Use our chat feature to speak with one of our expert consultants who can help you identify if medical cannabis can help you.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long term condition that causes the immune system to attack the digestive system, which in turn causes inflammation. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the most prevalent inflammatory bowel disease conditions in the UK, and both have shown promising results when treated with IBD medical cannabis treatments.
Am I eligible?
“The Releaf+ subscription simplifies the entire process of my medical cannabis treatment.“
Nigel, Releaf Patient
October 2023
Articles on Inflammatory bowel disease (ibd)
View all05. 08. 2023
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Depending on their level of severity, they can be anything from frustrating inconveniences to life-altering health issues with potentially dangerous consequences.
05. 08. 2023
29. 08. 2023
The cannabis sativa L. plant is one of the most versatile, and potentially therapeutically beneficial types of flora to ever grace this pale blue dot we call home. It is one of the fastest-growing plants, takes less water to cultivate than the vast majority of other crops, and has a wide range of applications due to not only the presence of cannabinoids, but also its true variability in terms of the production of textiles, paper products, and food items.
29. 08. 2023
05. 08. 2023
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harmful stimuli like injuries and infection. It effectively quarantines the site of the injury and infection in order to attack any invading bodies or contaminants. In the modern world, however, there are more negative stimuli that can trigger inflammation than ever, from stressful living and working conditions to processed foods and airborne pollution. These can cause the immune system to attack healthy tissue.
05. 08. 2023
Tummy pain
Persistent diarrhoea
Blood or mucus in your poo
Bleeding from your bottom
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you may have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Please speak with your GP to find out more.
In the UK, inflammatory bowel disease symptoms are conventionally treated using prescribed anti-inflammatories and steroids. In some extreme cases surgery is recommended to physically remove parts of the bowel, but this can be costly, and the recovery process can take a long time.
5-aminosalicyclic acids
Immunomodulators
Corticosteroids
Biologics
Clinic Director
Medical cannabis inflammatory bowel disease treatments typically target the inflammation caused by IBD, and influence the responses initiated by the immune system in people with IBD.
Some cannabis-based treatments have shown to decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gut, which is believed to contribute to the development of Crohn's disease, whilst others may reduce inflammation in the colon and rectum, which can alleviate some of the painful symptoms associated with IBD like diarrhoea and rectal bleeding.
Other evidence suggests medical cannabis treatments can help decrease the perception of pain, which may make IBD less of a hindrance when going about daily routines and activities, and self-reported quality of life scores also tend to improve after patients start cannabis-based treatments.
Prescribed cannabis treatments are considered a suitable treatment option for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in the UK if they have been unable to manage their symptoms with conventional, licensed medications. To find out if medical cannabis may be able to help you, fill out our free online eligibility checker today.
