We may find it difficult to talk about at times, but we all have bodies and they don’t always cooperate with us.
Some of the most common issues people face stem from digestion, which often manifest in irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. While the scientific results are mixed, some studies indicate the highly-popular CBD compound may have benefits for those afflicted with digestion problems.
According to the National Institutes of Health, IBD is a disease associated with digestive tract inflammation, sometimes cause by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. [1]
The NIH said IBS, meanwhile, includes colon interruptions that can manifest in diarrhea, cramps, bloating and stomach pain. [1]
Anything aspect of digestive health scientists have come to understand is just how important gut bacteria is to the proper functioning of the body, and how much diet can affect cultures of “gut bugs” that make the body tick.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive relative of THC found in marijuana. It offers a number of benefits many have found life-changing, though mileage varies across the user base.
So what does CBD have to do with intestinal and digestive problems? Here’s what the science has to say.
According to Project CBD, there are multiple studies at the National Institutes of Health and other high-profile and established sources to back up the preliminary benefits of CBD for digestive issues.
A 2010 study at the University of Naples in Italy, titled “Cannabinoids and the gut: new developments and emerging concepts,” the department of experimental pharmacology there found:
“Cannabis has been used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) conditions that range from enteric infections and inflammatory conditions to disorders of motility, emesis and abdominal pain.” [3]
Another study from Rome in 2013 analyzed CBD’s effects on intestinal problems and called the substance “a promising drug for the therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).” [4]
The interaction between it and the body’s extra-cannabinoid receptors may make “CBD … a potential candidate for the development of a new class of anti-IBD drugs,” that study found.
Like CBD’s effects, digestive tract problems can be deeply changed based on what people eat. Fatty foods can help CBD to better reach the body and activate what is called the entourage effect, which works on the endocannabininoid system to regulate aspects of body functions.
Likewise, digestion issues rely in large part on diet. Crohn’s disease, for instance, can be ameliorated in large part by avoiding gluten. Other elements help as well, but this is certainly a good start.
Sources
[1] https://nccih.nih.gov/health/digestive
[2] https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-for/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs
