Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of diseases that affects the digestive tract, and its main symptom is inflammation. Other symptoms of IBD include bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. They can cause severe pain, which leads to the disruption of daily activities. Treatments focus on reducing the severity of the symptoms and tackling the underlying causes with the help of pharmaceutical drugs. But, nowadays, many people find hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) to be a better alternative option for managing the symptoms of IBD. Read on to know whether CBD is safe and effective for treating IBD.
What Is CBD And What Are The Different Forms Of CBD?
CBD is a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. In recent years, it gained popularity due to its potential therapeutic effects like relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Besides, its effectiveness depends on how you administer it, and this varies according to its form.
Listed below are the different forms of CBD:
- Nasal sprays, oils, and tinctures
- Capsules or soft gels
- Salves, topical creams, and lotions
- Edibles
- Transdermal patches
- Vaping oils
- Suppositories
How Do You Use CBD For IBD Symptoms?
The two main diseases that come under the umbrella of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These two diseases have some common symptoms, and they are the following:
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Blood in stools
- Lack of appetite
CBD uses for IBD are due to its positive effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). In a small study, it was found that taking CBD oil in the form of pills or capsules may help with relieving the pain due to Crohn’s disease. Also, in another research, it was found that cannabidiol may be useful for reducing the inflammation due to colitis.
Which Form Of CBD To Use For IBD?
- You can take CBD pills and capsules daily to keep IBD symptoms at bay.
- Oils and tinctures can be consumed in different ways. Oils can be swallowed or added to foods and beverages. Tinctures can be consumed sublingually, i.e. placing drops of it under the tongue so that CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream through the sublingual gland.
- Vaping CBD can give you quick relief from the discomfort due to IBD flare-ups.
What Type Of CBD Is Better For IBD?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that full-spectrum CBD can give the best outcome in the treatment for IBD, and this is due to its entourage effect.
These are the important points that you must keep in mind before using cannabidiol (CBD) for treating the symptoms of IBD, and we hope that the details shared above were useful for you.
