Plant-Based Medicine - Inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

This course is structured across seven units, combining foundational knowledge, clinical evidence, and real-world applications:

Unit 1: Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Gain an in-depth understanding of IBD, including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. This unit covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, and diagnostic approaches, as well as the limitations of conventional treatments, setting the stage for exploring cannabinoid-based therapies.

Unit 2: Medicinal Cannabis and IBD
Examine the evidence for using medicinal cannabis in IBD management. This unit highlights its potential for symptom relief, including reducing pain, diarrhoea, and nausea, while emphasising its role as a complementary therapy to improve quality of life rather than a cure.

Units 3-6: Case Studies
Explore four detailed case studies illustrating the application of medicinal cannabis in diverse clinical scenarios:
- Case Study 1: Managing Crohn’s Disease in a young adult with severe symptoms despite conventional therapies. Learn about THC and CBD dosing strategies for symptomatic relief.
- Case Study 2: Treating Ulcerative Colitis in a middle-aged patient. Discover how CBD-dominant formulations can address pain and improve sleep without causing psychoactive effects.
- Case Study 3: A holistic approach to treating a patient with atypical Crohn’s, emphasising CBD’s role in managing anxiety and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Case Study 4: Using medicinal cannabis for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Understand how to tailor CBD dosing to alleviate chronic abdominal pain and associated anxiety.

Unit 7: Conclusion and Best Practices
Conclude with key takeaways, best practices, and guidance on navigating patient-specific factors, such as comorbidities, driving considerations, and economic implications. This unit reinforces the importance of individualised care and informed decision-making in medicinal cannabis therapy.

This course blends scientific evidence with clinical expertise, equipping practitioners with the tools to effectively incorporate medicinal cannabis into the management of IBD and related conditions.

1. Evaluate treatment options for Crohn’s disease with medicinal cannabis.
2. Evaluate treatment options for ulcerative colitis with medicinal cannabis.

All degree qualified medical practitioners.