FYI Complete Remission’ Of Crohn’s Disease, New Study By Dr. John Regan

[Paracelsus]

FYI Smoking Marijuana Causes ‘Complete Remission’ Of Crohn’s Disease, No Side Effects, New Study Shows http://urhealthguide.com/smoking-mar...w-study-shows/

By
Dr. John Regan


Quote "Researchers at Israel’s Meir Medical Center took 21 people with intractable, severe Crohn’s disease and gave 11 of them two joints a day for eight weeks. “The standardized cannabis cigarettes” contained 23 percent THC and 0.5 percent CBD (cannabidiol). (Such marijuana is available on dispensary shelves in San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities that have regulated access to the drug.) The other ten subjects smoked placebo cigarettes containing no active cannabinoids.

Investigators reported that smoking weed caused a “complete remission” of Crohn’s Disease in five of the 11 subjects. Another five of the eleven test subjects saw their Crohn’s Disease symptoms cut in half. Furthermore, “subjects receiving cannabis reported improved appetite and sleep, with no significant side effects.”
Unquote

[DingusKhan]

Very cool! Thanks for some cool Sunday morning education, Paracelsus.

[DoctorJohnson]

Oh good heavens, Crohn's disease is complicated and not well understood. Do you really think that if smoking pot caused "complete remission" that the people with the disease wouldn't have figured it out by now? Don't believe everything your need on the Interwebs, folks...

[Campesino]

This is not the first study that has shown a link between THC and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)

[Campesino]

Thank you for this!
I have Ankelosing Spondalitis, which is an arthritic condition caused by a similar immune system response. Chrone's disease (IBD), Plaque psoriasis, and Ankelosing Spondalitis are all related diseases. The best treatment available through Western Medicine are TNF blockers like Humira and Enbrel. These are nasty horrible drugs (but literally miraculous). I am currently on Humira. It is like injecting lava into my stomach every other week.
About 10 years ago, some studies came out that suggested active THC acts like a TNF blocker. I was on Humira at the time and up against an insurance limit (Humira retails for over $2000 per dose! hence the ads!). My Rheumatologist was the one who suggested that I try using marijuana. For several years, my arthritis was held in remission with THC!
I had a bad flare up last year, triggered by stress and had to go back on Humira. My new Rheumatologist wants me to stay on it forever. I still believe that I can control it with THC.
So in any event, thank you for sharing this... It is very important for me!

[Jason]

Check out MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane. I take it daily. Skin cream and crystals in H2OMy aunt had severe arthritis for decades. Bed ridden. They tried every treatment available. Late in her life she started drinking MSM dissolved in water. In a few weeks she could raise her elbows above her shoulders for the first time in 20+ years. One of the largest consumers in the US is the NFL. They put it in whirl pool baths for the players for pain relief and all the other benefits. Read actor James Coburn's accounts about it. I have friends with severe plaque psoriasis for decades. In 2-4 weeks, after drinking crystals in water, all gone. 500 mg to 3000 mg/day.
I've read its the fourth most common element in our body, yet our FDA does not list it as essential. Its just organic sulfur. From pine trees. What could be better than that?
Google Dancing Wolf in WA state for the best source, best price. Don't travel with the crystals though. They look like the best white Peruvian flake something or other.

[Campesino]

Thanks @Jason
I will certainly look into it!

[DoctorJohnson]

> This is not the first study that has shown a link between THC and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)
I'm glad you're getting some relief, but this is not a "study"; it's a post on a website by some guy calling himself "doctor."

