Ulcerative colitis can be a life-altering and painful condition. You may go through life wondering when and how your condition will flare up and how badly you’ll feel. Conventional treatments often come with a broad range of harmful side effects, as you’ve read above. By using marijuana for ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, you can treat your symptoms effectively with much less dangerous side effects.

In 2012, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America released a statement that pointed to compounds in marijuana closely mimicking the endocannabinoids that naturally occur in the human body. These compounds play a crucial part in decreasing gastrointestinal inflammation.

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A study from 2011 discovered 51 percent of ulcerative colitis patients use cannabis to treat their symptoms and have no side effects. There’s also evidence to suggest THC found in medical pot could play a part in reducing the permeability of the epithelial lining, decreasing inflammation and reducing damage.

Though ulcerative colitis differs its counterpart Crohn’s Disease, both share symptoms that can be treated using medicinal cannabis. In 2013, a study was conducted testing the effects of medical marijuana on Crohn’s symptoms. Patients were either given medicinal cannabis or a placebo for eight weeks of treatment. Patients who received medical marijuana went into remission and reported increases in appetitie and improvements in the quality of their sleep.

Medical pot can treat the inflammation, lack of appetite, general pain and exhaustion reported by people with ulcerative colitis.

Types of Marijuana Strains
Using medical marijuana for ulcerative colitis could significantly alleviate your symptoms. To qualify for a medical marijuana card, ulcerative colitis must be on your state’s list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions.

Once you have your card, you can visit dispensaries and purchase the products that suit your ulcerative colitis symptom needs. Because a variety of strains exist, speak with an experienced budtender or your marijuana doctor to find ones that will suit you best.

We’ve put together a quick guide to help you get started. Let’s look at Indica, sativa and hybrid strains and their medicinal uses.

Indica Strains
Indica strains have a sedating effect — you’ll feel a whole-body sensation. These are therefore appropriate for treating symptoms like:

Chronic pain
Tremors
Insomnia
Muscle spasms
Rheumatic and arthritic swelling and stiffness
Anxiety
Sativa Strains
Sativa strains make you feel physically and mentally energetic, as well as clear-headed. Symptoms best treated with sativa strains include:

Depression
Nausea
Chronic pain
Appetite stimulation
Headaches
Indica/Sativa Hybrid Strains
Hybrid strains have the characteristics of both indica and sativa. For example, adding sativa to an indica strain produces mental clarity and decreases sedative effects. Combining indica with a sativa strain should lower the potential of a pure sativa making you feel anxious.

Best Strains of Marijuana to Use for Ulcerative Colitis
There’s a lot to learn about the subject of which strain works best for your ulcerative colitis symptoms. We’ve compiled this list to get you started.

Inflammation and Pain
Inflammation and pain go hand-in-hand regarding treatment options. Cannabis has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Taking any of the following three strains can alleviate your symptoms:

Cannatonic. As a therapeutic hybrid, the Cannatonic strain helps to relieve pain and inflammation. You can expect a mellow and smooth effect from this strain. You can take this with no adverse effects before going out to work or meeting up with friends.
Harlequin. Harlequin is a sativa-dominant hybrid. Suitable for daytime use, the Harlequin strain provides no psychoactive, paranoid or anxious effects. Because Harlequin contains neuroprotective compounds and antioxidants, you can find relief from pain and inflammation when you take this strain. You’ll experience a painless, uplifting and mellow high.
Afghan Kush. Afghan Kush is almost 100% indica. Expect to become couch-locked and experience a numbing of your body pain when you take this strain. Afghan Kush contains anti-inflammatory terpenes. You should use this strain at night.
Lack of appetite
When you have ulcerative colitis, you need adequate nutrition. Try these strains if you’ve lost your appetite or find eating is painful:

Candyland. This hybrid strain has the qualities of a pure sativa. You’ll feel energized, hungry and wakeful for several hours after taking this strain.
Girl Scout Cookies. A hybrid strain that provides full body relaxation and pain relief, the Girl Scout Cookies strain can kick-start your appetite. Make sure you have lots of tasty, healthy treats on hand before trying this strain.
Orange Kush. This indica that treats headaches, chronic pain and stress — it will also give you “the munchies.”
Tiredness
You may frequently feel tired when you have ulcerative colitis. Try the following three strains to combat this:

Laughing Buddha. A sativa-dominant hybrid, Laughing Buddha gives you lots of energy to get through your day. Because new consumers may feel a little anxious when they first take the strain, you should have experience with taking marijuana before using the Laughing Buddha strain.
Tangie. If you love the smell and taste of tangerines, you’ll love this great-tasting sativa-dominant hybrid. You feel energized and creative when you take this tangerine-smelling and tasting strain.
Ghost Train Haze. A strong sativa, this strain soothes away your worries and stress. You may experience laughing fits when you try Ghost Train Haze.
Best Methods of Marijuana Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
Now you know how medical pot can help you, let’s look at the methods of marijuana treatment so you can decide which to use to treat your ulcerative colitis symptoms:

Smoking. Smoking pot gives you instant relief and is inexpensive. However, smoke could harm your lungs, and you’ll smell of cannabis.
Vaping. Vaping provides fast relief, doesn’t make you smell as much as smoking and isn’t as harsh on your lungs as smoking a joint.
Juices. You can blend raw, fresh cannabis leaves with some healthy juice. Drinking juice is a good option if you have little appetite.
Sprays. Cannabis sprays come in a variety of mild flavors.
Tinctures. These are alcohol-based extracts that you add to your food and drinks.
Suppositories. Dispensaries also sell medical pot in suppository form. You can purchase suppository-making kits in health food stores, or you can buy them online.
Edibles. You can buy or make your own edibles. You can also buy cannabis-infused lollipops and lozenges that are perfect if you’ve no appetite.
The medical community has woken up to the benefits of medical pot in recent years. It no longer has the stigma it once had, and for a good reason. If you or someone you love are seeking a way to naturally and gently relieve your UC symptoms, search for a medical marijuana doctor or dispensary today to find out more about cannabis and ulcerative colitis.