CBD Oil for Treating Digestive Issues. Does It Work?

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Having healthy digestion is vital, as your body needs enough nutrients and energy from food to keep your bodily processes going. Poor digestion can do more than give you tummy cramps. Long term, it can affect your mental state and physical health.

Luckily, CBD has arisen as a possible treatment option for digestive discomfort and poor digestive health.

CBD oil and digestion

When most people think of CBD oil, they associate this popular natural treatment with pain management or lower stress levels. What’s less known about CBD oil is its interaction with the digestive system!

CBD oil use has been rising in recent years as more people begin to discover new ways to feel better and ease digestive discomfort. Here’s all about CBD oil for digestive issues.

May Help to Decrease Inflammation

Having healthy digestion and good gut health is extremely important. When the gut microbiome is imbalanced, it can lead us to not feel at our best and may possibly lead to increasing inflammation.

High inflammation is often linked with the development of many diseases. In fact, this inflammatory response can quite powerful as the chemicals causing it travel in the blood and into every organ in your body.

Many researchers have investigated the relationship between CBD and inflammation rates within the body. It was found in one study that even moderate amounts of CBD were able to decrease inflammation levels in adults, with minimal side effects.

CBD oil for digestive issues can be a good option to try and possibly lower gut inflammation levels, alongside an anti-inflammatory diet. Many people also love incorporating the possible anti-inflammatory properties of CBD into their daily routines because of the ease of use and convenience.

May Help to Regulate Appetite

Another nasty side effect of poor digestion is bloating. Bloating often occurs around meal times and can be extremely painful and irritating to deal with. While many factors can contribute to bloating, some of the main causes are overeating or irregular meal times.

Keeping meal times regular can be challenging in our modern society. Appetite can be affected by busy lives or stress at work and at home. Luckily, CBD has been shown to regulate and even increase appetite levels.

Researchers found that CBD may play a role in helping to increase appetite by relieving nausea while reducing symptoms of an overactive nervous system and an upset stomach. This is good news for those who struggle to feel hungry while on a jam-packed schedule!

On the other hand, overeating can also lead to bloating. While most studies show a possible role for CBD in increasing appetite, other studies suggest CBD can also do the opposite in some individuals. The reason behind this is simple, as appetite change is one of the significant possible side effects of CBD use.

Which ever way it is, the research seems to indicate that CBD seems to affect our appetite and more investigation of this is needed. 

May Help to Lower Stress

Having high stress levels can contribute to more than just an overactive mind. Stress is also linked to digestive system health and how much nutrients the body can absorb! 

Many researchers have also pointed out the importance of the ‘mind-gut connection‘. Many people who are regularly anxious or stressed often experience loose bowel movements. While this research area is still new, one thing is for sure—keeping your mind stress-free is essential when improving your digestive health!

Several studies have shown CBD to possibly being helpful in treating both anxiety and stress. CBD can interact with specific receptors within the body to possibly lower several stress markers, including heart rate and blood pressure, while increasing feelings of calm in individuals.

How does CBD possibly help digestion?

As detailed above, CBD may help ease digestion in several ways. The main way CBD works on the body is through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), composed of endocannabinoids naturally produced by the body and their receptors. These receptors are located within the nervous system, including the brain.

Cannabinoids like CBD can act like endocannabinoids and bind to receptors. This results in specific effects throughout the body, as the ECS controls everything from mood to energy production and stress levels.

Another way CBD can possibly affect digestion is by increasing serotonin levels within the body, but not in a way you might expect! CBD doesn’t result in the production of more serotonin. Still, it can possibly affect how the brain’s receptors respond to the serotonin already present in the body.

How to use CBD oil for digestion

CBD oil can be used in a variety of different ways, depending on your preferences. One of the most common (and potent!) ways of taking CBD oil is putting a few drops under your tongue. When CBD is placed there, it can quickly cross the membrane and enter the bloodstream, increasing absorption rates.

The dosage required will depend on your digestive health needs. A great option is talking to your doctor before trying CBD oil out. They will assess your requirements directly to determine if CBD is the right choice for you and the dosage needed.

CBD oil and digestion: side effects

While CBD is generally well-tolerated amongst individuals, minimal side effects can still occur. These include changes in appetite and bowel movements, fatigue, dizziness, and dry mouth.

To decrease your risk of developing side effects, buy CBD products from companies with a good reputation. Reputable companies produce high-quality CBD products that are tested to ensure standards are continually being met. This will increase the effectiveness of the CBD without any side effects that may come with use.

The bottom line

CBD oil can possibly be beneficial for your digestion due to its numerous possible benefits. These include CBD’s ability to possibly help decrease inflammation and stress levels while regulating appetite by affecting receptors throughout your body.

Before using CBD oil for digestive issues, make sure you choose high-quality products and talk to your doctor.

Disclaimer – medicinal cannabis and CBD oil are unapproved medicines in NZ which means that there is no conclusive evidence for their effect, apart from Sativex. Many doctors do not routinely prescribe cannabis medicines. The above article was written for general educational purposes and does not intend to suggest that medicinal cannabis can be used to treat any health condition. Please consult with your healthcare provider. 

Dr. Waseem Alzaher

MBChB (Otago), BSc (Auckland) - As our tele-medicine doctor and author, Dr. Waseem keeps busy educating both patients and doctors about medicinal cannabis. He also consults with people from all over New Zealand, offering a listening ear and giving the most relevant advice.