Can CBD Oil Help With IBS?
Written by: Genevieve R. Moore PhD
Background on IBS
It’s probably not much of a consolation, but
if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, almost one in eight Americans share your diagnosis. Unfortunately, although 12% of Americans experience visceral pain and discomfort related to bowel movements, people with IBS might discover they have little else in common.
That’s because this catch-all diagnosis often lumps you together with people who:
Had a previous GI infection that kick-started IBS symptoms
Digest too quickly
Digest too slowly
Have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Have food intolerances or sensitivities
Have a mental disorder or a history of stressful life events
Have increased pain from normal bowel movements
etc.
With all this diversity, it should be little surprise that no single treatment heals IBS. The current “types” of IBS (ie IBS-C and IBS-D) only describe a single symptom of IBS, not the underlying cause. But when scientists study smaller cohorts of IBS patients, they can sometimes identify underlying problems with mucus production, muscle contractions, or gut inflammation that aren’t shared by the general population of IBS patients.
Your Body and IBS
No matter what triggers your symptoms, don’t shoulder the blame for your flare-ups. IBS is not “in your head” — it’s deeply rooted throughout your body in small physical changes and stored biological patterns. Does stress trigger painful diarrhea? Well, the average person can study for an exam without having to run to the bathroom constantly. Even if stress management and therapy helps you manage IBS symptoms, the root of the problem is still within your body — because your body has become hypersensitized to life’s unavoidable stresses.
Imbalanced Endocannabinoid System
If you’re unfamiliar with your body’s endocannabinoid system,it’s a vital team of natural molecules and receptors that work together to regulate countless aspects of your health.
The active molecules in cannabis plants (cannabinoids like THC & CBD) can modulate this natural system.
Within your digestive tract, the endocannabinoid system helps control the speed of digestion as well as sensations of pain.
And natural genetic variations in this system predispose people to IBS. Many different parts of the endocannabinoid system have been linked to different symptoms in IBS patients. For instance, low levels of the little-known endocannabinoid, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), is linked to frequent IBS cramps.
Holistic approach: To bring balance to your endocannabinoid system, you might need to combine healthy lifestyle decisions with a little boost from supplements for extra assistance. For example, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is naturally found in egg yolks, milk and peanuts, and a recent clinical trial reported that PEA + polydatin supplements improve abdominal pain in IBS patients. For more natural tips, read our article on balancing the endocannabinoid system.
CBD’s effect on IBS
The endocannabinoid system was named after the therapeutic molecules found in the cannabis plant (cannabinoids like THC & CBD) because they affect this system. Unsurprisingly, many people report that cannabis and hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD oil relieves their IBS symptoms. CBD’s full impact on the endocannabinoid system is still being studied, but it might help increase your natural levels of endocannabinoids.
