By Jay Jay O'Brien Certified Cannabis Wellness Coach and Educator

In each article here at the Effective Cannabis Newsletter, I try to write from my personal experience. For this edition on Autoimmune Disease, I would have loved to share about Cannabis for Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease that we’ve been living within our home since my then 2, and now almost 15-year-old son was diagnosed, but I’ve only recently learned of a potential benefit, so we’re not there…..yet.

What did come up for me is the H. Pylori my mother-in-law was infected with after a trip home to Ireland in 2015. She swears, “It was the oysters.” She had one night at one of her favorite golf club hotels where the infection started. Overnight, her health changed and continued to evolve, as did her taste for seafood.

What Is H. PYLORI?  

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped bacterium that infects the stomach lining, causing inflammation (gastritis) potentially leading to many unwanted health outcomes, such as Autoimmune Disease, Peptic and Duodenal Ulcer disease, and some forms of cancer. 

Two-thirds of the world’s population carry this bacterial pathogen burrowing inside the mucus lining of their stomachs (1). If this infection remains untreated, the immune response begins as chronic inflammation.

Infectious Inflammation

While H. pylori infection is not considered an autoimmune disease in itself, there is some data to show that it can contribute to the development of or exacerbation of them. (2)

You could have an H. Pylori infection and not know it. Your symptoms may be hard to pinpoint, as they tend to mimic symptoms associated with many other illnesses.
Symptoms may be vague and resemble something as simple as a stomach virus.

When H. Pylori Infection Occurs, You Can Expect To Feel Some of The Following;

• Indigestion or heartburn
• Abdominal pain and discomfort
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Involuntary gag reflex (3)

H. pylori infection is primarily associated with gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer, and is suggested to have links to certain autoimmune diseases. Although the relationship between H. pylori and autoimmune diseases is complex and not fully understood, the research continues.

From Chronic To Causation 

In the research we do have, there has been some evidence of a correlation between infection and multiple chronic autoimmune conditions such as;

• Autoimmune Gastritis: Is an inflammatory response where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks stomach cells. This condition can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. (4)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): While some studies have reported associations between H. pylori infection and RA, the evidence is inconclusive, and further research is needed to understand the relationship between the two conditions. From my personal experience, my mother-in-law, after eight years with H.pylori infection, developed both RA and Osteoarthritis (OA) (5), and,
• ‘Lupus’ or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Limited evidence suggests a potential association between H. pylori infection and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs and tissues in the body. (6)

Restoring Balance

When we feel good, healthy, or well-balanced, we can be certain that our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is functioning well.

The ECS is a complex cellular system that regulates all the other systems in the body to maintain balance, or what is known as “Homeostasis.” Homeostasis is a state of balance or good health. It is our body’s system of self-regulation necessary for adaptation and survival.

Research has shown that maintaining the equilibrium of our ECS is crucial to our overall health. (7) Conversely, deficiencies in the ECS can lead to disease.

The ECS Is Made Up of Endocannabinoids, Cannabinoid Receptors, and Enzymes and Is Responsible For;

• appetite and digestion,         
• metabolism,
• chronic pain,
• inflammation and other immune system responses,
• mood,
• learning and memory,
• motor control,
• sleep,
• cardiovascular system function,
• muscle formation,
• bone remodeling and growth,
• liver function,
• reproductive system function,
• stress,
• skin and nerve function. (8)

Chronic inflammation caused by H. pylori infection can disrupt the normal regulation of our ECS, leading to the development of autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals. Thankfully, there are many ways to support our ECS health, reduce inflammation, and return the body to ‘homeostasis.’

'Sup’Planting’

Cannabis, or more specifically, phytocannabinoids, the molecules in the Cannabis plant that are remarkably similar to the endocannabinoids made by our bodies, like anandamide and 2-AG, are an ideal way to supplement this vital ‘master control’ system.

Phytocannabinoids like Cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have shown many anti-inflammatory benefits.

CBD is one of the non-psychoactive components dominant in the Cannabis plant with many pharmacological effects. Its anti-inflammatory action was observed as a “promising molecule for pharmacotherapy.” by Sinemyiz Atalay et al. (9) It interacts with the immune system regulating many inflammatory responses and can provide therapeutic options with fewer side effects.
In addition, this study displays the antioxidant properties of CBD to reduce free radical damage that leads to inflammation in the body. (10)

THC, the psychoactive component of Cannabis most prominent in the plant, has shown some direct anti-inflammatory action both internally and topically, but the results are often dose-dependent and situationally specific.

