Celiac Disease

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marijuana for celiac disease
Celiac disease is a type of autoimmune disorder — a severe condition that may occur in genetically predisposed individuals for whom gluten ingestion results in small intestine damage. Estimates show celiac disease affects one in 100 individuals worldwide, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. In the U.S., 2.5 million people are undiagnosed and have a higher risk of long-term health complications. Symptoms of celiac disease can be unpleasant. Fortunately, medical marijuana for celiac disease can help.

How and Why Marijuana Can Be an Effective Treatment for Celiac Disease

Studies show cannabinoid receptors can help heal intestinal lining damage in people with celiac disease. Therefore, researchers suggest targeting CB2 receptors in individuals who suffer from celiac disease. Many individuals have experienced relief from their stomach pain, and in some cases have even reported being disease-free after using medical marijuana for celiac disease.

While there’s no suggestion medical cannabis can cure the condition, and a gluten-free diet is currently the only treatment option available for celiac disease, it’s possible cannabis may have a positive impact on some celiac symptoms.

For instance, it’s common for celiac disease patients to experience abdominal pain. Excess gas and bloating are often the cause of this pain and occur in both individuals with undiagnosed celiac disease and those who have received a diagnosis and are following a gluten-free diet.

Patients use medical weed often for treating chronic pain, and many have explored it as a potential treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers have also found good evidence medical pot can treat nerve pain at low doses.

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What Side Effects and Symptoms of Celiac Disease Can Medical Marijuana Treat?

Some symptoms medical cannabis for celiac disease can treat include:

  • Abdominal/stomach pain
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Nausea

Symptoms of celiac disease often include abdominal pain, which can sometimes be severe, including nausea. Some evidence shows cannabis can combat both nausea and pain in other conditions.

There’s anecdotal evidence showing marijuana for celiac disease can help ease symptoms in patients, with many reporting consuming the herb helps them gain weight, while curbing abdominal pain and even alleviating diarrhea.

marijuana help

Nausea, while not as common as other symptoms of the condition, is a side effect for some patients, especially when they have consumed a large amount of gluten. Cancer patients commonly use cannabis to alleviate nausea, and those experiencing nausea due to chemotherapy and other conditions state the herb is often helpful.

A lot of individuals with celiac disease, when first diagnosed, are underweight. As you may have heard, marijuana creates “the munchies,” and therefore it’s quite possible consuming medical weed could help these individuals gain their weight back.

The depression and anxiety linked with this condition are also symptoms marijuana can help with.

You can experience side effects with all drugs, and cannabis for celiac disease is no exception. Some side effects associated with marijuana use include:

  • Sleepiness
  • Headaches
  • Agitation or unease
  • Poor concentration
  • Confusion
  • Impaired learning and attention and poor memory, particularly at higher doses

Best Strains of Marijuana to Use for Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Many cannabis doctors suggest Indica strains to treat symptoms of celiac disease. Indica helps slow down muscle contractions, relaxes the muscles, makes digestion easier and eases stomach pain.

Some effective medical marijuana and celiac disease strains include:

Strains for Nausea

  • Death Star (Indica-dominant)
  • Chocolope (Sativa)
  • Sunset Sherbet (hybrid)

Strains for Abdominal/Stomach Pain

  • Afghan Kush (Indica)
  • Granddaddy Purple (Indica)
  • White Widow (hybrid)

Strains for Depression

  • Pineapple Express (hybrid)
  • Harlequin (hybrid)
  • Jack Herer (Sativa)

Strains for Anxiety

  • Granddaddy Purple (hybrid)
  • Amnesia Haze (hybrid)
  • Northern Lights (Indica)

Strains for Insomnia

  • Godfather OG (Indica)
  • Purple Urkle (Indica)
  • Granddaddy Purple (Indica)

Best Methods of Marijuana Treatment for the Side Effects and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Using CBD can help celiac disease patients gain back their appetite and gain weight, because the anti-emetic and anti-inflammatory effect of CBD allows users’ bodies to absorb food nutrients better, reversing the symptoms described previously.

While there are various ways to obtain your CBD, the most recommended and common is with CBD oil. Using it sublingually will allow the CBD to reach your bloodstream faster, and your intestinal tract acids won’t degrade it. That maximizes CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, enabling the patient to obtain the essential nutrients they require for a balanced diet without the common discomforts.

