Research out of the USA investigating the use of cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) among Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients reveals some interesting results.
IBD generally covers several conditions; Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis. But IBD may also be diagnosed as ‘unclassified’ or ‘indeterminate’. All conditions are characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that can result in damage to it. While IBD is not an uncommon condition, conventional treatments can be hit and miss and accompanied by unpleasant side effects.
A treatment that has become increasingly common in recent years is the non-intoxicating cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD).
A recent study delved into the perceptions, consumption patterns, and reported outcomes of cannabis and CBD oil use among IBD patients and a control group. A 37-question survey was administered to 139 participants; 93 of who had IBD and 33 who didn’t.
Of the IBD participants, 47.5% had Crohn’s disease, 18.7% had ulcerative colitis, 6.5% reported having both CD and UC, and 3.6% had indeterminate IBD. While around half of both the IBD and control groups reported cannabis use, significantly fewer IBD patients reported using CBD oil compared to controls — 40.6% vs. 63.6%.
Over 50% of IBD cannabis/CBD users reported relief from abdominal pain, other pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and nausea/vomiting. An interesting result was Crohn’s disease patients experienced significantly more relief than ulcerative colitis patients for certain symptoms. Furthermore, 19.4% of IBD patients reported a drop in opioid use, and 14.5% reported induced remission with cannabis or CBD oil.
The researchers concluded:
“The strong support of cannabis and CBD oil as medical treatments and therapeutic effects highlights the potential for cannabis and CBD oil as treatments in IBD.”
The research article was recently published in the journal Academia Medicine.
This isn’t the first study to paint the use of cannabis in a positive light for the treatment or management of IBD. In 2023, a study found among those who used cannabis to treat their symptoms, 85.7% reported improvement in their condition. In Australia, a survey some years found a quarter of Australians with inflammatory bowel disease had used medicinal cannabis to ease their symptoms.
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) says more research is needed before using medical cannabis to treat Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis is recommended.
On a related note, researchers from Australia’s Sydney University and RPA Hospital are conducting a survey to understand cannabis use in people with IBD.
“We are interested in the reasons for use, why some choose not to, and which formulations are being used. Your answers will help explore patient preferences and potential benefits of cannabis.”
The survey can be accessed here.
