Over the last few years the importance of your gut to your overall health has become more and more apparent. There is a reason, after all, that the gut is being called your “second brain”. Partly this is because the gut is extremely complex, but partly as issues of the gut can affect you the rest of your body.
However digestive issues make up some of the most common disorders in the world, and so anything that can help will make a huge difference.
Today we look at CBD and see if it can help with your gut health.
Table of Contents
- WHAT IS CBD OIL?
- IS CBD OIL SAFE FOR THE STOMACH
- WHY IS CBD OIL USED TO STRENGTHEN DIGESTIVE HEALTH?
- HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP GUT HEALTH?
- USING CBD OIL FOR DIFFERENT DIGESTIVE CONDITIONS
- CBD OIL FOR REDUCTION OF STRESS
- CBD INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON GUT HEALTH
- CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING CBD OIL FOR TREATMENT OF YOUR GUT HEALTH
- WHERE IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR CBD OIL?
- HOW CAN CBD OIL HELP GUT HEALTH CONCLUSION
- SOURCES
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
WHAT IS CBD OIL?
Before we carry on though, we should first explain what CBD is.
CBD is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in the cannabis plant
(otherwise known as marijuana or hemp plants).
For a long time cannabis has been known to have medicinal effects, however as it also had an intoxicating effect it has been classified as a recreational drug.
CBD though isn’t the part of cannabis that gets you high, that is the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the intoxicating chemical, without it CBD doesn’t make you feel intoxicated or “high” that is associated with cannabis.
CBD is perhaps the main helpful chemical in cannabis and one of the most researched cannabinoids from the cannabis sativa plant. But along with CBD and THC, Cannabis contains over 540 chemical compounds (called cannabinoids) which research suggests can have powerful pharmacological effects.
IS CBD OIL SAFE FOR THE STOMACH
From all the studies on CBD it has been classed as “generally safe”, and in the one study they found that compared to other medication used to treat issues that CBD can be used for, CBD was much better.
Due to having no THC in, CBD is non intoxicating (and the reason that CBD is allowed to be sold).
Like everything (except maybe water) there may be side effects if you use too much or use it too quickly. These may include:
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Changes in appetite
Changes in weight
All of these are very rare, but if you do start to experience any of these then we would suggest talking to a medical professional to see if CBD is right for you.
Perhaps most importantly, CBD can interact with other prescription medications or dietary supplements you are using, especially if you are using anything that comes with a “grapefruit warning”.
WHY IS CBD OIL USED TO STRENGTHEN DIGESTIVE HEALTH?
Even though cannabis has been used to help treat inflammation of the gut for literally thousands of years, it is only within the last few years we have re-examined cannabis and found that it can be extremely helpful. [1]
This is in conjunction with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a complex cell-signalling system found in the early 1990s. At the moment the scientific community doesn’t know that much about the ECS, but they do know that CBD and other cannabinoids can positively affect it.
To very briefly explain the ECS, it involves three parts: endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes.
Endocannabinoids, also called endogenous cannabinoids, are chemicals made by our bodies naturally and are extremely similar to cannabinoids from cannabis. From what we know endocannabinoids are there to help keep your internal functions running smoothly. Your body makes them when needed, which makes them difficult to study or figure out as we don’t always have them.
Endocannabinoid receptors can be found everywhere in your body, including the digestive tract, immune, and nervous system. Endocannabinoids (like we just mentioned) bind to these receptors in order to signal that the ECS needs to take action. This action can be a whole host of things, for example endocannabinoids might target a receptor in your spinal nerve to relieve pain. Others might bind to receptors in your immune cells to slow inflammation.
If you don’t understand this that much, don’t worry neither do the scientists! Just know that the ECS is complicated, and that these endocannabinoid chemicals are used by the body to balance itself. Even better, as CBD and the other cannabinoids are so similar to the endocannabinoid chemicals CBD can be used to jump start the ECS.
For today’s article we are going to focus on just a few effects the ECS manages:
Appetite and digestion
Inflammation and other immune system responses
Stress
Appetite and digestion
Inflammation and other immune system responses
Stress
HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP GUT HEALTH?
Your gut makes the vast majority of neurotransmitters used by your body. It also controls the cognitive and physiological processes, including the immune system.
CBD oils interacts with the ECS in your body to help the digestive, immune, and nervous systems. CBD helps by stopping the breakdown of neurotransmitters, which allows the ECS to function properly.
Although the science of CBD is still fairly new, from what we know CBD can help with:
IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Inflammation of the Gut
Stress Related Gut Issues
Immune Related Issues
IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Inflammation of the Gut
Stress Related Gut Issues
Immune Related Issues
USING CBD OIL FOR DIFFERENT DIGESTIVE CONDITIONS
CBD is being used by millions around the world to aid in the management of various digestive conditions.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)
There are a lot of diseases that are included under the umbrella term IBD. The two most common ones are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease.