Other methods of medical marijuana for celiac disease use include:

  • Smoking
  • Vaping
  • Edibles
  • Transdermal patch
  • Topicals
  • Dabbing
  • Beverages
  • Suppositories

Start the Medical Marijuana for Celiac Disease Relief Process

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What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, coeliac or sprue, is an immune reaction to consuming gluten, a protein in barley, wheat and rye.

In people with celiac disease, eating foods that contain gluten triggers an immune response in their small intestine. This reaction, over time, damages the lining of their small intestines and prevents nutrient absorption. Intestinal damage can result, and you can feel tired and weak. It can also lead to severe complications.

Nutrient malabsorption can affect children’s development and growth, along with the symptoms you see in adults.

Celiac disease doesn’t have a cure, but for most patients, adhering to a strict gluten-free diet helps them promote intestinal healing and manage their symptoms.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is not the same as a food allergy, and the symptoms you experience will differ. For instance, if you have wheat allergies, you might have watery or itchy eyes or have a difficult time breathing after consuming something that contains wheat.

In contrast, if you have celiac disease and you accidentally consume something containing gluten, you might experience intestinal issues like constipation, diarrhea or gas, or you may experience some of the following symptoms:

  • Anemia
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of bone density
  • Nausea
  • Mouth ulcers
  • An itchy, blistery rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
  • General fatigue
  • A headache
  • Heartburn
  • Joint or bone pain
  • Weight loss

In kids, intestinal issues are a lot more common than they are in adults. Symptoms in children may include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Steatorrhea, or pale, foul-smelling stool
  • Constipation
  • Swelling or bloating in the belly

Not everybody with the condition will experience these symptoms. Some may have no issues at all, making diagnosis difficult.

Causes of Celiac Disease

An interaction between gluten, genes and other environmental factors leads to celiac disease. However, medical professionals have yet to determine the exact cause. Gastrointestinal infections, infant feeding practices and gut bacteria could contribute to celiac disease development.

celiac disease causes

In some cases, celiac disease becomes triggered or active for the first time after:

  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Surgery
  • Severe emotional stress
  • Viral infection

When your immune system overreacts to food with gluten, this reaction can damage the minuscule projections similar to hair that line your small intestine. These projections, which are called villi, absorb vitamins, minerals and other food nutrients you consume. If you have damaged villi, no matter how much you eat, you can’t obtain enough nutrients.

Certain gene variations seem to raise the risk of developing celiac disease. However, having these gene variants doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get the disease, which suggests other factors must be involved.

Risk factors of developing celiac disease include:

  • A family member with the condition or with dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Autoimmune thyroid disease
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Turner syndrome or Down syndrome
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Microscopic colitis
  • Addison’s disease

Types of Celiac Disease

There are two main types of celiac disease: classical and non-classical.

Classical Celiac Disease

With this type, individuals have symptoms and signs of malabsorption, which include:

  • Steatorrhea
  • Diarrhea
  • Growth failure in children
  • Weight loss

Non-Classical Celiac Disease

With this type, individuals might experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms without obvious signs of malabsorption, or might have unrelated symptoms. They might suffer from abdominal pain and distension and other symptoms like:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Iron-deficiency anemia
  • Numbness, tingling or pain in feet or hands
  • A chronic migraine
  • Reduced bone mass and fractures
  • Elevated liver enzymes, also called unexplained chronic hypertransaminasemia
  • Vitamin deficiency — including B12 and folic acid
  • Dental enamel defects
  • Unexplained infertility
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Depression and anxiety

The many ways celiac disease may impact individuals, along with the lack of primary care residency programs and training in medical schools, both contribute to a poor diagnosis in the U.S. Presently, estimates show 80 percent of the population with celiac disease remains undiagnosed.

undiagnosed celiac

Physical Effects of Celiac Disease

You can develop celiac disease at any age after you’ve started eating foods or taking medications containing gluten. Celiac disease can lead to other severe health issues if left untreated, including:

  • Anemia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Neurological conditions, including migraines and epilepsy
  • Intestinal cancers
  • Other autoimmune disorders, like multiple sclerosis and Type I diabetes
  • Loss of bone density and calcium
  • Miscarriage and infertility
  • Lactose intolerance

Celiac disease in children can also lead to:

  • Delayed puberty
  • Failure to thrive
  • Arthritis
  • Dental enamel defects
  • Epilepsy
  • Anemia
  • Irritability
  • Weight loss

