CBD Oil for IBS – Does it Help?

 

It is thought that between 10 and 20% of the UK population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The syndrome affects the digestive tract, and symptoms tend to come and go throughout a sufferer’s life, with certain triggers like stress and eating certain foods making them worse. But can you use CBD oil for IBS and does it actually help? This article explores that question.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome involves the digestive tract becoming inflamed. IBS tends to appear between the ages of 20 and 30, rather than later in life. Some people experience the syndrome getting worse as they get older. However, for others it recedes and sometimes even disappears.

People are not really sure why sufferers develop IBS, but it is often linked to a variety of different factors, such as stress, anxiety, side effects of medication, traumatic experiences and food poisoning. It also seems that a family history of the illness increases your risk.

Symptoms include:

  • Pain or discomfort in your abdomen
  • Changes in toilet habits, either going more or less
  • Bloated abdomen

Other effects include:

  • feeling very tired
  • indigestion
  • feeling sick
  • backache and joint pain
  • headaches on a regular basis
  • needing to urinate more often, especially at night
  • difficulty controlling your bowel

How Do You Treat IBS?

There is no cure to stop IBS, so we tend to manage the symptoms instead. This might include either using laxatives or Loperamide which prevents diarrhoea, depending on the symptoms. Some sufferers take analgesics to ease the pain of gut spasms, and others take antidepressants for the anxiety and depression that often come as part of the syndrome.

Another option is to change your diet, which can include keeping a food diary. If sufferers can check back on what they ate, they can spot patterns relating to certain foods. You can also avoid foods that are hard to digest, such as cabbage. Another option is to add oats to your diet to avoid bloating and supplements like CBD oil for IBS symptom relief.

How Does CBD Oil for IBS Help Improve Symptoms?

There are a number of reasons to recommend CBD oil for IBS symptoms. So take a look and see how it can ease your issues.

●     CBD and Gut Pain

One of the main complaints of sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome is gut pain. This is often caused by something in the diet and can often disappear after using the toilet. The good news is that CBD is great for easing pain.

The CBD acts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to send messages to the cells and prevent them from releasing chemicals that produce pain. It also instructs the brain to stop feeling any pain.

●     CBD and Gut Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s reaction to illness, but that can bring problems. Immune cells battle against toxins and bacteria, for example, but it can go so far that the gut inflames and makes your IBS worse.

CBD for IBS makes use of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can deal with this excess inflammation, easing the discomfort from the gut.

●     CBD and Gut Contractions

Sufferers of IBD can experience contractions in their stomachs, called gut motility. This causes the stomach to be bloated, to experience cramps and can lead to either diarrhoea or constipation.

In extreme cases, CBD oil can ease the contractions and solve the diarrhoea or constipation.

●     CBD and Anxiety and Depression

Sometimes, it is not only the physical effects of IBS that cause problems, but also the mental implications. It is a tough condition to live with and, like a vicious cycle, the more anxiety you feel the more it can aggravate symptoms and even make the brain more sensitive to pain.

 

CBD is known to stimulate serotonin production. This is the mood-stabilising hormone that helps us maintain balance with our mental health.

 

Pick Your CBD for IBS

There are many forms of CBD products available. These include

It can take between 30 minutes and an hour for CBD gummies to hit the symptoms of you IBD. It has to go through the digestive system and liver on its way to the pain. However, there are a number of great benefits of taking CBD in this manner. See our article about CBD gummies. For example, the effects can last for longer with CBD gummies.

Placing drops of CBD oil under your tongue is a more direct route, as it absorbs directly into the cells.

Essentially, the type of CBD product you choose depends on your preferences and situation. You might want to try different forms to get a feel for what suits you.

Does CBD Oil For IBS Work?

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, you will know how it can affect your everyday life. There is no cure for it, but you can take action to ease the symptoms. This helps to boost your quality of life as well as hopefully preventing the symptoms from worsening.

CBD oil for IBS can help with this management of your symptoms. It can control your pain, ease your inflammation and help stabilise your mood. Browse our CBD oil products to find out more.