Alternative, complementary medicine and cannabinoids for gastroparesis

Introduction

Gastroparesis (GP) is a complicated and multi-factorial disorder associated with variable symptoms of nausea, vomiting, early satiety, upper abdominal pain, post-prandial fullness, bloating, and/or belching . Although these symptoms may be associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, and collagen vascular diseases, as well as certain medications (i.e., narcotics, muscarinic cholinergic antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants ), and surgery (i.e. fundoplication leading to vagus nerve injury), the majority of GP cases are idiopathic. Approximately half of patients diagnosed will have no detectable underlying abnormality.

Pharmacologic intervention alone may not provide sufficient symptom relief. The complex interactions between the brain, central nervous system, and the enteric nervous system are intriguing, and offer an opportunity to study novel approaches that improve the well-being of affected individuals. This chapter reviews the efficacy and mechanisms of therapies that have been classified as “complementary” or “alternative” for gastroparesis and its symptoms.