Crohn’s Disease is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that can affect anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. It leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
It is a lifelong condition that can have severe complications such as intestinal strictures, abscesses in the gut wall, anaemia, and different bowel cancers.
Crohn’s Disease affects around 1 in 10,000 people in the UK, and the most common age for diagnosis is between 15-30 years.
It is not known what causes Crohn’s Disease, but about 3 in 20 people with Crohn’s also have a close relative who has it, so there is thought to be a genetic factor. It is also more common in smokers.
Drug treatments are separated into those that manage acute flare-ups, and longer term drugs that aim to reduce the number of flares.
Diet and nutrition are strong components of managing Crohn’s. At the other end of the spectrum, patients may require surgery to remove the section of bowel that is severely affected.
Most long term treatments involve either steroids or drugs such as azathioprine which treat chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions.
Whilst Medical Cannabis cannot cure Crohn’s Disease, it can help alleviate some of the symptoms and improve quality of life.
Crohn’s Disease is characterised by chronic inflammation of the gut, and abdominal pain is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of Crohn’s. Cannabidiol (CBD) is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the intestinal inflammation seen in Crohn’s.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interacts with CB1 receptors located in the nervous system and can alter the transmission of pain signals, providing relief from the abdominal pain associated with active Crohn’s. Medical Cannabis, THC in particular, can slow down gut motility by acting on CB1 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, helping to reduce the frequency and urgency of bowel movements.
Another common gut side effect is reduced appetite and therefore weight loss, particularly during flare-ups or when experiencing nausea from medication. THC activates CB1 receptors in the part of the brain which regulates hunger and satiety, potentially helping Crohn’s patients regain their appetite and avoid malnutrition, which is common during severe disease activity.
As with other chronic illnesses, Crohn’s patients frequently suffer from anxiety and depression due to the impact of the disease on daily life. Medical Cannabis, particularly CBD, interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, which can help stabilise mood and aid better quality sleep.
Suffering from a medical condition can be awful, the last thing you want to do is wait months for treatment.
Making sure you are seen and treated as soon as possible is one of our top priorities.
Start your journey to a better quality of life with CB1 Medical today.
Check if you're eligibleWe are proud of our care and the impact it has on the lives of our patients, it is so rewarding to hear your stories and learn about your experiences with medical cannabis.
May 2024
Where do I start?! I have to admit I was very nervous, considering I have tried numerous treatments for my fibromyalgia and EDS and had a medical prescription 3 pages long and really complex medical issues. I was in an awfully high level of pain, even with all that.
Every single staff member from reception, nurses, pharmacy and my lovely Dr Vanessa Hutchinson have been consistently friendly, professional, helpful and incredibly fast in progressing me from initial online enquiry to receiving my prescription (just under 2 weeks and we had the Easter 4 day break in-between!).
In this very short time, my pain levels have reduced significantly (as have my other medications!). I cannot recommend this clinic enough. Thanks CB1 MEDICAL 🙂
March 2024
Staff really nice, and keep in touch to monitor my progress and any questions I may have. I feel very comfortable talking about my situation as no judgement or negative feedback. I feel like my life, health and symptoms are being taken seriously but with care.
Follow up appointment over the telephone was relaxed, no rushing, he answered all the questions about my medication and progress without prejudice, sarcasm and was so easy and a breath of fresh air. I can say that if you are thinking of treatment and support like nowhere else then you will be in very caring and professional hands that really do make you feel that you are important and heard with respect and understanding. 5 stars are not enough.
October 2024
My life has been transformed since starting medical cannabis with CB1 Medical.
Dr Richard Pertwee was friendly and so knowledgeable. The relief I’ve experienced has been nothing short of miraculous. The quality of life I now have is something I never thought possible, started to smell the roses eg I’m incredibly grateful to you all.
Highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling or has ineffective medication.
April 2024
I know when you pay for an appointment, you expect a different service, but honestly, this is beyond what I expected. The appointments were scheduled quickly, and happened within days, mostly late evenings to fit around my work. The doctors listen and I didn’t feel like I was being judged as just a junkie after pain meds. That’s how I feel in an NHS appointment.
The meds were delivered quickly and I got to using them right away. In the last 11 days, I’ve used painkillers once, and only paracetamol. This is down from multiple painkillers multiple times every single day. And I sleep so much better as well.
