The human gut is an amazing entity; home to trillions of thriving bacteria and fungi helping one digest their food. Moreover, it also boasts over 200 million neurons that can communicate with your brain via the brain-gut connection. Therefore, it can be said that your gut is a vast and complex system that can affect your entire body.
Poor gut health can lead to many digestive issues, and one such issue is constipation. Nowadays, you can see many people shifting to CBD products to cure their digestive issues, such as constipation, and improve their gut health.
But as with all good things, there might be a flip side. Some people wonder whether CBD is the cause of digestive issues, especially constipation. Let’s learn about the science behind CBD Constipation and know whether these claims hold any truth.
Can CBD Cause Constipation?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is researched to interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex system with many receptors that significantly regulate numerous body processes, including digestive functions.
While research on CBD and constipation is still in the infancy stage, many studies involve patients who have used medical cannabis, which is rich in CBD, to address digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome.
That said, a few limited studies have discovered that extremely high doses of CBD can potentially cause constipation. However, you should know that the quantities discussed in such studies are significantly higher than those used to formulate over-the-counter CBD products. Therefore, it can be said that taking CBD constipation relief products in limited dosages doesn’t have any side effects and can even help cure constipation.
In addition, remember that many underlying lifestyle factors can cause constipation. So, you shouldn’t conclude that CBD oil or gummies might contribute to the cause of constipation or change your bowel movements.
What Can Cause Constipation?
Constipation can be defined as the common digestive issue where a person can have infrequent bowel movements along with hard, dry stools. The following are some underlying causes of constipation:
- Low fluid intake: When you don’t consume enough fluids, the colon fails to add enough water to your stools, making them hard and dry.
- Lack of fiber: Dietary fiber in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains acts as a sweeper in your digestive tract as it helps in the stool’s movement. Consuming a low-fiber diet can lead to harder stools that you can find more difficult to pass.
- Physically inactive lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle can significantly contribute to constipation. Being physically active can help stimulate your muscles in the intestines, helping in bowel movements.
- Stress: Chronic stress can disrupt your normal digestive process. When stressed, your body can divert energy and blood flow away from your digestive system, causing constipation.
- Ignoring the urge: Regularly ignoring your body’s signal to have a bowel movement can potentially lead to constipation at a point in time.
- Pregnancy: Sometimes, hormonal changes during pregnancy can slow down a woman’s digestive system, leading to constipation.
Can CBD Oil Cause Constipation?
The majority of people regularly using CBD oil do not report constipation as a side effect. In fact, many users consider taking CBD products like oils and pure CBD gummies for potential relief from several gastrointestinal issues.
CBD oil is concocted by mixing CBD procured from the medical hemp plant and a carrier oil. This combination helps preserve the CBD and its absorption when an individual consumes it.
Even though CBD oil is the most recognizable CBD product that’s reported to be well-tolerated, some users might experience some digestive discomfort when consumed in high dosage or are new to CBD. This discomfort might be caused due to gas, bloating, or bowel habit changes.
How Can You Treat Constipation Caused by CBD Oil?
If you think CBD oil causes constipation, you should approach the situation holistically by considering the below-discussed aspects:
- Reassess CBD Dosage: Sometimes, your body might react to higher doses of CBD oil. In such a case, you should reduce your dosage or take a short break to observe if the constipation-related symptoms improve.
- Make dietary adjustments: Since fibers are a natural laxative that stimulates bowel movements, consider taking fiber-rich foods. In addition, drink plenty of water for smooth bowel movements.
- Exercise regularly: Regularly exercising can stimulate the muscles in your intestines and, thus, aid in bowel movements.
- Check CBD product quality: Make sure you buy high-quality CBD products from a reliable CBD online store, as these products are free of impurities and additives that can cause digestive discomfort.
CBD Helping with Constipation: The Connection Between the ECS and Digestive Tract
The world of CBD is curious as its effects are multifaceted and sometimes can be paradoxical.
One individual might find relief from constipation, and another might experience digestive discomfort after ingesting CBD. To understand the effects of CBD on the digestive tract, let’s understand the underlying mechanism, specifically the connection between your endocannabinoid system (ECS) and digestive health.
The ECS significantly contributes to the functioning of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. CB1 and CB2 are the cannabinoid receptors found throughout your gut lining and regulate gut motility and inflammation.
But what is gut motility? It’s the rate at which food you consume moves through the digestive tract. Studies show that activating CB1 receptors can decrease gastrointestinal motility and, thus, can cause constipation. On the other hand, blocking CB1 receptors might increase gut motility, suggesting a nuanced role for cannabinoids.
Many studies show the connection between the ECS and CBD in managing pain and inflammation in the GI tract, specifically in conditions like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). CBD might alleviate some secondary symptoms, like constipation or diarrhea, by reducing inflammation in the GI tract.
Bottom Line
Constipation is a common digestive problem that can be caused by multiple factors like poor diet, dehydration, lack of physical activity, or other lifestyle choices, including consuming CBD in high doses. However, when consumed in the correct dosage, CBD’s antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce pain and discomfort associated with constipation. Moreover, get high-quality CBD oils or gummies from a trustworthy CBD online store containing organic ingredients to modulate the ECS, which is essential to maintaining gut health.
