If you find something that has the power to boost your immunity, won’t you grab it immediately? The therapeutic benefits of CBD or cannabidiol are no longer an ancient secret. The FDA approves of hemp-extracted CBD oil for medicinal purposes, making it legal in several countries. It contains a traceable amount of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the actual compound to cause mind-altering effects.
Besides chronic pain, insomnia, and depression, digestive issues are one of the most common disorders affecting a large section of people in the world. The impact of it gets severe paving the way for several other conditions and diseases. Keeping your digestive system healthy is equivalent to living a healthy life. CBD oil is a natural remedy for your gut health, and in this article, we will prove it how.
Topics Covered
The Gut as the Core of Overall Wellness
Your gut system houses microbiome, which includes trillions of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, and viruses to help assist the immunity. Its function does not limit to digesting food and absorbing nutrients from it. These regulate both physiological and cognitive processes. The number of bacteria cells in the human body outnumber the human cells.
Gut microbe affects the human body in the following ways:
Weight
Gut dysbiosis, where an imbalance in good and bad bacteria occurs, leads to weight gain. The condition can also cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). You can address the issue by improving your diet, adopting stress management, or taking probiotic supplements. Probiotics can help in reducing weight and maintaining digestive health.
Heart Health
The gut microbiome can benefit your heart by increasing the good HDL cholesterol. Weak gut health may lead to artery hardening, which is further associated with cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the unhealthy gut bacteria that lead to obesity increase the risks of Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack, and stroke. Some unhealthy bacteria produce harmful substances like trimethylamine N-oxide or TMAO that blocks the arteries leading to stroke. A study also claims that a healthy gut can prevent coronary artery disease.
Mental Health
The gut is beneficial for your mental health. The two connects through millions of nerves, one important being the vagus nerve. It is responsible for transmitting signals to and fro, from the gut to the brain. A good digestive system can reduce several mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and mood swings. Also, good bacteria produce serotonin neurotransmitters that control a wide variety of physiological processes in the human body. It is also an antidepressant neurotransmitter.
Prevents Kidney Disease
The TMAO, apart from blocking arteries, can also cause chronic kidney diseases. An unhealthy kidney can further lead to cardiovascular diseases. Get rid of the excess unhealthy bacteria to manage your bowels and overall health.
Cannabidiol and Endocannabinoid System
The human endocannabinoid system or ECS is a group of endocannabinoids our body naturally produces. These are lipid-based neurotransmitters that connect to cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, to regulate many physiological and psychological processes like mood, sleep, immunity, pain, mobility, brain function, appetite, digestion, metabolism, body temperature, and memory. The nervous system and the brain consist of CB1 receptors. And you will find CB2 receptors in the peripheral organs (immune system, large and small intestine).
By and large, the ECS helps maintain homeostasis that is essential for healthy bodily functioning. It is evident from above, the importance of ECS in maintaining good health.
CBD is a phytocannabinoid that mimics the chemical formation of endocannabinoids. It has the potential to treat numerous health concerns like arthritis, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, eczema, Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms of cancer, and autism. Its capacity to interact with the ECS can help us deal with issues concerning the nervous system, digestive system, and immune system. However, CBD binds with the receptors CB1 and CB2 indirectly, whereas THC rich strains like Nuken strain binds directly with these receptors to deliver effects. CBD prevents the biological molecules from breaking down the neurotransmitters to make sure that the ECS performs its best. CBD helps the recovery of any form of depletion in the system.
Cannabidiol also is responsible for negating the psychotic effects of THC that prevent you from getting high. In another way, CBD also helps inhibit the FAAH enzymes that result in the production of high anandamide levels. These are neurotransmitters or bliss molecules that generate happiness. By introducing CBD externally, you can manipulate the ECS in treating several health disorders, including the gut.
How can CBD Oil promote Gut Health?
