ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND CBD
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the large intestine and causes inflammation and ulcers in the rectum.
Unlike the Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis affects only the superficial layers of the intestine and the manifestations are localized to the large intestine.
The condition can be painful and debilitating and can affect all ages.
Cause Of Ulcerative Colitis
To date, physicians do not know the exact origins of this disease; over the years, several hypotheses have been provided but have been subsequently disproved.
Currently, the various researches have led to consider mainly environmental, hereditary and immune factors.
Some researchers argue that ulcerative colitis is caused by a Virus or by a Bacterium, which can trigger inflammation in the body, in turn capable of altering the metabolism of the cells that make up the Intestinal Mucosa .
Others, however, believe that this alteration of the immune response is triggered by Allergens of food, bacterial or autogenous origin.
The latter theory, based on autoimmune etiology, is currently considered the most likely hypothesis..
Some epidemiological studies have pointed out a higher incidence of the disease among family members of an affected person; this indicates that individual genetics also plays an important role.
Although stress and diet are not mentioned among the possible causes, research has shown that they can contribute to the progression and worsening of the disease..
During some studies, several risk factors have emerged that may predispose the subject more to the development of the disease. These factors include:
- The age (usually begins or before 30 years or after 60)
- Ethnicity (white people are most at risk)
- A diet high in fat but low in fiber
- Gender (slight predominance in the female sex)
- Presence of Sclerosing Cholangitis (the two diseases are often associated)
Symptoms
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary depending on the severity and location of the inflammation..
In addition, they may not occur consistently, even disappearing for months or even years.
However, some of the most common symptoms include:
- Persistent diarrhea (with blood or pus)
- Abdominal pain
- Frequent bowel movements
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Mouth sores or skin sores
- Stipidity
- Hynappetence
- Muscle pain
- Night sweats
There is evidence thatanxiety andstress can contribute to worsening symptoms.
Cure: how can CBD help Ulcerative Colitis ?
Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis may include anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and dietary changes, but these can’t cure the disease, only control the symptoms.
In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the colon and rectum.
Like all medications, even the most commonly prescribed ones such as aminosalicylates and corticosteroids,can cause important side effects such as:
- Digestive disorders
- Headaches
- Somnia
And in severe cases
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
and a slight risk of developing cancer.
To understand why marijuana might be useful for treating ulcerative colitis and CBD , it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the endocannabinoid system.
The ECS is a combination of endocannabinoids that stimulate the body’s cannabinoid receptors.
ECS helps our bodies regulate pain, mood, appetite, gastrointestinal motility, memory, emotions, stress response, immune function and more.
When a person ingests THC and/or CBD, which are molecular forms similar to endocannabinoids, they insert into the same receptors andtrigger reactions that result in very high or very low levels of specific molecules that brain cells use to communicate with each other (neurotransmitters).
To date, research has focused on animals or human tissue taken by biopsy. In one study, researchers induced intestinal inflammation in rodents and then tested theefficacy of THC and CBD compared to sulfasalazine (one of the most widely used anti-inflammatory drugs) to relieve the associated inflammation.
The results showed that THC was the most effective of the three when used alone at a sufficient dose, CBD was ineffective alone and sulfasalazine was only slightly effective.
However, the investigators discovered a synergistic effect when they combined a lower dose of THC with CBD. This treatment proved even more beneficial.
This could mean that a future treatment that combines a lower dose of THC with CBD could be safer and have fewer side effects.
Unlike sulfasalazine, THC alone and combined with CBD also improved colonic muscle movement function.
In another study done in animals, researchers used several methods to test the effectiveness of CBD in reducing inflammation in colitis.
They found that administration of CBD after inducing inflammation reduced it, and administration of CBD before inducing inflammation prevented it from occurring altogether.
The researchers found that CBD affects certain cells (enteric glial cells) that are the first line of defense against harmful pathogens.
In the presence of pathogens, these cells normally stimulate the inflammatory process by producing a specific protein, but CBD modulates its production, thereby reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract..
The recommended dosage is 3 to 30 mg of CBD twice daily.
ThC, if tolerated, can also help reduce pain. It is recommended that you consult with your physician before proceeding with intake.