According to an observational study at Tel Aviv University, Israel, cannabis may have a positive effect on disease activity in Crohn’s disease , a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In this study disease activity, use of medication, need for surgery, and hospitalization before and after cannabis use were examined in 30 patients. Disease activity was assessed by the Harvey Bradshaw index for Crohn’s disease. The indication for cannabis use was lack of response to conventional treatment in 21 patients and chronic intractable pain in 6. Another four patients used cannabis for recreational purposes and continued as they observed an improvement in their medical condition.
Of the 30 patients 21 improved significantly after treatment with cannabis. The average Harvey Bradshaw index improved from 14 to 7. The need for other medication was significantly reduced. Thus, before cannabis use 26 patients used corticosteroids, but only 4 after start of the cannabis therapy. Fifteen of the patients had 19 surgeries during an average period of 9 years before cannabis use, but only 2 required surgery during an average period of 3 years of cannabis use. Authors concluded that “this is the first report of cannabis use in Crohn’s disease in humans. The results indicate that cannabis may have a positive effect on disease activity, as reflected by reduction in disease activity index and in the need for other drugs and surgery.”
(Source: Naftali T, Lev LB, Yablekovitz D, Half E, Konikoff FM. Treatment of Crohn’s disease with cannabis: an observational study. Isr Med Assoc J 2011;13(8):455-8.)
y have a positive effect on disease activity in Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In this study disease activity, use of medication, need for surgery, and hospitalization before and after cannabis use were examine in 30 patients. Disease activity was assessed by the Harvey Bradshaw index for Crohn’s disease. The indication for cannabis use was lack of response to conventional treatment in 21 patients and chronic intractable pain in 6. Another four patients used cannabis for recreational purposes and continued as they observed an improvement in their medical condition.
Of the 30 patients 21 improved significantly after treatment with cannabis. The average Harvey Bradshaw index improved from 14 to 7. The need for other medication was significantly reduced. Thus, before cannabis use 26 patients used corticosteroids, but only 4 after start of the cannabis therapy. Fifteen of the patients had 19 surgeries during an average period of 9 years before cannabis use, but only 2 required surgery during an average period of 3 years of cannabis use. Authors concluded that “this is the first report of cannabis use in Crohn’s disease in humans. The results indicate that cannabis may have a positive effect on disease activity, as reflected by reduction in disease activity index and in the need for other drugs and surgery.”
(Source: Naftali T, Lev LB, Yablekovitz D, Half E, Konikoff FM. Treatment of Crohn’s disease with cannabis: an observational study. Isr Med Assoc J 2011;13(8):455-8.)
Artcile Source: www.cannabismed.org
