{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/autoimmune-disease/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2191-markdown","title":"Marijuana Provides Relief for Celiac Disease","slug":"marijuana-provides-relief-for-celiac-disease","content":"### What Is Celiac Disease?\r\n\r\nCeliac Disease is an autoimmune disease that is triggered when sufferers eat gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When the body of someone with celiac disease detects gluten in their digestive tract it results in damage to the villi. When the villi, small finger like projections in the lining of the small intestine, become damaged the absorption of key nutrients is limited, which can lead to weight loss and other nutrient deficiency related problems. The symptoms of celiac disease include stomach pain, problems with digestion, migraines, weight loss, and many more. Though the symptoms can be mostly controlled by avoiding gluten, celiac patients can experience flare-ups  when there is cross-contamination of gluten into their food. \r\n\r\n### How Can Cannabis Help?\r\n\r\nA [2013 study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3631143/) by the National Institute of Health found that cannabis may help treat celiac disease by activating the endocannabinoid system in the body. The research was conducted by the University of Teramo in Italy and it looked at the expression of cannabinoid receptors in the body by observing their transcriptional and transitional levels in the duodenal mucosa, the lining of the portion of the small intestine that leads to the stomach. The researchers looked at these levels in untreated celiac patients, celiac patients who have not had gluten for twelve months, and a control group of patients without celiac disease. The study found that cannabis has a high therapeutic potential for targeting the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the stomach, showing that cannabis can have a direct effect on the overall well-being of the intestinal tract, rather than just help with general pain relief for celiac patients. \r\n\r\n### Cannabis Provides Symptom Relief\r\n\r\nThere are large amounts of anecdotal evidence to support the findings of the study conducted by the National Institute of Health. Cannabis has a long history of being used to treat gastrointestinal disorders because it can act as an antiemetic and an analgesic. Medical marijuana can help decrease nausea, promote appetite, and ease abdominal cramping, all which are common symptoms of celiac sufferers when they encounter gluten. The [Institute of Medicine reported](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/gastrointestinal_disorders_booklet# research) that for patients, “who suffer simultaneously from severe pain, nausea, and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs might offer broad spectrum relief not found in any other single medication.” Cannabis can work on the endocannabinoid receptors found in the stomach lining to ease pain and reduce inflammation in patients with celiac disease. \r\n\r\nDo you have questions about this article? Ask a question in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/) feature. A doctor or member of our community will answer.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.342281879194631,"src":"/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/14b42/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/f836f/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg 200w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/2244e/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg 400w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/14b42/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg 800w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/47498/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg 1200w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/e373b/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.jpg 1282w","srcWebp":"/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/58556/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/61e93/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp 200w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/1f5c5/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp 400w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/58556/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp 800w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/99238/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp 1200w,\n/static/744fb762260e9aa6bb9e5895ab75f149/8b598/e41ea32fdea23942c1b00968621d9ff1.webp 1282w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2139-markdown","title":"Could Cannabis Provide Hope for Parkinson’s Patients?","slug":"could-cannabis-provide-hope-for-parkinsons-patients","content":"Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative [disorder](http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons) that slowly cuts off a person’s ability to produce dopamine. A recent [study](https://www.medicaljane.com/2014/11/14/parkinsons-disease-and-medical-marijuana/) in Clinical Neuropharmacology found that Parkinson’s patients who smoked marijuana had significantly improved motor skills and less general impairments. Participants in the study found a decrease in tremors, rigidity, and dyskinesia, which is the difficulty performing voluntary movements. In 2014, the Journal of Psychopharmacology released a study where participants took 300 mg of CBD per day. The participants in this study found an increase in well being and quality of life, compared to patients