Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Cannabis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term that describes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This chronic inflammation can lead to debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. With previous trials showing cannabis users experiencing and retaining remission from IBD, no causal mechanism had previously been proposed for these effects. In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, however, researchers have identified a potential biological pathway explaining this phenomenon.

Led by Beth A. McCormick, professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, the research team started by looking into the known neutrophil influx pathway, an immune reaction that sends neutrophils (type of white blood cell) to combat a pathogen. Overreaction of this process leads to damage of epithelial cells lining the gastrointestinal tract and requires other molecules to suppress this inflammatory response.

The team found that endocannabinoids, which are naturally produced in our bodies and have similar effects to the cannabinoids found in cannabis, can act as one of these inflammation suppressors. In experimenting with mice and human cell lines, the researchers found that lack of endocannabinoids leads to loss of control over this neutrophil inflammatory pathway, degrading the gastrointestinal tract. They believe that cannabinoids from cannabis can act in place of the natural endocannabinoids, having the same anti-inflammatory action.

“For the first time, we have an understanding of the molecules involved in the process and how endocannabinoids and cannabinoids control inflammation,” said McCormick. “This gives clinical researchers a new drug target to explore to treat patients.”

These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting cannabis derivatives in medicine, with the FDA approving the first cannabidiol containing drug for treatment of select types of epilepsy. While these findings are significant, co-author Randy Mrsny, professor at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, notes that further research is needed to confirm these findings. “We need to be clear that while this is a plausible explanation for why marijuana users have reported cannabis relieves symptoms of IBD, we have thus far only evaluated this in mice and have not proven this experimentally in humans,” he said.

Cannabis could help treat inflammatory bowel diseases which affect millions, first study shows
This is probably why so many people say it helps them! #cannabis #MMJ #marijuana #IBS #IBD #Crohns #colitis #UC #UlcerativeColitis #meded #FOAMed #chronicpainhttps://t.co/7bbq5amxd4

— peter grinspoon (@Peter_Grinspoon) August 14, 2018

Sources: Medical News Today