How Can CBD Help?

CBD has been shown to have multiple positive impacts on the human body. One group of conditions that may benefit from CBD are gastrointestinal disorders. These disorders can include, but are not limited to, colitis, Chron’s, Celiac, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), and IBS (irrigatable bowel syndrome).  Inflammatory bowel diseases impact over 200,000 people in the US a year. Of particular importance are colitis and Chron’s. Both are inflammatory conditions that impact the intestine.  

CBD increases the function of the endocannabinoid system. The GI tract has many CB2 receptors. Activation of these receptors occurs through indirect effects of CBD. Activation results in decreased inflammation, muscle relaxation, and relief from cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and spasm. 

CBD helps with both relieving stress, calming the mind, and restoring homeostasis between the gut-brain axis. In combination with its more direct impact on the GI system CBD is a sure win for those looking for IBS and IBD relief. 

CBD and IBS/IBD 

According to CBD What You Need To Know, the small and large intestines have high levels of CB2 receptors.  The GI tract is embedded with the enteric nervous system, a web of neurons that regulate gut function where both CB1 And CB2 receptors exist. Use of CBD stimulates these receptors. Stimulation of CB2 receptors will result in muscle contraction (colicky pain) and absorption of water into the stool (diarrhea or constipation).

The high prevalence of CB2 receptors in the intestinal tract also means that CBD will turn down the inflammatory processes that cause colitis, and Crohn’s disease.  

Dr. Ethan Russo believes that IBS is due to a deficiency of the body's natural cannabinoids. He believes the same is true with fibromyalgia and migraine. In Dr. Russo’s study it was concluded that CBD may have the ability to block GI mechanisms that promote symptoms of IBS, celiac disease, and other related disorders. 

Daniele De Filippis studied the effect of CBD on intestinal biopsies of patients with colitis and from intestinal segments of mice with intestinal inflammation. 

“The results of the present study correlate and expand the findings of CBD as a potent compound that is able to modulate experimental gut inflammation…in this study we demonstrate that during intestinal inflammation, CBD is able to control the inflammatory scenario and the subsequent intestinal apoptosis through the restoration of the altered glia-immune homeostasis. CBD is therefore regarded as a promising therapeutic agent that modulates the neuro-immune axis, which is recognized as a new target in treating inflammatory bowel disorders.”  

A study in 2016 showed that by inhibiting an enzyme called FAAH, it may suppress colitis by reducing activated T cells and reducing the inflammatory response in the colon. This may also play a crucial role in linking GI disorders to stress. 

The ECS is involved in the manifestation of stress, and endocannabinoid signaling reduces the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal pathways via actions in specific brain regions, notably the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus. Agents that modulate the ECS are in the early stages of development for treating GI disease. Increasing our understanding of the ECS, brain and gut is a promising field of study. 

In short, CBD increases the function of the endocannabinoid system. The GI tract has many CB2 receptors. Activation of these receptors occurs through indirect effects of CBD. Activation results in decreased inflammation, muscle relaxation, and relief from cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and spasm. 

CBD helps with both relieving stress, calming the mind, and restoring homeostasis between the gut-brain axis. In combination with its more direct impact on the GI system, CBD is a sure win for those looking for IBS and IBD relief.