A small scale observational study published in the Journal of the Israeli Medical Association looked at the effects of cannabis usage among patients who had Crohn’s Disease.
The study found 30 patients through an Israeli medical marijuana organization. They asked these patients about their disease & wellbeing before & after cannabis usage. When possible, they referenced the answers given with the patients medical records. Most all of the patients had been on conventional treatments such as anti-inflammatories, corticosteriods & some where also using anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies. About half had also experienced the need to have surgery at some point. These patients opted to use marijuana due to the fact that they were not responding well to conventional treatments. The average amount of THC(tetrahydrocannabinol) intake from marijuana per day was about 0.5mg – 1.5mg. Continue reading “Study Suggests Cannabis Helpful In Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease” »
A joint study between multiple education & research institutions[1] has found two genome locations that both people with Crohn’s Disease & Celiac Disease share. The group of researchers found the new genetic locations through known genome data on both diseases. There are already two other genome locations that are different in those with Crohn’s Disease & Celiac Disease however they are independant of each disease, this new finding shows a genetic link between the two diseases. The findings shed more light as to the causes of bowel diseases & may very well improve techniques to identify those with the diseases or even lead to an eventual gene therapies.
1. Institutions Involved: University of Groningen, The Netherlands; the Broad Institute, USA; the Université de Montréal and Montreal Heart Institute in Canada
From the land of pizza comes some good news for those dealing with Celiac disease. A recent study, headed by University of Naples(Italy) doctor Luigi Greco found that wheat treated with lactobacillus & a fungal enzyme could be eaten by those dealing with Celiac disease. The fermentation of the wheat causes it to hydrolyze and reduces the residual gluten content of the final product. Gluten is a naturally occurring protein inside wheat that damages the small intestine of those dealing with Celiac disease due to an autoimmune reaction. Continue reading “Those With Celiac Disease May Be Able To Eat Future Sourdough Wheat Products” »
Special Diets
There are quite a few special diets which some people find helpful with IBS. Some may purport that “such and such diet” is the cure. I am not entirely sure that everyone’s IBS can be controlled on diet alone. Radically adjusting your diet could be harmful to your health both mentally & physically. You may become very frustrated with finding foods that meet the requirements of your new diet or become depressed in the loss of your ability to eat foods you once loved. It would also be terrible if this new diet didn’t actually improve your IBS symptoms. This isn’t to say that these diets don’t help people or that you won’t find success with them, but it’s best to take it slowly and perhaps speak with your doctor or a trained nutritionist before making a radical change. Continue reading “Special Diets & Irritable Bowel Syndrome” »