While medical marijuana can be recommended for certain conditions such as PTSD, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and more, patients are more than just medical issues. This is why it’s so important to look at the person as a whole.
At ColoWell America, Dr. Shiraz Farooq and his team specialize in providing a holistic and comprehensive healing plan for patients that can include everything from medical marijuana to a plant-based diet.
“Medical cannabis should just be considered another tool in the toolbox that can be used to help patients,” said Dr. Farooq. “It’s no different than any other medicine, and in fact, can help replace the medications that some patients are using, including opioids.”
As a board certified general surgeon and board certified colorectal surgeon, Dr. Farooq specializes in gastrointestinal problems, including heart burn, constipation, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and more. The practice also focuses on anorectal issues, providing specialized care for hemorrhoids with conservative nonsurgical therapy, colonoscopies and more.
Dr. Farooq has found that in many cases, medical cannabis is successful in treating patients with colorectal and GI issues. “Patients who have Crohn’s disease see their symptoms get better; it helps with bowel frequency and pain,” he said. “CBD products can also help with gastric inflammation, acid reflux and heartburn.”
One of the most important benefits of medical cannabis is that it can help patients avoid overusing opioids. “Some patients with IBS or Crohn’s disease end up addicted to opioids, which is a serious problem all across the country,” said Dr. Farooq. “Medical cannabis can get patients off of opioids; we can taper their use slowly while increasing use of medical cannabis.”
As the news of the positive benefits of medical cannabis spreads, more and more doctors are referring their patients to ColoWell America to see Dr. Farooq. “We’ve been treating patients with PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Crohn’s disease, cancer and more,” he said, adding that referrals have come from neurologists, oncologists, pain doctors, rheumatoid doctors and other specialists.
“I see patients with Crohn’s disease or colorectal cancer and they are looking for hope—they are willing to explore every alternative out there,” he added. “If any family member of mine had cancer, I’d want them to get all the medical help available.
“Chemotherapy kills cells, which causes a decrease in appetite, nausea, joint pain, lethargy, and fibromyalgia-like problems, and patients have to take multiple medications to prevent side effects,” he continued. “Studies show that medical cannabis enhances mood, increases appetite and decreases nausea—it relieves symptoms. There are anecdotal stories from thousands of patients; if it didn’t work, they wouldn’t be writing or talking about it. This is why physicians need to start learning more.”
In addition to recommending medical cannabis to patients who need it, the practice also carries hemp-derived CBD oils for overall wellness. “HempWorx products can be used as supplements, kind of like multivitamins,” said Dr. Farooq, adding that the oils can be used for joint pain, body aches, inflammation and more. He adds that HempWorx CBD line has been certified as both pure and authentic, and ranks in the top 13 brands in the country for quality control.
Dr. Farooq also provides dietary education to his patients, promoting various plant-based diets for better health. “Food is medicine, and there are a lot of chemicals in meat,” he explained. “People are better off not just using cannabis as medicine, but eating fruits and vegetables for overall wellness.”