Digestive disorders or gastrointestinal diseases include conditions like IBS, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Gastritis, and Constipation. We are going to look at how symptoms of these conditions, CBD can rebalance and treat to provide relief.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a digestive disorder that irritates the large intestine. Its symptoms include abdominal and stomach pain and cramps, nausea, bloating gas, and weight loss. The condition can range from mild to severe. CBD oil has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that can treat this chronic condition. Studies show that CBD can inhibit inflammation by reducing the effects of free radicals.
As for pain and cramps, CBD oil can deliver relief by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Also, the increase in anandamide levels can help the person with the disorder feel less pain.
Crohn’s Disease
Similar to IBS, Crohn’s disease also causes inflammation in the GI tract. Generally, the symptoms of this condition include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and joint pains. In a recent study, researchers gave CBD oil to a few subjects having the disease and a placebo to some others. The summary of it was those receiving CBD oil could see a reduction in symptoms, which proves its benefits on gut health.
Ulcerative Colitis
It is another inflammatory condition that affects the colon and rectum. The symptoms include pain, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Besides anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits of CBD, it can also work as an appetite stimulant. It doesn’t increase appetite as THC does. Instead, it creates a soothing physical condition by relieving anxiety and tension, allowing the individual to crave food.
Gastritis and Constipation
Gastritis is a bacterial infection that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. CBD oil can be an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting.
Constipation is a common situation people experience. But the continuance of it can disturb the overall wellbeing. CBD can help relieve constipation by calming the mind and releasing tension in the muscles that restricts the bowel movements. It addresses the factors that trigger the condition.
CBD Strains for Gut Health
Below are some of the best hemp CBD strains you can try for improving gut health.
Cherry Wine- CBD potency in cherry strain is 22%. It can provide soothing benefits to the body and mind. It has an aroma of sweet cherry and black pepper.
Electra- It is a high CBD strain offering a citrusy and sweet aroma. With 16% CBD and 0.3% THC, Electra can give you lasting effects without causing lethargy. Users get a taste of tropical flavors and earthy tones from it.
Berry Blossom- Favorite among cultivators Berry Blossom offers good yield with the resistance capacity to grown even in harsh weather. It has quality terpene potency and aroma of sweet berries. Most of these strains contain up to 18% of CBD and 0.3% THC.
Spectrum- The hemp strain will help bring balance in the ECS with its stress-relieving benefits. Spectrum can help alter mood swings, calm your body and mind, and also contain essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Super Lemon Haze- It is a blend of Lemon Shunk and Super Silver Haze. With CBD content of up to 20% and THC 0.3%, it makes the perfect strain for healing digestive issues.
How to Use CBD oil?
Firstly, you need to decide whether you are looking for a full spectrum or an isolate CBD product. CBD users consider the full spectrum, which contains all the chemical compounds (THC, CBN, CBG, Terpenes) of cannabis, which is more beneficial to the health. It supplies the body with vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids essential for health. For a change, you can also choose a high THC and low CBD potency like the Rockstar strain, which is quite beneficial for relieving pain. You can use CBD oil in four ways – inhalation, edibles, sublingual, and topical.
Inhalation- Vaping, and smoking are the two alternatives. Most prefer to vape as it involves heating the matter to a temperature until it releases vapor. You can use CBD oil as an e-juice in a vaporizer. Also, the method offers a discreet way of using CBD and delivers the fastest effects.
Edible- CBD oil-infused edibles give you plenty of choices and taste to try the compound. It can be tea, coffee, smoothies, brownies, salads, etc. But be careful of the dose you use in these foods. CBD doesn’t cause severe side effects, but overdosing can lead to fatigue.
Sublingual- Here, you use tinctures that come along with a dropper. You need to administer it under the tongue, hold for some time, and then swallow it. CBD oil as tinctures also offers quick relief.
Topical- CBD oil as topical is a preferable alternative for pain. People with gut disorders experiencing chronic pain can use topical products.
Conclusion
Even though research on CBD’s remedial benefits is ongoing, anecdotal evidence shows positive results from using it. Familiarize well with the chemical compositions in the product before self-administering. Also, consult a general practitioner to identify any other conditions affecting your gut health.
