Millions of people suffer from digestive and gastrointestinal (GI) distress every day and the symptoms range between mild and unpleasant to painful and life-threatening. According to the American Nutrition Association, 70 million people experience symptoms associated with GERD (gastro esophageal disorder), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation and diarrhea. While there are prescription medications for most of these disorders, they all come with unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects. That’s why many healthcare providers are turning to CBD for relief.
The Gastrointestinal System
The gastrointestinal system is amazing and highly complex. It’s the largest system of the body and consists of organs that break food down into smaller, absorbable nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats as well as their accompanying vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements. The majority of digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine, which measures at 25 feet in length. The colon, or large intestine, provides water reabsorption and the release of non-absorbable food and waste and measures at 5 feet in length.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Two of the most common GI disorders are constipation and irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. These are referred to as “functional” disorders because the GI tract appears normal but doesn’t work properly. There are also disorders that are called “structural” disorders because the bowel appears abnormal and also doesn’t work as it should.
Inflammatory bowel diseases include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can impact the entire GI system, but usually affects the terminal ileum or where the small intestine meets the large intestine. Crohn’s causes inflammation of the GI tract which causes swelling and ulceration. People with Crohn’s disease experience symptoms including diarrhea, fever, weight loss, vitamin deficiency and abdominal pain.
Ulcerative colitis is a disease which causes inflammation of the large intestine or the colon, leading to swelling and ulceration. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, GI bleeding and urgency to eliminate the bowels.
How Can CBD Help with Symptoms of GI Disorders?
While there are prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications for most gastrointestinal disorders, some may have unpleasant or dangerous side effects. According to numerous studies, researchers believe that CBD can be an effective treatment for most GI disorders, with few to no side effects.
Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency
It is theorized in science that clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CED) is not only behind GI problems, but other health problems including headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to this theory, because many brain disorders are associated with deficiencies in neurotransmitters like acetylcholine (Alzheimer’s disease) dopamine (Parkinson’s disease) and serotonin and norepinephrine (depression), a comparable deficiency in endocannabinoid levels might lead to certain physical, mental and neurological disorders.
Research Findings
Early studies examining CBD and colitis in mice found that it reduced intestinal hypermotility and inflammation and one study found that CBD actually prevented colitis in mice. There are many researchers who believe that CBD can become a new therapeutic in treating the inflammation that accompanies many of the GI disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
It has been demonstrated in multiple studies that endocannabinoids are found throughout the GI system and are involved in many GI functions including:
- Regulation of food intake
- Gastroprotection
- Nausea and vomiting
- GI motility
- Intestinal inflammation
It is therefore believed that CBD can help manage symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. Some experts in cannabinoid research believe that CBD can be taken by itself to relieve symptoms or in combination with conventional anti-IBD drugs.
Beyond its anti-inflammatory properties, it has also been pointed out in research that CBD has powerful antioxidant effects that could be helpful in maintaining gut health. CBD can also have a positive effect on muscle contraction, which creates pain and absorption of water in the stool and leads to either diarrhea or constipation.
Final Thoughts on CBD and Gastrointestinal Disorders
Millions of Americans suffer from various gastrointestinal disorders that not only cause physical pain and discomfort, but potentially interfere with their quality of life. Prescription and over-the-counter medications may provide some relief, and it is now established that CBD can also be an effective treatment alone or with traditional medications. The endocannabinoid system is crucial to gut health. Past studies have shown good results, there are studies happening now and hopefully future research will confirm that CBD can be a therapeutic for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.