Medical Cannabis for Gastroenterological Conditions

Omar, 31, is a theatre director who, for years, has battled chronic pain and discomfort due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His story is an important one, because it highlights the difference between the holistic approach to healing that Releaf provides, and the conventional one that focuses on physical symptoms. Read more

I've actually been on this journey since about 12 years old, when I first started getting my period. From my very first period, I experienced more than normal levels of pain, and I was bleeding throughout the month. Read more

For many adults on the spectrum, navigating daily life comes with unique challenges, from processing information to managing sensory overload. Peter, a Releaf patient since June 2024, has found that medical cannabis has helped him approach life with more patience and ease. Read more

Lukas’s journey with medical cannabis is a little different from most. A retired police officer, he began searching for an alternative treatment after finding little relief with conventional pharmaceuticals. Read more

Next in our series of patient stories, we meet Marlyse. Prior to arriving at Releaf, Marlyse had endured months of agony after a freak rollerskating accident left her with intense injuries. Although various conventional treatments such as opiates and even spinal surgery were prescribed and offered some relief, Marlyse’s pain continued to disrupt almost every facet of her day-to-day life. Read more

As a career army nurse turned psychotherapist, Debs has dedicated decades of her life to the care of others. She’s seen her fair share of battles, but a few years ago she faced one of her toughest and most personal challenges yet: a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Read more

For almost a decade, Scott battled seemingly relentless neuralgia pain, cycling through ineffective medications with no real relief. Doctors prescribed antidepressants, blood pressure tablets, and other pharmaceuticals, all of which were promised to bring some semblance of peace to Scott's frayed nerves, but nothing worked. Read more

Gerard's story is one of perseverance, determination, and an unwavering commitment to finding a solution that works for him. Despite facing a literal onslaught of health challenges, he never gave up and has now found a treatment that not only manages his symptoms effectively but adds to his overall quality of life. Read more

Meet Jodie: a resilient Reiki Master Practitioner who courageously battled breast cancer a decade ago. Although her treatments with cancer medications and chemotherapy were successful, they also led to the discovery of other serious conditions like lupus, and triggered premature menopause, which she’s been dealing with ever since. For years, Jodie has suffered with chronic pain, anxiety and severe insomnia, usually only managing to get a few hours of sleep every night. Read more

Next in our continuing series of patient stories, we meet Kim, a retired art teacher who has been living with a painful spinal condition for nearly 40 years. Read more

For Louise, life changed forever in April 2022 when she discovered a lump on her chest. The next two and a half years were a whirlwind of doctor's appointments, surgeries, aggressive treatments, and a host of unexpected setbacks that affected not only her health and wellbeing, but also her wedding, which had to be postponed due to surgery complications. Read more

Living with arthritis since his late 20s, Kieran's journey to effective treatment has been anything but straightforward. From misdiagnoses and unhelpful medications to the daily pain that impacted his work and well-being, he struggled to find relief. Read more

Isabelle’s story is a reminder of the complexity of the human experience, and a true testament to how, when given the right tools, overwhelming long term health challenges can quickly become manageable. Read more

Amber is a mother of three who moved to the UK from Canada 14 years ago. Since she was a child, Amber faced a myriad of health challenges, including joint pain, stomach issues and insomnia linked to a chronic connective tissue disorder. Read more

Jean’s story is one of quiet resilience, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive even amidst life’s unavoidable struggles. Read more

After a car accident triggered his Restless Leg Syndrome, Eric was trapped in a cycle of insomnia, fatigue, and frustration that affected every aspect of his life. Read more

After a catastrophic plane crash shattered his shoulder, Matt’s entire life changed. Read more

Jacqueline's health journey has been one of setbacks, surgeries, and ongoing struggles with arthritis and chronic pain, both of which contributed to mental health challenges. Read more

Living a healthy, active lifestyle has always been a top priority for the dad of four and full-time illustrator and printmaker, Martin. But due to the chronic pain from Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) and spinal arthritis, each day is a balancing act between managing his symptoms, pursuing his creative work, and getting all the other day to day stuff done. Read more

As more mainstream research shows the benefits of medical cannabis in treating chronic illness, the surrounding stigma in the UK is steadily declining. At Releaf, we’re seeing an increasingly diverse range of people of different ages, religions and ethnicities come through our doors looking for holistic solutions for chronic health issues. Read more

Like so many people in the UK looking for alternative treatments for chronic nerve pain, Peter wasn’t aware that medical cannabis had been available in the UK on prescription since 2018. For years, he suffered with trigeminal neuralgia, an excruciating nerve condition, until a chance encounter that led him to Releaf’s doors, where he connected with doctors who understood the complexity of his condition. Read more

Misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, Georgia spent years on medications that she never felt quite addressed the root of her struggles. Read more

