Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease that targets the large intestine. Also known as the colon, this vital intestine can experience inflammation, ulcers, pus and open sores while suffering the effects of ulcerative colitis. Primary symptoms of this disorder include weight loss, fatigue, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea.
To help manage the side effects of UC, doctors often recommend specific dietary changes in combination with prescription medications.
Because ulcerative colitis stimulates a variety of unwanted side effects, patients with this gastrointestinal disorder often seek a medication plan that helps them manage their daily symptoms. One such option for many is cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis that successfully reduces inflammation, nausea and other ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Below, we will highlight several studies that portray the potential for cannabis as a successful form of treatment for those with ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
Published in the scientific journal PLOS One in 2011, researchers De Filippis et al. examined the effects of CBD on intestinal biopsies of patients with ulcerative colitis while initiating their own research on mice whose abdominal regions mimicked the inflammation of UC patients.
When administered to the mice in this study, CBD offered a counteractive effect on inflammatory environments by reducing the expression of visceral inflammation reactions. In the human colonic cultures taken from the UC patients, CBD was also found to target reaction gliosis, inhibiting inflammatory environments from occurring.
The results from this study suggest the effects of the cannabinoid interactions from CBD created a reduction in intestinal damage by mediating receptor pathways necessary for normal regulation. The information gathered by these researchers supports CBD as an effective form of treatment for those with inflammatory bowel disease and suggest further investigation into this medication is warranted.
As a form of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis necessitates a medication geared toward alleviating inflammation, with specific emphasis on discomfort created in the intestinal region. In this 2013 study, researchers G. Esposito et al. sought to highlight the significance of cannabinol in providing therapeutic benefits for those with a form of inflammatory bowel disease.
CBD was found to reduce intestinal inflammation by controlling the neuroimmune axis. Because CBS as a compound produces the beneficial cannabinoid effects necessary to regulate the endocannabinoid system, this form of medication often provides relief for patients experiencing inflammation in the intestines. CBD also interacts with receptors, such as peroxisome, to normalized former irregularities in signals and pathways.
Those with ulcerative colitis should seek a form of medication that successfully stimulates receptors in the endocannabinoid system to perform the functions required for a state of homeostasis. This study concludes that CBD holds promising potential as an anti-IBD drug.
Many research studies provide conclusive evidence that CBD produces anti-inflammatory properties for various inflammatory inducing syndromes and diseases. Because ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that creates long-lasting ulcers and inflammation, cannabis may provide a way to combat these unwanted symptoms.
A 2015 study sought to examine to what degree medical CBD would ameliorate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. These series of preliminary studies attempted to answer one crucial question — can cannabis offer curative properties that alleviate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
The researchers examined groups of patients with ulcerative colitis who were randomized to receive a CBD or placebo form of treatment. The evidence collected by their studies suggested symptoms were worsened in patients with the placebo, while several signs indicated CBD offered beneficial treatment. This means the group taking CBD experienced symptom alleviation, supporting the need for further investigation into cannabis as a potential treatment for those with ulcerative colitis.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing the symptoms and side effects of ulcerative colitis, be sure to connect with a marijuana doctor in your area who can better assist you in developing a successful treatment plan. Once approved, you’ll have access to a myriad of top-tier products crafted with the utmost efficiency and potency standards in mind, ensuring you experience the relief you deserve.
