Cannabis Chemicals May Alleviate Post-Eating Stomach Cramps

A chemical component extracted from the cannabis, or marijuana, plant may relax the colon and reduce stomach cramping after eating, according to a study presented at the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. The study compared the effects of dronabinol and placebo on colonic motility and sensation in healthy adults.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota conducted a double-blind, parallel-group study of 52 volunteers who were randomly assigned placebo or a single dose of dronabinol, a synthetic THC and a naturally-occurring compound in marijuana, known as a non-selective cannabinoid agonist.

The researchers found that dronabinol relaxes the colon and reduces post-eating contractions and cramping. Further, the effects were most pronounced in females. “The potential for cannabinoids to modulate colonic motor function in disease deserves a further look,” said study leader Tuba Esfandyari, M.D., MSc of the Mayo Clinic.

Source: American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)

RELATED STORIES:
Smoking Boosts Genetic Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis   Smoking ban dramatically reduces air pollution in Irish pubs   Antibiotic That Appears To Control Phobias May Also Be Useful In Treating Addiction   Marijuana behind 45 percent of U.S. drug arrests   Smoking at Home Threatens Children Despite Support for Public Bans   No smoking message fails with teens   Smokeless Tobacco Products Have Lower Risk of Adverse Health Effects than Cigarettes   Pain Patients Should Not be Punished for Opioid Medication Abuse or Addiction   Varenicline shown to help ‘quit smoking’   Benefits of Quitting Smoking   Menthol Cigarette Smokers May Have More Difficulty Quitting Smoking   US high court considers medical marijuana case

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]