Medical cannabis use is common in the United States and increasingly more socially acceptable. As more patients seek out and acquire medical cannabis, primary care physicians will be faced with a growing number of patients seeking information on the indications, efficacy, and safety of medical cannabis. We present a case of a patient with several chronic health conditions who asks her primary care provider whether she should try medical cannabis. We provide a review of the pharmacology of medical cannabis, the state of evidence regarding the efficacy of medical cannabis, variations in the types of medical cannabis, and safety monitoring considerations for the primary care physician.
This chapter discusses abdominal pain in the context of functional gastrointestinal disease (FGID) and some chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, recognizing the huge burden it places on the health care system and emotional costs to patients and health care professionals. It presents a review of several modalities that include mind–body medicine practices, natural products, botanicals, manual and movement-based therapies, and pharmaceuticals that can be used as part of an integrative health plan for patients presenting with FGID and abdominal pain. It describes an integrative approach that weaves in concepts of patient-centered care, effective communication, empathic listening, mindfulness, and evidence-informed practice.
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