A lot of people are concerned about CBD’s side effects. While this substance is generally regarded as very safe, it may cause certain issues. We are often asked, can CBD oil cause diarrhea and other stomach issues?
According to hemp experts, this substance is able to interact with the endocannabinoid system, thus harmonizing internal processes. It might affect bodily functions such as sleep, stress, mood, memory, regeneration, etc.
Among others, it might have an impact on appetite. Having said that, it should be surprising that CBD can cause diarrhea too.
In this article, we will see if CBD oil can cause diarrhea, why does this happen, and if we can do something about it. Read on!
Can CBD oil cause diarrhea? Yes, and here’s why
While this isn’t a common side effect, there have been a lot of reports of people having stomach issues after consuming CBD oil. Keep in mind that we categorize the substance as a sublingual product and not an edible.
In that regard, it shouldn’t irritate the stomach as much as some edibles. Nevertheless, you can experience certain issues, among which diarrhea is probably the most annoying.
The interesting thing about this is that we’re not certain what causes the issue. Although this product line is called “CBD,” these substances usually have numerous other ingredients besides cannabidiol.
They may have THC, various other cannabinoids, terpenes, and some other things. Because of that, the side effects can vary based on the product that you’ve used. Furthermore, this makes it harder to determine which substance has caused the issue.
What makes this side even more curious is the fact that CBD oil usually promotes stomach health. As already mentioned, this probably has to do with the fact that cannabinoids may regulate the endocannabinoid system.
Scientists presume that these chemical compounds can have multiple effects on your stomach. For example, they might reduce the amount of gastric acid, help regeneration, and assist the lower esophagus in preventing reflux.
Besides the ingredients themselves, we also need to consider the quality of these ingredients as well as the manufacturing process. It is very important to buy organic marijuana and hemp products.
We also need to consider the type of extraction that has been used. Some of these methods can be very volatile, leaving behind toxic residue. Luckily, most cannabis companies nowadays are relying on clean CO2 extraction.
Lastly, we need to consider the carrier oil. You can use all sorts of different stuff such as olive oil, coconut oil, MCT oil, etc. So, besides the fact that your stomach may be irritated by cannabidiol oil, it might also be affected by the underlying essential oil.
The impact of MCT oil
Most companies use MCT oil and coconut oil as carriers. A lot of people believe that these substances are the main reason why we’re experiencing all these issues when consuming CBD oil.
Keep in mind that they can be especially troublesome when you ingest them in higher quantities. Furthermore, we get MCT oil from coconut oil, so it isn’t surprising that both of these substances can have a similar impact on our stomachs.
One particular study has focused on coconut oil as a substance that can affect cholesterol. During the study, a few of the participants struggled with diarrhea.
So, this could show us that the substance is not easy to the stomach. To reinforce this claim, there have been a lot of reports of people on the ketogenic MCT diet, who have experienced issues such as cramps, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea.
How to avoid diarrhea when using CBD oil?
The first step to avoiding diarrhea is reading the label. Most users never do this, but it is a very important step, especially if you’re using CBD oil. Companies tend to put all sorts of stuff in these products.
What makes it even worse is that the regular user doesn’t know much about these chemicals. So, not only should you read the label, but you should also learn a bit more about the ingredients within the bottle.
Carrier oils are the main reason why so many people suffer from diarrhea when using CBD oil. If you have experience with these substances, and you know which ones cause issues and which ones are safe, it becomes much easier to determine if you’re going to experience side effects while using cannabidiol.
Unfortunately, potential issues can also be a result of combining substances. While you might be resilient to a specific chemical compound, the combination of that chemical with another substance can cause irritation.
So, no matter how hard you try, there is always a potential problem with CBD oil. Diarrhea can also be caused by food, especially if you’re sensitive to that food. Combining the two is a recipe for disaster so make sure to be mindful of this.
Lastly, we urge you to use CBD oil on a full stomach. Proteins are crucial for preventing diarrhea so make sure to get a nice, lunch before using the product. While these tips are not bulletproof, they should at least reduce the chance of diarrhea.