Ethan was an active hiker and mountain biker before a back injury robbed him of his mobility, making it hard for him to move around his home and perform simple, everyday tasks—let alone walk the trails of the Scottish Highlands. Read more

Ollie is a 38-year-old father of three whose diagnosis with ADHD came only a year ago, sparking a profound reflection on the coping mechanisms he had adopted throughout his youth—most notably, his battle with alcoholism that led to a life-altering arrest for drink-driving at the age of 25 Read more

At Releaf, we recognise just how much courage it takes to break free from social and societal norms and begin to advocate for your own healing. Read more

Have you ever been forced to work through an injury? To just grin and bear it? This is a decision that thousands of people in the UK face every day. For so many of our patients suffering with chronic pain, taking months off work to heal from work injuries was never a realistic option. Read more

For years, Chaos has lived with the debilitating effects of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is only just starting to be properly recognised in the conventional medical community, even though it affects millions of people worldwide. Read more

Maruis’s story is one of trauma, struggle, and resilience in the face of seemingly relentless health challenges. Diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, along with osteoarthritis, he faced exhausting day-to-day battles, such as bouts of vivid night terrors and debilitating, life-limiting side effects from an exhaustive list of prescription drugs. Read more

Ben had been battling anxiety and depression for nearly two decades when, seven years ago, he was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Despite years of being prescribed pharmaceutical treatment options like SSRIs and opioids, he still felt weighed down by their side effects. Read more

Most of us love nothing more than a bit of rest and relaxation. That feeling of letting everything go, and just being in the moment. But for 36-year-old Thomas, finding the mental space to relax can be a bit of an issue. Read more

Ryan’s passion is the outdoors, and there’s nothing he loves more than a long hike through the forest with his trusty dog. For years, Ryan’s pain disconnected him from the natural world. Now, his recent treatment with medical cannabis is finally offering hope. Read more

I’m Maxim, a 20-year-old from Haywards Heath, with a passion for sales. I’d say I’m a pretty outgoing, yet, ordinary person. I’m enthusiastic about work, and I love to be sociable and meet up with my friends or go out with my girlfriend, like most twenty-something's do. Read more

At Releaf, we are dedicated to providing safe, effective treatments that enhance the quality of life for those navigating chronic health conditions. James’ story is an important one, because it draws attention to one of the most common and debilitating conditions faced by many of our patients: severe, chronic insomnia. Read more

The growing evidence of medical cannabis’ effectiveness in treating chronic pain is slowly reshaping how we approach health and wellness. However, many GPs in the UK are still quick to prescribe addictive medications like opioids and benzodiazepines before looking at safe, alternative solutions like medical cannabis. Read more

Diagnosed with a range of conditions, including fibromyalgia, agoraphobia, and PTSD, Helen faced daily barriers that made even simple tasks daunting. Traditional medications only seemed to exacerbate her struggles, leaving her in a cycle of discomfort that made her unable to engage with the most important thing in her life: her family. Read more

For mum Laura, helping her son Harry through a number of health challenges has been a journey filled with ups and downs. Finding the correct diagnoses was a long and frustrating process, as has been managing Harry’s ongoing medical needs. Read more

Rhona's story is one of resilience and determination. After years of battling through chronic pain and sleeping issues without being able to find a real diagnosis, Rhona was coming to the end of her rope. Read more

One of our primary goals at Releaf is to remove the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis, and that’s why Hollie’s story is so important. Read more

Having your health taken away from you, through no fault of your own, is terrible - especially for someone so used to being extremely active. Read more

Daryl is a young dad who suffers from anxiety and depression. For his kids, he knew he had to find a solution. After conventional medicines only made things worse, Daryl reached out to our clinicians at Releaf and began his journey with medical cannabis. Read more

Brandon is a 27-year-old who has faced the challenges of anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD throughout his life. For many years, he felt isolated, and his conditions often prevented him from engaging in social circles and made him a target for bullying. Read more

For far too many patients in the UK, finding legal treatment options that are effective and without the burden of heavy side effects can be difficult. To add to the struggle, navigating the complex healthcare and legal systems can often leave patients feeling lost and alone. Read more

As humans, we like to learn from others because we feel inspired by them, because there is strength in numbers, and that’s something we’re naturally comforted by. And, at Releaf, sharing patient voices and their experiences with medical cannabis is something we’re committed to, for exactly these reasons. We want to champion our patient’s voices to diversity the conversation, covering all sorts of health conditions treatable with medical cannabis, by speaking to patients one on one about how their health, life, and overall wellbeing, has changed since becoming a Releaf patient. Read more

As human beings, it's part of our intrinsic, instinctual nature to learn from those around us, and to use the experiences others have had to help guide or inform our own. And in the world of medical cannabis, this is no different. Read more