As a health supplement, CBD has come a long way. It has taken a considerable leap from a mere non-psychotic cannabinoid to the most prevalent cannabinoid. Besides being an OTC drug, the first pure CBD drug, Epidiolex, has gotten approval from the FDA to treat seizures in children. Due to these underlying benefits of CBD, people are using it as a home remedy to treat different types of diseases. Research suggests that CBD may help with several medical conditions, including pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is a medical condition in which the pancreas gets swollen up. The pancreas is primarily responsible for digestion and metabolizing active ingredients In food and drugs. Pancreatitis is of two types, acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is caused by the sudden inflammation of the pancreas or stones from the gallbladder trapped inside the pancreatic duct. On the other hand, chronic pancreatitis is a sign of type 1 diabetes. CBD has excellent medicinal properties that help with the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, such as inflammation and pain. So, let’s see if you can consume CBD gummies for chronic pancreatitis attacks.
Can CBD help with chronic pancreatitis attacks?
Traditionally, pancreatitis treatment focuses on controlling pain in the upper abdominal region and lowering inflammation. For this purpose, doctors prescribe potent painkillers. However, those strong painkillers have several dangerous side effects: confusion, constipation, liver damage, nausea, and sedation. Moreover, these prescription painkillers could also be highly addictive as the users build tolerance against them over time. This increases the chances of overdose.
A study published in the journal pancreas talks about the anti-inflammatory role of CBD in the treatment of pancreatitis in mice with cerulein. Cerulein is an amino acid that helps in the movements of smooth muscles of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. The authors of the study concluded that CBD could improve the pathological conditions of mice and lower the activity of pancreatic enzymes.
Another study comprising non-obese diabetic mice concluded that CBD could restrict the inflammation markers in the increase. The research team further concluded that CBD might also help with the occurrence of type 1 diabetes. In some severe cases, chronic pancreatitis can also lead to pancreatic cancer. In those patients, CBD may help in inhibiting cancer cell growth.
According to a 2019 review study published in a journal, researchers pondered upon the role of CBD and THC in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The researchers conclude that CBD and THC have potent anti-cancer properties. These properties help CBD stop the growth of cancer cells and trigger them for programmed cell death.
The primary role of the pancreas includes the secretion of insulin. And because of the inflammation there, its secretion gets compromised. The pancreas’s inability to produce enough insulin may lead to type 1 diabetes. Apart from the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can also help with other symptoms of pancreatitis, such as peripheral neuropathy and nausea, and vomiting. The nerves get damaged or swell up in peripheral neuropathy, leading to pain and numbness. According to a small random controlled trial in 2020, researchers conclude that the topical application of CBD can lower acute neuropathic pain.
However, researchers also say that apart from reducing the pain in neuropathic pain, CBD can also help with different types of pain such as backache and arthritis. Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms of chronic pancreatitis. Research on animal models has shown that CBD can help lower vomiting tendencies. According to a 2020 animal study, CBD can lower vomiting and nausea in rats and shrews. CBD was administered subcutaneously or under the skin layer in this research.
Why should you use CBD for pancreatitis?
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD make it an excellent choice for treating chronic pancreatitis attacks. Now that we have seen the scientific proof of CBD may help fight regular pancreatitis attacks. Let’s see how CBD assists in fighting pancreatitis attacks.
We know that CBD is one of the many cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. But as a matter of fact, the human body also produces compounds similar to these cannabinoids. Because these compounds are produced inside the body, they are known as endocannabinoid molecules. Together, these endocannabinoid molecules form a specialized regulating network- the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This endocannabinoid system is mainly responsible for regulating pain and inflammation responses, appetite, and sleep cycle, among many others.
Scientists believe that CBD gives its analgesic and inflammation curing properties by interacting with the endocannabinoid receptors of ECS. A large part of the endocannabinoid receptors is concentrated around the abdominal area, which gives CBD the liberty to show its effects to the fullest.
According to some researchers, CBD directly interacts with various ion channels to show its medicinal effects. Among these ion channels, there are TRPV1 receptors that also work as ion channels. Scientists have found that the TRPV1 receptors help medicate the pain response and inflammation. Due to this, CBD may also help lower the pain due to pancreatitis and inflammation of the pancreas.
Researchers have found that CBD interferes with the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Due to this, the concentration of endocannabinoids increases around the brain’s synapses. Thus contributing to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD that may help relieve the inflammation of the pancreas.
Lastly, using CBD gummies can help chronic pancreatitis patients by lowering the symptoms of the disease. Gummies are also quite discreet and can be taken anywhere. However, at present, the research is limited on the role of medicated cbd in the treatment of pancreatitis. So, if you want to try CBD for pancreatitis, talk with your doctor first as you may have some allergies, or it can interact with the ongoing medication.
On the legal side, CBD is entirely legal after the passing of the 2018 agriculture bill if the product is extracted from a hemp plant grown in the United States and contains less than 0.3% of THC.
