv University, we found that out of 11 patients tested for the effectiveness of CBD for Crohn’s disease, 10 showed alleviated symptoms, and five went into total remission.
Tel Aviv University conducted another study to test whether there was an improvement in the quality of life by using CBD for Crohn’s disease. In the 13 patients tested, an average increase of weight by 4.3 kg and an average increase of BMI by 1.4 was observed. This study proved that the use of CBD improved the gastric ability to take in nutrients.
CBD Oil for Crohn’s Disease Treatment
CBD oil is used for many diseases across the world. The basic working of CBD oil includes the enhancing of our endocannabinoid system.
Our body’s endocannabinoid system is responsible for the communication and coordination between the different systems. It maintains balance in the body by treating inflammations, maintaining mood and, relieving pain.
The compound in CBD is cannabinoids. This compound’s structure closely resembles an endocannabinoid structure, a compound produced by the endocannabinoid system.
When you ingest CBD, the body recognizes cannabinoids as endocannabinoids. Thus, it helps cannabinoids perform the same function as endocannabinoids and enhances the general quality of life.
CBD for Inflammation
One of the most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease is inflammation. It is caused when the immune system sends cytokines to fight the digestive bacteria.
When the cytokines can’t kill the bacteria, they form a layer around the bacteria. This process causes bowel syndrome, which leads to inflammation in the digestive tract.
As we’ve discussed before, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. CBD binds with CB2 receptors to reduce inflammation. It also binds to the TRPV1 receptor, which slows down cytokines’ production.
These factors together make CBD and excellent Crohn’s disease treatment.
CBD for Motility
Gastrointestinal Motility is defined as food from the mouth to the digestive tract and out of the body.
Patients who have Crohn’s disease tend to have a compromised Gastrointestinal Motility. This factor also leads to diarrhea in Crohn’s disease patients.
The treatment of hypermotility becomes essential in patients with Crohn’s disease.
In a study conducted on mice, the scientists observed that CBD has anti-motility effects on colitis-induced specimens.
CBD is successful in the repression of ACh (a neurotransmitter) and the activation of opioid receptors. These receptors slow muscle contractions in the GI tract, which affects Motility.
CBD also activates endocannabinoids that are responsible for the regulation of the digestive tract. CBD oils also repress enzymes that may affect the endocannabinoids.
In this way, CBD oil for Crohn’s disease is successful.
CBD for Pain
Crohn’s disease leads to extreme discomfort and pain. The pain may be due to inflammation, diarrhea, medication, or a combination of reasons.
As we’ve already seen that CBD is excellent for alleviating inflammation and diarrhea, the lack of these symptoms will relieve the person of any pain.
Moreover, CBD also activates pain-relieving endocannabinoids, which also appease the pain without any risk factors.
CBD also represses the TRPV1 receptor and desensitizes it to the point that no pain signals are sent.
Ingestion Options for CBD
By now, you must be thinking, “how to use CBD oil for Crohn’s disease?”
There are many ingestion options for CBD oil.
Edible Gummies
CBD oil may come in the form of gummy and candies. They are the most delicious way to intake CBD oil. CBD gummies come in various fruit flavors.
CBD Capsules
Option number two for CBD oil for Crohn’s disease is capsules’ intake. The capsules are a much more direct way to consume CBD.
CBD Vapes
Perhaps the most natural and fun way for the ingestion of CBD is through smoking vapes. You can easily buy refills for the vapes.
Entourage Effect
The entourage effect occurs when two medications are combined to promote the effects of both of them.
A similar effect takes place when you combine the use of THC with CBD.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is the other chemical present in Cannabis Sativa. THC has some of the same effects as CBD.
THC binds to the CB1 receptor, which CBD can’t. The CB1 receptor is responsible for the perception of pain and other aspects like stress and anxiety. CB1 and THC combined cause psychoactive effects.
This effect may be seen as a negative factor, but the use of CBD with THC negates the psychoactive effects that may be produced. Consequently, CBD also enhances other anti-inflammatory and anti-motility properties of THC.
Top 10 Best CBD Oil for Crohn’s Disease
There are many types of CBD oils according to dosage and effectiveness. Listed below are some of CBD oil’s top picks for Crohn’s disease treatment.
Before purchasing, check the package for the correct CBD oil dosage for Crohn’s disease to make sure you buy the correct dosage for your condition.
- 4 Corners Cannabis
- Hemplucid
- Infinite CBD
- Elixinol
- cbdMD
- Green Gorilla
- Fab
- Endoca
- NuLeaf Naturals
- Lazarus Naturals
Final Words
The regular use of CBD will send your Crohn’s disease into remission and lead you to live a happy, healthy life!