Gastrointestinal issues like constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain are some of the common reasons for visiting doctors. People often develop so-called functional gastrointestinal disorders. These are gut issues with many symptoms yet close to normal blood and other lab tests. IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is one such issue.Â
Although IBS is pretty common, with about 10% of the people experiencing the condition in the UK, it is still poorly understood.(1)
The condition causes symptoms like abdominal pain, changes in bowel movement, mood swings, and other health issues. It often tends to be chronic, causing weight loss.
Researchers have struggled to understand that condition, but they think it occurs for multiple reasons. Hence, it may occur due to specific gut changes, mood issues, changes in nerves in the digestive system, infection, stress, and changes in gut microbes.
Of course, one may ask if CBD oil is good for IBS. If you analyse the condition carefully, you might notice a few things, like the condition often occurring due to stress. It causes mood swings. Further, there are changes in the nerves. Studies show that CBD is really good for all these issues.
Treating IBS with lifestyle interventions like increased hydration, exercise, practicing mindfulness, dietary changes, and more is best. One may occasionally use drugs to manage severe pain, diarrhoea or constipation.
When it comes to using CBD, one may use either CBD oil or CBD pens. One may even make dietary changes like switching to a keto diet.Â
CBD would help in many ways. It can help both prevent and manage the conditions. CBD is known to reduce stress and anxiety. Thus, it can help control triggers that often cause worsening of symptoms in the condition. Moreover, any food or supplement that improves mood may also normalise gut function and help overcome IBS.
CBD is generally also good for overcoming IBS symptoms. It can help prevent and manage headaches, might regulate gut function, reduce pain sensation, and improve mood.
CBD oil or CBD pens may even help prevent some of the severe disease complications like depression. Studies show that those living with the condition are more likely to develop depression. Further, it may also improve sleep quality and have a calming impact on the gut.(2)
When someone is living with IBS for a long, issues with gut nerves become even more severe. The human gut is readily irritated, resulting in pain, spasms, and abdominal pain. However, using CBD oil may help to reduce this sensitivity.
Further, studies show that CBD may also influence gut motility. It is vital to understand that the human gut and enteric nervous system are quite rich in endocannabinoid receptors.(3)
IBS is a chronic gut disorder that causes much pain and distress. The condition is poorly understood by science and difficult to treat. However, it appears that natural remedies can help significantly with the condition.
CBD does have a role in managing this chronic gut issue as it can help keep nerves calm, reduce pain, and regulate gut motility. CBD may also help due to its ability to reduce inflammation.
One can use CBD oil to manage IBS. Perhaps the best thing about CBD is that it is good for prolonged use. One can also use CBD to prevent future IBS episodes, as the condition tends to reoccur in many.
Finally, one more piece of advice: one may start with CBD isolate, but if it does not help, it may be a good idea to consider full-spectrum CBD oil.
This article was authored by:Â Dr. Preet Pal Singh Bhinder.
This article was peer-reviewed by Dr M Mansoor Siddique (PhD). Dr Siddique has over eight years of experience working with CBD and CBD products.
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