Cannabis May Induce Remission In Crohn’s Disease Patients
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease and a very serious health condition that affects the suffering patient’s digestive tract. Chron’s disease can cause inflammation and ulcers in any part of the patient’s digestive system.
International researchers estimate that 6 million people are affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) globally. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease.
Researchers in Pakistan recently conducted a meta-analysis focusing on medical cannabis use and Crohn’s disease, finding that medical cannabis therapies may be associated with clinical remission of the health condition. Below is more information about the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:
Karachi, Pakistan: Cannabis use is associated with clinical remission in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and it represents a promising therapeutic option for managing the disease, according to a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled studies published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.
A team of Pakistani investigators reviewed data from five randomized clinical trials involving 176 participants. In three of the trials, subjects used either cannabis cigarettes or a placebo. In two of the trials, subjects ingested either plant-derived extracts or a placebo.
Researchers determined: “The analysis indicates that cannabis may be beneficial in inducing clinical remission. … Specifically, individuals receiving cannabis treatment exhibited substantially higher rates of clinical remission at eight weeks compared to those in the control group.”
The study’s authors concluded: “In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that cannabis could be a promising therapeutic option for managing CD with minimal side effects. The findings … support its potential as an adjunct or alternative therapy, especially for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabis use in Crohn’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” appears in the Irish Journal of Medical Science. Additional information on cannabis and Crohn’s disease is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.