Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that leads to an inflammation in different areas of the digestive tract.
Definition
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that leads to inflammation in different areas of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can spread deep into the layers of affected bowel tissues and lead to life-threatening complications if it goes without medical attention.1
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease may vary greatly from individual to individual as they can range from mild to severe. They can develop gradually, but it can also appear immediately. When Crohn’s disease is active, the main symptoms may be:1
Cause
Up to this date, the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is not yet known. However, factors that can play a role in the development of Crohn’s disease are:1
Crohn’s disease can be caused by a virus or bacterium. When the immune system of a person fights off the foreign intruders, an abnormal immune response results in the immune system attacking the cells in the digestive tract too.
To have family members with the disease may increase the risk
Preclinical evidence proposes that the cannabinoids THC, CBD, THCV, and CBG may be therapeutic in the treatment of Crohn’s disease, as cannabinoids may possess anti-inflammatory properties.2
In a recent review article, it has been suggested that symptoms connected to IBD like pain, loss of appetite, and diarrhea can be improved by exogenous cannabis and related cannabinoids.3
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Cannabinoids like THCV, CBD, and CBG were shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities in experimental intestinal inflammation (Alhouayek and Muccioli, 2012).
TRP receptors (TRPV1-4, TRPA1, TRPM8) are involved in pain sensation but may also play a role in inflammation. It was shown that there is an interaction between TRPs and cannabinoids (endo and phytocannabinoids) with varying affinities (De Petrocellis et al., 2011, 2012). This means that TRPs can be excellent targets and plant cannabinoids excellent substrates to manage pain and inflammation.
In a prospective placebo-controlled study, 45% of patients with Crohn’s Disease achieved complete remission compared to 10% for placebo when smoking cannabis (Naftali et al., 2013).