who took a placebo. This study was significant because CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, was able to solely decrease the symptoms of patients. Another study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that THC could prove useful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. THC was found to aid in the prevention of damage caused by free radicals and activate a receptor that stimulates new mitochondria formation. \r\n\r\nThe studies that are currently available in relation to cannabis and Parkinson’s are just scratching the surface of the potential that marijuana has to help improve the lives of Parkinson’s sufferers. The individual symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, such as chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, can all be improved by the use of cannabis. \r\n\r\n### Pain\r\n\r\nRoughly 85% of people who [suffer](http://www.pdf.org/winter12_understanding_pain_pd) from Parkinson’s experience a large amount of chronic pain. Pain is often the first symptom that Parkinson’s patients face, sometimes even before they are formally diagnosed. Much of the pain experienced by Parkinson’s sufferers is caused by tissue that has been damaged due to tremors, rigidity, and inflammation. There is an almost 5000 year old recorded history of cannabis being used for chronic pain management. Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, many in areas that are responsible for pain production. Cannabis stimulates these receptors to reduce the sensation of pain, “Medical cannabis is a very effective therapy for chronic pain patients because it affects people’s perception of pain, has the ability to mitigate the inflammatory process, and has been shown to affect voltage-gated sodium channels in nerves in a way similar to lidocaine,” reported Dr. Mark Rabe, the Medical Director of Centric Wellness, to [Medical Jane](https://www.medicaljane.com/2014/06/13/chronic-pain-and-the-theraputic-benefits-of-medical-cannabis/). \r\n \r\n### Anxiety & Depression\r\n\r\nCannabis can also be effective in alleviating anxiety and depression. It is [estimated](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16383211) that 40% of patients with Parkinson’s experience substantial anxiety in the form of various anxiety disorders. Depression symptoms are also experienced by around 60% of Parkinson’s patients and can range in their severity. It is [suggested](http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd) that chemical changes in the brain caused by Parkinson’s itself could be responsible for the development of depression. University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions recently [found](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/06/marijauna-depression_n_6622126.html) that endocannabinoids may be helpful in treating depression that results from chronic stress. Cannabis could be used to supplement naturally occurring endocannabinoids in the body, helping to relieve depression. Similarly, the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating anxiety. A study in 2011 showed that when participants with social anxiety disorder were given 600 mg of CBD before an anxiety inducing situation, they experienced a decrease in anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort. \r\nCannabinoids are also neuro-protective agents, meaning that they have a chance to help prevent damage caused by Parkinson’s disease. As with many different conditions, more studies are necessary to provide clinical evidence for the efficacy of medical marijuana and Parkinson’s disease specifically. The individual symptoms of Parkinson’s, however, can be greatly decreased through the use of cannabis. Large amounts of anecdotal evidence also show that cannabis could greatly improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease. \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherbuckley/6171350805/in/photolist-apkMA6-aqjC3T-do9QH1-fdYWXc-fNW48c-fJfMFW-fK7iRh-fGdEm8-feesaG-2s6K39-joHNQk-bv3aE8-3YWNT-feeASq-FVKr54-4Amu3e-4AmtWg-fdZkrF-a86XcH-2KuUec-eb5FRy-qiJEpC-d71k9s-ny1hR4-nhQJWs-5Av5Ej-bGTZ8M-cL53To-5pjnXV-rg2f7A-JpoALS-gsZK5-nSc1Tu-qovcag-7GrnJa-5pjoeg-5pjnGa-2KuUep-ooKsF-d71jMu-fLN9is-rDERbX-4VBjq2-4CXatN-4CSUQg-4CSUQM-9ksQHw-aqPojH-bKKdz6-e7CWqT)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/ee604/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.png","srcSet":"/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/69585/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.png 200w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/497c6/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.png 400w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/ee604/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.png 800w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/2cf95/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.png 831w","srcWebp":"/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/58556/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/61e93/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.webp 200w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/1f5c5/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.webp 400w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/58556/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.webp 800w,\n/static/74437898abd0c41b07227261fd69cf6d/e8cc8/746393d18471907e6b7bf224bb28de32.webp 831w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":4980,"name":"Autoimmune Disease","slug":"autoimmune-disease","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}