The most common inflammatory bowel illnesses are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease (IBD). While these disorders have identical symptoms, they arise due to specific things and need different treatment.
While Crohn’s disease may affect any digestive tract area, ulcerative colitis induced colon inflammation. Unlike Crohn’s, Ulcerative colitis produces inflammation exclusively in the gut’s inner lining. The ‘big intestine’ is another moniker for this ailment.
Current inflammatory bowel disease therapies are costly and may exhibit significant adverse effects if used regularly.
Ulcerative Colitis, What is it?
Ulcerative colitis affects the colon. It further causes recurrent ulcers in the digestive system. It is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The condition damages the large intestine’s inner lining, leading to multiple bowel movements. UC most usually affects individuals between the ages of thirty and forty, and it costs the US government billions in healthcare costs.
Ulcerative Colitis: Causes and Symptoms
Inflammatory bowel illnesses have no known etiology. They are autoimmune disorders, which occur when your immune system targets healthy cells rather than potential “intruders,” resulting in persistent inflammation. However, as previously said, the reason underlying the existence of severe inflammation remains unknown. Scientists believe that inherited factors play a crucial role in developing many diseases.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
Pain in the abdomen
Bloody feces
Cramping
Constipation that is frequent and loose
Appetite loss.
Low mood, energy, and exhaustion
Diarrhea that persists
These symptoms, however, are not always present; a patient with UC may spend months without experiencing any symptoms. However, these symptoms may show up as severe issues occasionally. Therefore, patients must start the treatment for UC imminently upon diagnosis. Further, experts recommend that patients take herbal supplements that will help preserve the overall health of the immune system.
What Is the Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis?
Although UC is considered incurable, physicians may give drugs to decrease inflammation and control stomach discomfort. Aminosalicylates, the most common therapy for IBD, are among these drugs, although a doctor may also prescribe antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Surgery to remove sections of the large intestine may be necessary for more severe instances of ulcerative colitis. The condition may sometimes heal by removing the colon surgically. However, this can substantially impair a person’s everyday functioning, not to mention the hazards of such operation, particularly among the elderly.
Is it a reliable Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis?
In front of her, a woman holds a sketch of a happy tummy.
CBD’s extraordinary anti-inflammatory qualities have led researchers to believe that it might be a viable option for ulcerative colitis.
As per the NIH, CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving (analgesic) impacts on a patient’s gastrointestinal system without inducing intoxication.
Moreover, few people know that the US government patents CBD, HHC, and cannabinoids are potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
The ECS (endocannabinoids system), which maintains homeostasis in the body, includes the considerable presence of receptors throughout the digestive tract, including the colon lining.
Although clinical studies investigating the application of CBD for UC are still undergoing, preliminary research conducted over the previous decade has shown encouraging findings.
Which Is Better for IBD Symptoms: CBD or THC?
Because of the current level of information on the use of cannabis, this topic is challenging to address. Most research shows that utilizing full-plant extracts and varied ratios of THC and CBD for UC and Crohn’s disease provides the most incredible benefits. The safety and effectiveness of separated THC and CBD for IBD have yet to undergo clinical study.
Let us consider cannabis from a practical standpoint.
CBD contains painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties, as previously stated. Furthermore, it can modify the immune system’s inflammatory response via enhancing cell communication. Numerous studies link these characteristics to various health issues, including IBD and associated symptoms.
Studies also show that adding THC to an extract improves the analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD (with other terpenes and cannabinoids). Researchers claim that merely 1% THC in the source plant strain may dramatically increase the plant’s medicinal potential.
THC acts as an effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, creating a “high.” When taken in modest amounts, this “high” sensation typically improves the person’s mood. On the other hand, high doses of CBD have adverse side effects, leading to increased paranoid thought patterns and anxiety.
When both cannabinoids are present, CBD limits THC’s psychotropic potential, preventing anxiety from developing, while THC intensifies CBD’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The so-called entourage effect describes this reciprocal association.
This effect describes how terpenes, cannabinoids, and other chemicals in cannabis work together to provide a synergistic effect. This synergy boosts their medicinal and therapeutic potential, allowing them to function together more effectively than alone.
You may try medical-grade CBD oil if your country has a medicinal marijuana program. Others find that broad-spectrum CBD derived from hemp comes the closest to recreating the impactful entourage effect.
Ways to Use Use It
CBD is applicable in various forms, including edibles, oil drops, capsules, topicals, and vapes; each product has a different bioavailability, treats multiple issues, and caters to other consumers. You can try various products before finding the perfect match because every user is unique.
Other IBD Treatments
Herbal medications are one kind of complementary therapy for IBD. They can help with inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.
Herbal remedies, for example, are often used by patients with IBD, according to Italian supplementary medicine. Herbal medicines are also present in Chinese literature, which identifies them as beneficial in treating ulcerative colitis.
These suggestions are based on the anti-inflammatory properties of some herbs when consumed.
Based on the favorable results of clinical studies on IBD patients, researchers suggest Aloe Vera as a viable treatment agent for the condition. Other herbs that stimulate an anti-inflammatory response in the body include Boswellia serrata and turmeric.
You Can Also Try HHC
In CBD, the THC content is limited. However, when you take HHC products, you will encounter a higher dose of THC. For many individuals, it may be helpful to take HHC products since they will help them recover better. However, note that HHC’s use for treating medical conditions like Ulcerative Colitis is not widespread. There is little research regarding these products. However, my users believe that it offers most of the CBD’s benefits due to its comparable origins to cannabis.
5 Ways In Which HHC Can Help With ulcerative colitis
- It can help with pain management
- It helps with the digestive system
- It reduces internal inflammation
- It improves mood
- It lessens the anxiety users have arising from the disease
Conclusion
Herbs, including Aloe Vera, Boswellia serrata, and turmeric, are included in certain CBD products. You may blend various herbal medicines independently, but we suggest speaking with a doctor familiar with alternative medicine before beginning your first experiments.