Can Medical Marijuana Relieve Crohn's Disease Symptoms?

You may find it overly taxing to undergo treatment for Crohn's disease while managing your symptoms. It is reasonable to seek alternative therapies to help with the symptoms. Recently, one of the therapies that have become very popular is marijuana. Some people who have Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use cannabis of a certain type to relieve symptoms. 

What Is Crohn's Disease?

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It is a chronic condition resulting from the inflammation of some parts of the digestive tract. IBD occurs when the immune system attacks the gut or digestive tract tissue, causing inflammation. When it comes to Crohn's disease, any part of the gut between the mouth and the anus can become inflamed. 

How Can Marijuana Help?

According to research, therapeutic substances found in marijuana can benefit people with Crohn's disease. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation confirms that anxiety and pain are two symptoms common in people with Crohn's disease.

Marijuana has been known to relieve pain and anxiety, among many other effects. But note that while marijuana can help alleviate some symptoms of Crohn's disease, there is no evidence that it can reduce gut inflammation. 

Why Choose Marijuana?

There are several reasons why someone with IBD or Crohn's disease could opt to use marijuana.
 

• It is a complementary and alternative therapy to traditional treatment. This is highly desirable as the symptoms of Crohn's disease can become quite overwhelming.
• People now consider it a harmless and natural supplement.
• The popularity of marijuana as a medical plant is growing. It is no longer taboo to use it for medical purposes.
• It offers a lot of the benefits of opioids and other pain medication.

Marijuana eases the symptoms of people with IBD. Patients who have used it reported relief from nausea, low appetite, pain, diarrhea, and overall well-being.

How to Use Marijuana?

Marijuana products can come in many different forms. Most people who use marijuana medically use it as a vapor or oil. Each technique of marijuana ingestion influences the effects of the product. 
 

• Smoking - Smoking marijuana comes with some risks, such as those associated with smoking tobacco. Health professionals advise against ingesting cannabis in this manner.
• Vaporization - This method has been growing in popularity both for medical users and recreational users. It involves heating marijuana into a vapor and inhaling it. You can feel the effects within 30 minutes, and the effects can last up to four hours.
• Edibles and Oils - You can ingest marijuana or cannabis as edibles or oils. Edibles are riskier than vaping or smoking because the ingredients can be more than you need. They also tend to be more potent than vaping or smoking. When you ingest edibles, it takes longer to feel the effects. It could take between two to three hours to kick in. The effects also last a lot longer than with vaping and smoking.

How to Obtain Marijuana?

Depending on where you live, you might face logistical and legal barriers when obtaining marijuana. It would be best if you were aware of the unique state laws governing the use of marijuana where you are. You should consult with your doctor to determine if marijuana is best for you.

For more on medical marijuana and its uses, call WellGreen Cannabis at (386) 585-4866 to reach our office in Palm Coast, Florida.