A lot of scientists are intrigued with cannabidiol and its potential impact on the stomach. This substance may harmonize various metabolic processes within the body, improving how it works. Among others, scientists believe that you can use CBD for IBS.
IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is an issue that haunts many people. It is a gastrointestinal discomfort that can last for a long time, seriously affecting the quality of your life. While we cannot claim that CBD is good for IBS (as there is not enough scientific proof), there a lot of people who are using cannabidiol for this particular problem.
CBD is often portrayed as a substance that may have strong anti-inflammatory properties. As such, it might be able to address chronic inflammation, which is a common symptom of IBS.
Keep in mind that while CBD may help with some symptoms, we are not certain if it can help with IBS itself. Furthermore, the US FDA hasn’t approved CBD as a potential medication for this ailment. So, if you wish to use it, you’re doing it of your own accord.
CBD and IBS: How does it work?
As already mentioned, the basic premise is that CBD can address inflammation caused by irritable bowel syndrome. But, there are some other ways that the substance can help with this condition.
Usually, cannabidiol is presented as a substance that can address pain and discomfort. Although there is no clear scientific data that would corroborate this claim, a lot of people are still using it.
Medicinal hemp is especially popular among palliative patients and cancer patients. If we presume that the substance may also help with inflammation then, the two most annoying symptoms are covered with the use of this product.
Nowadays, you may notice that numerous cannabis and hemp companies are promoting CBD as a chemical that may address pain. But, the US FDA is strongly against such claims and goes as far as to call them false.
FDA is putting its foot forward in addressing such claims and penalizing participants. Based on that, while you can try to use CBD for pain and inflammation, the regulatory bodies do not fully support such use.
Potential risks and side effects of CBD for IBS
Although this substance is often presented in a positive light, that doesn’t mean it cannot cause side effects. Furthermore, it might cause additional irritation to your stomach.
Some of the most common CBD side effects include dry mouth, change in appetite, change in blood pressure, drowsiness, etc. Diarrhea is perhaps the most problematic side effect for IBS patients. It would lead to further irritation and, potentially, additional pain. However, we cannot neglect the change in appetite.
To make things worse, the use of CBD may lead to negative interaction with other drugs, supplements, and foods. So, if you’re using a medicine (especially a strong one), it is very important to consult a medical professional beforehand.
Nowadays, there are a lot of medicinal hemp experts who can help you with this and perhaps even indicate the optimal products you can use without leading to irritation.
When talking about side effects, experts have noticed they tend to become worse with a higher dose. You might also experience issues when switching between different CBD products.
Keep in mind that the composition of these items may vary significantly from item to item and from company to company. Our recommendation is to always start with a smaller dose, see how your body reacts, and then increase the quantity if necessary.
The optimal dose for IBS
Finding the optimal CBD dose for IBS can be tricky. Given that the product isn’t approved by the US FDA, that means they also haven’t given any guidance to the users regarding the dosage.
The problem with CBD is that there are a lot of factors that determine optimal daily quality. You need to consider weight, metabolism, the strength of a product, the severity of IBS, etc. Each one of these may alter the dose.
The general idea is that you should use a low dose if you have low weight (between 5 to 10mg) and a higher dose with increased weight (up to 25mg). This can be tweaked if you don’t notice any improvement.
As we’ve already mentioned, it is much better to start using a smaller dose as this may prevent side effects and additional irritation of the stomach. Also, keep in mind that this is a general dose that is recommended for all situations.
In other words, while this quantity may lead to harmonization of your body and restoration of functionality, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it would provide any relief for IBS.
Are CBD products legal in the US?
Given that every American state can enact its own laws, the legality of CBD can vary from state to state. The main distinction is usually based on the amount of THC within a product.
CBD products that utilize hemp usually have 0.3% THC and less. This would make them legal in all states that accept medicinal hemp.
However, the status changes if there is more THC than this. If the product is made from marijuana, it will likely have a high THC concentration, and with that, it will be illegal in much more states.
How to choose CBD for IBS?
There are no guarantees that CBD for IBS will do anything for you. So, these recommendations serve to give you the best chance of improving your state, but that doesn’t mean they will necessarily work.
Here is how to choose the best cannabidiol product for irritable bowel syndrome:
- Make sure they don’t have more than 0.3% THC. This is a psychedelic substance that causes all sorts of issues, and we’re not certain how it would work for IBS.
- It is much better to buy from stores that perform third-party testing. Also, make sure that the laboratory is accredited to perform such tests.
- Focus on a product made from organic hemp. Avoid anything that looks suspicious and might have microbes, pesticides, and heavy metals.
- Avoid companies that were subjected to an FDA warning letter.
Of course, you can also use other parameters such as dose, price, reviews, etc.