Mental Effects of Celiac Disease

Individuals with untreated celiac disease can also suffer from a wide range of psychological issues. They may have difficulty adjusting to a new chronic illness diagnosis or trouble dealing with gluten-free diet adherence. Greater severity of symptoms, behavioral or emotional symptoms or significant impairment in function are all signs of the potential need for mental health treatment. These may include:

  • Feeling extremely guilty or worthless
  • Loss of pleasure in life
  • Having massive mood swings
  • Crying a lot for no apparent reason
  • Experiencing a change in sleeping or eating patterns
  • Feeling easily angry or irritated
  • Loss of interest in pleasurable activities and hobbies
  • Having very low energy
  • Withdrawing from others
  • Seeing images or hearing voices other people don’t experience
  • Experiencing agitation or racing thoughts
  • Wanting to harm another person or yourself
  • Thinking others are plotting against you

Depression and other related mood conditions are also common among people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. One study published in Psychiatry Quarterly found dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder and adjustment disorders occurred more often in a group of patients with celiac disease, compared to controls. A subsequent study supported increased dysthymia prevalence in celiac disease, compared to controls.

Another study showed individuals with celiac disease have a higher chance of receiving a subsequent depression diagnosis, but not bipolar disorder, as opposed to individuals without celiac disease.

Celiac Disease Statistics

Beyond Celiac offers these estimates about the condition:

  • Estimates show one in 133 people in the U.S., or around 1 percent of the population, has celiac disease.
  • Women and men of all races and ages can develop celiac disease.
  • Estimates show 83 percent of individuals in the U.S. with celiac disease are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed with other disorders.
  • Five to 22 percent of individuals with celiac disease have another first-degree relative with celiac disease.

celiac disease stats

Celiac Disease History

Around 8,000 years after the first reported case of the illness, medical professions gave celiac disease its name. Living in the first century CE, Aretaeus of Cappadocia, a Greek physician, wrote about “the coeliac affection.” He gave it the name “koiliakos” after the Greek word for “abdomen,” which is “koelia.”

In the early 19th century, Dr. Mathew Baillie — who was likely unaware of Aretaeus — reported his observations of adults with a chronic diarrheal disorder causing malnutrition and a gas-distended abdomen. Those people seemed to benefit significantly from living nearly entirely on rice, according to Baillie’s observations, but his report went almost unnoticed.

Seventy-five years later, Dr. Samuel Gee, a top British authority in pediatric diseases, took full credit for celiac disease’s modern description when giving a lecture on the “celiac affection” to medical students — now the disorder’s milestone description.

Current Treatments Available for Celiac Disease and Their Side Effects

A lifelong, strict gluten-free diet is currently the only treatment for celiac disease. Along with wheat, other foods containing gluten are:

  • Bulgur
  • Barley
  • Malt
  • Farina
  • Rye
  • Graham flour
  • Durum
  • Spelt
  • Semolina
  • Triticale

Your doctor might refer you to a dietitian who will work with you to create a healthy gluten-free diet plan. Once you eliminate gluten from your diet, your small intestinal inflammation typically begins to lessen, generally within a few weeks, although you could start feeling better in a matter of days. Complete villi healing and growth might take a few months to a few years. Small intestine healing seems to happen quicker in children than in adults.

If you are deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, like calcium, iron, folate, zinc, niacin, vitamin D, fiber, vitamin B12 and others, you may require supplements. Besides becoming deficient in some nutrients due to eliminating certain foods from your diet, you typically won’t experience any side effects from treating your celiac disease.

Recent Developments in Celiac Disease

With improving insight into the celiac disease pathogenesis, medical researchers have suggested a few potential drug targets. Newer strategies include:

  • Reduction of mucosal permeability
  • Degradation of gluten intraluminally
  • Inhibition of the transglutaminase 2 enzyme
  • Modulation of the immune responses to many cytokines
  • Blocking antigen presentation by HLA-DQ8 or HLA-DQ2
  • Vaccination

Resources:

  1. https://celiac.org/celiac-disease/understanding-celiac-disease-2/what-is-celiac-disease/#611pvcZHO2Arqm36.99
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3641836/
  3. https://www.cureceliacdisease.org/wp-content/uploads/SU07CeliacCtr.News_.pdf
  4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352225