THC at low doses can promote an anti-inflammatory response, but true to its biphasic nature at higher doses, THC did not “reduce pro-inflammatory or increase anti-inflammatory cytokines.” on its own. (11)

What this may indicate is THC puts its best foot forward when surrounded by its friends. Multiple studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effect of THC is most effective when used in conjunction with multi-cannabinoid blends, including CBD, CBG, and THC.

The synergistic modulation created by blending, rather than isolating cannabinoids supports the theory purported by Dr. Ethan Russo suggesting that multi-cannabinoid formulations are superior in effectiveness over the action of any cannabinoid on its own. 

This theory is known as the ‘entourage effect’ and time and again, in my practice, I have witnessed it to be more than theory.

Prevention Is the Best Medicine

The ability of the Endocannabinoid System to reduce the causes, symptoms, and incidence of inflammation provides a potent indication that its healthy maintenance could be preventative medicine against the development of autoimmune disease.

Maintaining balance is crucial with an H. pylori infection as it not only leads to autoimmune diseases, but long-term infection and chronic inflammation may also lead to the development of various gastric cancers like Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma. H. pylori is the only known bacterial carcinogen responsible for over 850,000 cancer cases per year, but not everyone who has an H. pylori infection will go on to develop gastric cancer.
(12)

That being said, 1 in 10 people will be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease this year and those numbers are expected to rise. (13)

With many autoimmune diseases resulting from chronic inflammation in the body, I would suggest that reducing inflammation with Cannabis would be helpful in preventing the development of autoimmune diseases that lead to certain cancers. (14)

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Helicobacter pylori." Yellow Book, 2024. CDC Travelers' Health. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/helicobacter-pylori#:~:text=Epidemiology-,H.,low%20risk%20of%20acquiring%20H.

2. Wang, Li et al. “Helicobacter Pylori and Autoimmune Diseases: Involving Multiple Systems.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 13 833424. 10 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.833424

3.. Cancer.Net. "Stomach Cancer: Symptoms and Signs." Cancer.Net, https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/stomach-cancer/symptoms-and-signs.

4. Kishino, Maiko, et al. “A case of early autoimmune gastritis with characteristic endoscopic findings.” Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology vol. 14,3 (2021): 718-724. doi:10.1007/s12328-021-01351-4

5. Lee, Tzu-Hsuan, et al. “Influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based study.” Scientific Reports vol. 13,1 15125. 13 Sep. 2023, doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42207-w

6. Lowe, Henry et al. “The Endocannabinoid System: A Potential Target for the Treatment of Various Diseases.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 22,17 9472. 31 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijms22179472

7. Ivet Etchegaray-Morales, et al “Helicobacter pylori and its association with autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren syndrome.” Science Direct, Volume 4, 2021, 100135, doi.org/10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100135

8. Raypole, Crystal, “A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.” Healthline, May 17, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system

9. Atalay, Sinemyiz, et al. “Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol.” Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 9,1 21. 25 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/antiox9010021

10. Rodríguez Mesa, Xandy Melissa et al. “Therapeutic Prospects of Cannabinoids in the Immunomodulation of Prevalent Autoimmune Diseases.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 6,3 (2021): 196-210. doi:10.1089/can.2020.0183

11. Rodríguez Mesa, Xandy Melissa et al. “Therapeutic Prospects of Cannabinoids in the Immunomodulation of Prevalent Autoimmune Diseases.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 6,3 (2021): 196-210. doi:10.1089/can.2020.0183

12. “Helicobacter Pylori Genome Project Results.” National Cancer Institute, dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2024/h-pylori-genome-project. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.

13. “Autoimmune Disorders Found to Affect around One in Ten People.” University of Oxford, www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-05-06-autoimmune-disorders-found-affect-around-one-ten-people. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.

14. “Autoimmune Disorders Found to Affect around One in Ten People.” University of Oxford, www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-05-06-autoimmune-disorders-found-affect-around-one-ten-people. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.

About Jay Jay O’Brien:

Jay Jay is the founder and creator of naturalisticallynow and the Canecdotal Collective, where she educates and assists people with cancer, implementing Cannabis into their protocols. As a stage 4 lung cancer survivor and caregiver to her type 1 diabetic son, Jay Jay has learned that you truly do "get what you give", and with Cannabis, she believes we have the opportunity to give our bodies the opportunity to truly heal rather than just masking our symptoms. Through her own experience of healing, she has now made it her mission to share the capabilities of Cannabis with all who will listen.

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Effective Cannabis Newsletter is a platform to educate on the vital role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in one's health. The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in or available through this newsletter is for general information purposes only. It is not medical advice; it is health awareness.