[Campesino]

It is a journalist report of a clinical study that is coming out in the next issue of the Peer reviewed Journal "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology"

[Campesino]

The following is the summary report from the actual Published Clinical Trial
In the Journal "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology" 11(10) 2013

"Cannabis Induces a Clinical Response in Patients With Crohn's Disease: A Prospective Placebo-Controlled Study"

Background & Aims

The marijuana plant Cannabis sativa has been reported to produce beneficial effects for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, but this has not been investigated in controlled trials. We performed a prospective trial to determine whether cannabis can induce remission in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods

We studied 21 patients (mean age, 40 ± 14 y; 13 men) with Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores greater than 200 who did not respond to therapy with steroids, immunomodulators, or anti–tumor necrosis factor-α agents. Patients were assigned randomly to groups given cannabis, twice daily, in the form of cigarettes containing 115 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or placebo containing cannabis flowers from which the THC had been extracted. Disease activity and laboratory tests were assessed during 8 weeks of treatment and 2 weeks thereafter. Results

Complete remission (CDAI score, <150) was achieved by 5 of 11 subjects in the cannabis group (45%) and 1 of 10 in the placebo group (10%; P = .43). A clinical response (decrease in CDAI score of >100) was observed in 10 of 11 subjects in the cannabis group (90%; from 330 ± 105 to 152 ± 109) and 4 of 10 in the placebo group (40%; from 373 ± 94 to 306 ± 143; P = .028). Three patients in the cannabis group were weaned from steroid dependency. Subjects receiving cannabis reported improved appetite and sleep, with no significant side effects. Conclusions

Although the primary end point of the study (induction of remission) was not achieved, a short course (8 weeks) of THC-rich cannabis produced significant clinical, steroid-free benefits to 10 of 11 patients with active Crohn's disease, compared with placebo, without side effects. Further studies, with larger patient groups and a nonsmoking mode of intake, are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01040910.

[Campesino]

Additional references:

Hans H. Herfarth, Millie D. Long, Kim L. Isaacs
If Your Physician Cannot Help, Try Cannabis: How Trial Design May Lead to Hazardous Conclusions
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2014, Pages 897-898
Download PDF

Conor Lahiff, Adam S. Cheifetz
The Holistic Effects of Cannabis in Crohn's Disease
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2014, Pages 898
Download PDF

Michelle P. Vu, Gil Y. Melmed, Stephan R. Targan
Weeding Out the Facts: The Reality About Cannabis and Crohn's Disease
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2014, Pages 898-899
Download PDF

Hashem B. El-Serag
Issue Highlights
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 11, Issue 10, October 2013, Pages 1211
Download PDF

[D.A.A.S.69]

That doesn't sound like a guy calling himself a doctor to me.
When the next MJ achievement comes out I bet its Israel again, that's first.

[DoctorJohnson]

> Although the primary end point of the study (induction of remission) was not achieved, a short course (8 weeks) of THC-rich cannabis produced significant clinical, steroid-free benefits to 10 of 11 patients with active Crohn's disease, compared with placebo, without side effects.

That's impressive. "Significant benefits" is nothing like the "complete remission" touted in this thread's headline, however. That's what I was reacting to.

Thank you for the additional information and references.

[Paracelsus]

Believe me I fact checked before I posted this just like I fact check BEFORE I besmearch information first dissemenated outside the FDA's stooge PR channels.

I suffer from psoriasis and I find it does help. I also use Calendula Cream and Hepatodoronmade from wild woodland strawberries.
Thank You Campesino

[DoctorJohnson]

> FDA's stooge PR channels
I think that's kinda overstating it--sounds a little conspiracy theory-y.
> I suffer from psoriasis and I find it does help
Me too. Cannabis doesn't help me with that, but keeping my weight down sure does. I'm hopeful that there will be some big breakthroughs in our understanding of psoriasis soon...

[Paracelsus]

helps with the itching takes my mind off it, I like the Calendula intensive cream from Weleda and coal tar oil as a change up. Last year I went for iridation and I only have a mild but annoying case

[DingusKhan]

DoctorJohnson is right, "significant, clinical benefit" is not as cool as "complete remission", and perhaps the original title is a bit much.

But

[h=3]significant clinical, steroid-free benefits to 10 of 11 patients with active Crohn's disease, compared with placebo, without side effects. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01040910.

is a really big deal.

[DoctorJohnson]

> coal tar oil as a change up
Ah, the venerable and very smelly coal tar treatment--seems like something out of the 19th century (and probably is). I can well remember the smell of my father's coal tar shampoo... (PS seems to run in the family...)