Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease that causes severe irritation and inflammation in the digestive tract. A form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the condition often develops in young adults between the ages of 20 and 29 and has no known cure.
Complications from Crohn's disease include intestinal obstruction or fistulas, abscesses, ulcers, and ultimately malnutrition as the body is not receiving adequate nutrients. Prescription medications are frequently used to treat Crohn's patients, but they come with a host of side effects, such as chronic pain and respiratory infection.
Cannabis has demonstrated effectiveness in treating other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, but could it provide the same advantages to patients with Crohn's disease?
Current Research
Emerging studies and clinical trials are beginning find just how effective cannabis can be in the treatment of Crohn's disease and IBD. Thus far, peer-reviewed clinical studies remain limited, but early findings have proven to be encouraging for those Crohn's disease patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
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Cannabis and Crohn's Disease
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