A study on colitis on mice found that when the mice took CBD as well as the other cannabinoids there was a reduction of damage from colitis.
The immune system may also play a role in IBD, and as we talked about in another article we wrote CBD can help with your immune system, helping to protect you not only from illnesses but help you gut as well.
CBD won’t cure IBD, however it might be able to help with the symptoms and make it more manageable.
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
Like IBD, irritable bowel syndrome also can be helped by CBD. Again it can’t stop it, but can help with symptoms like inflammation or abdominal pain. A study actually looked and CBD’s effect on chronic pain and inflammation and found that there is evidence to show that it can help a lot people.[2]
INFLAMMATION
Whenever an issue arises with your gut, inflammation will also play a role. When inflammation occurs in any part of the gut, a large range of symptoms can happen. For example lack of absorption of nutrients can lead to malnutrition and diarrhoea can result in dehydration and fatigue.
Research shows that CBD can help to reduce inflammation throughout your system CBD can help to reduce inflammation throughout your system [3]. CBD works to decrease the level of inflammation in your system, so helping with the healing of your gut.
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Another benefit of CBD for gut health involves improving the immune processes. There seems to be a intimate link between gut bacteria and the immune system, in fact a major part of the immune system comes from the gut. [4]
However in some cases your immune system can become hyperactive, causing more issues. In that case CBD helps dampens the hyperactive immune response, restoring balance. This not only reduces inflammation but also helps the immune system get back to fighting off infections like long covid.
CBD OIL FOR REDUCTION OF STRESS
Because of the two-way communication between the gut and brain, stress can cause real issues with your gut. Stress alters the movement and contraction of the gut, this can increase inflammation and makes you more at risk for infections and decreased immune response. Because CBD can help with anxiety and stress and other mental health issues, CBD can not only help you relax, but help your gut too.
CBD INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON GUT HEALTH
As we said, stress can cause issues with your gut health, but other mental issues can also have a detrimental effect on your gut health. Because of the way our bodies are wired when issues start to appear in the brain and mind, they can manifest in the gut.
When we are stressed our digestive system effectively shuts down to move blood to where it is needed to fight or flight. If stress becomes a daily occurrence this can lead to problems irritable bowel syndrome or IBS.
CBD has been shown to help regulate dopamine in our brain, which can help balance out those with anxiety and depression and stress. [5]
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING CBD OIL FOR TREATMENT OF YOUR GUT HEALTH
Before you go out and buy the first bottle of CBD you find, there are a few things to consider.
TYPES OF CBD
There are three main types of CBD.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method includes all parts of the cannabis, however Full spectrum might well contain THC.
Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil - This CBD removal method contains most of the cannabis plant compounds except the THC.
Isolate CBD Oil - This is just pure CBD chemical, with no other cannabinoids, terpenes or THC.
In our opinion, a broad spectrum is the best idea, as you not only get the CBD but all the other cannabinoids and terpenes that can help, without the risk of THC. In fact in the study about colitis they specifically said that it wasn’t just the CBD, but all the other chemicals working together was what they think helped.
WHERE IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR CBD OIL?
Like anything, you should always make sure that anything you are putting into your body is the best quality.
Here at SMOKO we went to great pains to make sure our CBD comes from organically grown cannabis sativa L from the USA and then proudly Made in The UK. Our CBD Oral Drops and CBD Gummies are also Vegan Friendly and Gluten Free!
HOW CAN CBD OIL HELP GUT HEALTH CONCLUSION
Though CBD oil is still early in terms of scientific study terms, from what we know CBD may help with the symptoms of many gut issues.
With only a few drops of the CBD oil studies have shown that people can help with inflammation and the other symptoms.
So if you are looking for CBD oil that may help to improve your gut health, then make sure to get a high quality broad spectrum oil from a trusted source like SMOKO!
*2024 Update - Don't miss out on our limited-time offer of a FREE* pack of CBD Gummy Bears when you buy any of our amazing CBD products!
SOURCES
[2] Medical News Today does CBD oil work for chronic pain management
[3] Harvard Health cannabidiol research article
[4] Healthline CBD and the immune system
[5] National Library of Medicine Role of Dopamine and CBD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron is the Co-Founder of SMOKO CBD and SMOKO E-Cigarettes. With 2 decades plagued by lower back pain and sciatica due to contact sports, Mike finally found relief with CBD Gummy Bears. With 25 years of international business experience, Mike runs SMOKO CBD in the UK and their CBD products are being used by professional physical therapists, sports enthusiasts, suffers of chronic pain and inflammatory conditions.
