The Benefits of Cannabis with Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease is a re-occurring inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract as well as an inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Not to be confused with another IBD disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's affects any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract rather than only the colon or large intestine. Genetics, heredity and/or environmental factors have been shown to lead to Crohn's disease.  This disease affects around 700,000 Americans mostly of European descent. Symptoms of the disease are loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, irregular menstrual cycle and fever. Inflammation of the GI Tract can also lead to diarrhea, bleeding, cramps, pain and constipation. (Source)

The enteric nervous system helps aid in gut function while the endocannabinoid system (ECS) helps to maintain gut motility, inflammation and sensation. Both systems contain Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 receptors making medical marijuana use a viable treat for Crohn's disease patients . (Source)

A pilot study of 32 patients of Crohn's disease was conducted at the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine conference at Leiden University in the Netherlands by Physicians in the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Patients in this study showed  improvement in symptoms of vomiting, depression, nausea, gut pain, appetite, activity, fatigue, flareups and severity of flareups.(Source)

A study was completed at the University of Calgary in 2009 of 313 people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).  The results of this study reported improvement of  abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, and joint paint in which 17.6% of the patients used cannabis using the inhalation method. (Source)

A study in 2011 with 30 Crohn's Disease patients showed that 21 reported improvements in all symptoms.(Source) in 2013, 21 patients involved in  a study smoking 2 marijuana cigarettes a day. showed improvement in sleep and appetite.  These patients with Crohn's disease were subjects that had not responded to other treatments(Source)

In a questionnaire given at a clinic with 191 Crohn's disease patients, 48% reported use of cannabis to reduce symptoms such as abdominal pain diarrhea and appetite were what the patients. Patients in the group that had abdominal surgery were more likely to use cannabis for treatment. (Source)

Source:

http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/

http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/06/28/medical-marijuana-and-inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd/#

http://www.beyondthc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Crohns05.pdf

http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ViewArticle.aspx?aId=375

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1542356513006046

http://journals.lww.com/ibdjournal/Abstract/2014/03000/Cannabis_Use_Provides_Symptom_Relief_in_Patients.6.aspx

The Origins of the Cannabis Names

Cannabis

Cannabis the name comes from an ancient Iranian language called Scythian or North of Greece Language called Thracian. The Greeks used this influence to call it κάνναβις (kánnabis), and Perian language kanab. In 1548, the Oxford English Dictionary defines Cannabis as "common hemp, Cannabis sativa". In 1848 it defines the parts of the plant to be smoked, chewed, or drunk for their intoxicating or hallucinogenic properties". In 440 BC in the Herodotus literature known as The Histories an exerpt states "The Scythians, as I said, take some of this hemp-seed [presumably, flowers], and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted, shout for joy." (Source)

Hemp

Hemp comes from the 13^th century Anglo-French word canevaz or Old French Canvas. Originating from the the word cannabis, canvas is a woven fabric to make sails, tents and bags, using the cannabis plant fiber that became to be know an hemp.(Source)

Marijuana

Marijuana, first known as Marihuana is theorized to come from the ancient aztec language Nahuati, and then the word adopted by the Mexican Spanish language for the word Mallihuan, meaning "prisoner". The word marihuana was popularized by Harry J. Anslinger in the 1930s when he was campaigning against the drug. The first known usage was in Hubert Howe Bancroft's 1873 The Native Races of the Pacific States of North America.(Source) Harry Anslinger was the leader in creating the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 that put a tax on Cannabis, which many theorize as a way to help out the nylon and wood industry by limiting the production of hemp.(Source)

Many believe the word marijuana has a racial conotation to the name. Early on, cannabis was a drug that the poverty stricken influx of migrants from India and Mexico as well as the African Americans used. This led to the name marijuana taking on meaning of a drug for the lower class.

Other theories are out on how marijuana came to be a name for cannabis. Chinese immigrants from Mexico, cannabis plant in Chinese being (ma ren hua). In a certain Spanish dialect, Chinese Oregano is mejorana (chino). Angolan slaves brought to Brazil by Portuguese may have brought their word for cannabis, ma-kaña.(Source)

Ganja

From the ancient Indian Sanskrit grñja and further used in Hindi as gājā. The word that signifies the female personification of the Ganges River as a Goddess, known for growing Indica Cannabis naturally on it's shoreline. The Hindu's regard the use of cannabis as a sacred practice.

The word is first known to be used in 1680, probably brought from over from trading with India. In Jamaica, the word ganja is widely used, first known to be used in the 1840's, thought to be brought over by British Imperialists. Ganja in the Jamaican culture is a term for cannabis-as-sacrament for the Rastafarian faith.(Source)

Pot

This is an abreviation of the Mexican Spanish drink potación de guaya where brandy or wine is heated with canabis buds for a drink that is translated to “drink of grief”. The name came into use in the US around 1935-1940.(Source)

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_%28etymology%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana_%28word%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marihuana_Tax_Act_of_1937

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/07/14/201981025/the-mysterious-history-of-marijuana

http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis-dictionary/ganja/

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pots