Cannabis and Celiac Disease: Can Medical Marijuana Help?
Article written by
Samuel Njoroge
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis Jassey
Cannabis is used to manage various medical conditions, leading some to wonder if it can treat celiac disease. While there are no double-blind studies that have examined the use of cannabis to treat celiac disease, there has been some research stating that medical marijuana may help with some of its symptoms, including pain and nausea.
Further, cannabis is a therapeutic tool for irritable bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — two conditions that share similar symptoms to celiac disease. This suggests that people with this autoimmune disorder may benefit from medical marijuana treatment.
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What Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a long-term autoimmune disease where ingesting gluten leads to damage in the small intestines. It is caused by an inflammatory reaction to glutenins and gliadins, which are gluten proteins.
These gluten proteins are present in foods such as wheat, barley, and rye, although some people with celiac disease may also react to oats. This reaction to gluten occurs more often in genetically predisposed people.
When people with celiac disease ingest gluten, their immune system attacks the small intestines, which may damage the villi — small fingerlike projections that absorb nutrients. The villi damage affects nutrient absorption and can lead to anemia, among other complications.
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, it is estimated that celiac affects about one in every hundred people worldwide, although only 30% are correctly diagnosed. Since the disease is hereditary, people with a first-degree relative with celiac disease have a one-in-ten risk of developing it.
Celiac disease can develop at any age after people start consuming gluten. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems, including cancers such as intestinal lymphoma and coronary artery disease.
Untreated celiac disease can also lead to the development of other autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes. Research studies also suggest that celiac disease may slightly increase the risk of early death.
The only effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet. A strict gluten-free diet helps recovery of intestinal lining after the autoimmune response, eases symptoms, and reduces the risk of developing complications.
Symptoms
Over 200 known symptoms of celiac disease may occur in the digestive system or other parts of the body. In classic celiac disease, patients may experience symptoms of malabsorption, including pale, loose, greasy stools (steatorrhea), weight loss, or failure to gain weight.
Other symptoms of celiac disease include:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Joint pain
- Bloating and gas
- Abdominal pain
- Itchy, blistery skin rash
- Mouth ulcers and canker sores
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Iron deficiency
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- Cognitive impairment
However, it is also possible to have celiac disease without any of the classic symptoms. In non-classical celiac disease, people may experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms or other seemingly unrelated symptoms.
For example, adults with subtle celiac disease may only present chronic fatigue, anemia, migraines, or low bone mass. Some people with asymptomatic celiac disease may not show any symptoms. Only after going on a strict gluten-free diet do they report better health and reduced bloating, flatulence, and acid reflux.
Medical Cannabis for Celiac Disease
No medical evidence to date shows that using medical cannabis will help improve celiac disease. But some anecdotal evidence claims marijuana may help manage celiac disease symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, and some evidence supports this.
For example, the anti-nausea effects of medical cannabis are backed by decades of research. One study found that cannabis-based preparations may help manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Another study found that most of those using cannabis to treat nausea found fast-acting relief though results varied depending on the product used.
There’s also research suggesting that cannabinoids may have immunosuppressive properties. Since celiac disease is autoimmune, medical cannabis may have some positive effects. However, there’s no conclusive evidence on how medical marijuana could work to calm down the immune system in this case.
Another symptom of celiac disease that cannabis may affect is pain. Numerous studies back the pain-relieving effects of cannabis, and according to research, it is the most common qualifying condition reported by medical marijuana users.
Perhaps the most promising result for cannabis and celiac disease is from a 2013 study that found that people with active celiac disease had higher levels of CB1 and CB2 receptors. The study also found that the altered expression of the cannabinoid receptors returned to normal after a period on a gluten-free diet.
These findings suggest the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in celiac disease. As such, targeting the cannabinoid receptors may have some effect on the development of the disease, though more research is needed.
Potential Benefits
Cannabis is gluten-free and is not related at all to wheat and barley. Also, cannabis is less likely to be cross-contaminated by gluten as most farmers growing medical cannabis aren’t also growing wheat and other gluten grains.
Medical cannabis is also a natural, plant-based product that may be better for your health than pharmaceutical drugs. More people are moving towards natural health alternatives to reduce their use of traditional pharmaceuticals since cannabis may have fewer side effects than conventional treatments.
Medical cannabis may also help promote an overall sense of wellness, improve quality of life, and manage some of the celiac disease symptoms.
Potential Risks
Medical marijuana, although generally well tolerated by the human body, may have some adverse effects. Cannabis may cause sleepiness, headaches, confusion, poor memory, and concentration. Higher doses, especially with high-THC products, may cause paranoia and impaired motor skills, increasing the risk of an accident.
Some medical cannabis products like edibles (e.g., cookies, brownies, etc.) may contain gluten in the form of wheat flour. These may exacerbate celiac disease symptoms. While gluten contamination is rare in medical cannabis, it is not out of the question, so always check with your supplier.
Best Cannabis Strains for Celiac Disease
While no evidence exists that medical marijuana improves celiac disease, many people report an improvement after consuming indica strains (i.e., chemovars). Indica strains have more pronounced physical effects, which include intense relaxation.
Relaxing the muscles may help reduce muscle contractions and ease stomach pain. Indica strains such as Bubba Kush and Afghani also help manage nausea and improve appetite, which may help counter weight loss associated with celiac disease.
Additionally, indica strains may help reduce anxiety associated with celiac disease and improve sleep quality. However, it is worth remembering that the distinction between indica and sativa is rough at best and can be misleading.
The most accurate way of telling if a variety of cannabis will work is by looking at the cannabinoid and terpene profile of a chemovar. For example, a myrcene-rich cannabis variety may be sedating, regardless of whether the strain is labeled an “indica” or a “sativa.”
The Bottom Line
Celiac disease can be debilitating. And while there is no concrete evidence that marijuana can help those with celiac, anecdotal reports state that medical cannabis helps to relieve some of the symptoms associated with this autoimmune disease. As there are risks to any medical treatment, it is worth speaking to your healthcare provider before using marijuana as a supplemental treatment for your condition.
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