Key Takeaways

• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are the types of IBD, can be less painful and less nauseating because of the beneficial characteristics of marijuana being an anti-inflammatory substance.
• Patients with IBS are aided by cannabis as it decreases abdominal spasticity and pain-enhancing intestinal movements.
• THC is famous for alleviating nausea.
• CBD could potentially alleviate the symptoms of GERD because its constituents include some properties that could be beneficial in calming down the inflammation of the esophagus, helping to control and reduce the activity of the stomach, as well as help in calming the stress response, which is known to trigger an acid reflux.

There has always been a trend of taking advantage of the medicinal qualities of marijuana. Despite this, recently, more and more people believe that this plant has certain positive effects on the functioning of the dietary system. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is essential for healthy living; however, like all organs, it can be affected by many diseases, e.g., inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic vomiting, etc. The investigation into the relationship between cannabis and digestive health is in its delicate development. As such, there have been efforts made by scientists to introduce cannabis in the treatment of digestive conditions, and quite efficiently so with other treatment approaches.

What Role Does Cannabis Play in the Human Digestive Tract?

Cannabis and especially cannabinoids are known to act upon human body receptors and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is responsible for any form of biological homeostasis. The ECS has two main classes of cannabinoid receptors, namely CB1 and CB2 which have been shown to have a shared distribution along the body and not limited to the brain.

The gastrointestinal system happens to be the most vital activity system of a human organism and the ECS functionally acts in the coordination of events that pertain to the activities of digestion, such as the contractions of the gastroenteric tract, inflammation, and pain and its perception, etc. 

Can Marijuana Help People Who Suffer From Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

The IBD occurs primarily in the form of two inflammatory bowel disorders: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, with inflammation being present in the digestive system. They experience sharp abdominal pain and diarrhea, unbearable weakness and harsh weight loss, which affects their health.

Medical marijuana has been researched in clinical trials for IBD in conjunction with other modalities, including pharmacological treatment, which may target inflammation by altering the immune system through the ECS. Cannabinoids consisting of both CBD and THC have been indicated in the resinous extract that contained higher putative cannabinoid levels and lower concentrations of extracts for inflammation and, therefore, IBD chronic pain relief.

Marijuana use in IBD treatment has been explored in detail. There were a few clinical trials reporting that patients with active Crohn’s disease used cannabis and recorded a lesser degree of chronic pain, nausea or appetite[1]. Another study showed that the disease can be improved using cannabis when in an acute state, although such acute ‘disease targeting’ of the inflammation has no beneficial effects on the disease over the short term.

Can Cannabis Help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Many people experience Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder that can be described as the alteration of bowel movements together with constipation, abdominal pain or bloating. The cause of IBS remains unknown; however, factors such as gastrointestinal motility disorders and hypersensitivity of the viscera are core components of IBS. 

Medical cannabis could assist in getting rid of the IBS symptoms by acting on the ECS, improving its neonatal and reducing the gut spasms, which constitute a very high percentage of IBS symptoms.

Of all the medicines produced by cannabis, it is only the compound CBD that is recognized to reduce spasms. It can also relax the smooth muscles of the intestinal tract thereby reducing the common IBS-associated pain and cramps[2].

In addition, stress and anxiety are quite harmful to people who have IBS as they are potent enhancers of the disease. Since cannabis is famous for neuroleptic effects, patients suffering from IBS may use it to alleviate anxiety and decrease the feeling of abdominal discomfort.

Can Cannabis Cut Down Nausea?

Patients have nausea and vomiting in cases of chemotherapy, chronic illness, and motion sickness, among others. One of the ingredients of marijuana, THC, is known to have a soothing effect on the nausea center in the brain, especially when feeling sick and vomiting. This is the main reason that patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy have started using cannabis to control extreme nausea and loss of appetite.

Cannabis use also increases food intake, which people would call “the munchies.” This is important for people with eating disorders like IBD or possibly anorexia. When any appetite-inducing medicines are taken, patients should eat either more or less the same amount of food as in normal circumstances so that they do not gain unhealthy amounts of weight.

Can Cannabis Help to Treat Acid Reflux Causing GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux is a health disorder that defers contents of the stomach into the esophageal tube, which leads to the trigging of stomach acids all too often into the esophagus, bringing about irritation and heartburn, among others. Proton pump inhibitors, PPI, and changes in dietary behavior are some of the common strategies employed to treat this disorder; however, some individuals are contemplating the use of cannabis for the alleviation of GERD symptoms.

THC and CBD can also be beneficial for treating GERD because they reduce esophageal inflammation and modulate gut motility, which minimizes the risks of effluxing gastric contents[3].

Additionally, since it is known to relax the nervous system, it has the possibility to take away the sensations of acid reflux, which are possible due to stress and tension, which are the causes for most people with GERD problems most of the time.

Can You Use Marijuana for the Treatment of Digestive Disorders and Pain Relief?

More often than not, pain accompanies many gastrointestinal disorders, such as cramping, bloating, or even pain caused by the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the intestines or other parts of the stomach. Cannabis has pain-relieving or analgesic properties owing to the action of the ECS system and the blockade of the pain transmission pathways.

When THC interacts with the CB1 receptors throughout the central nervous system, it has the potential to lower pain perception, thus making it relevant in chronic dietary pain patients.

While CBD does not change your mental state, it may allow for treating pain due to decreases in both inflammation and anxiety, two aspects that contribute to inflammatory diseases located in the gastrointestinal system.

How Does Cannabis Influence the Gut-Brain Axis?

The gut-brain axis is the communication network that is established among the central nervous systems and the gastrointestinal systems, which is also very crucial beyond the gastrointestinal tract. Stress and other factors like anxiety and depression in both human beings and animals are known to cause disruptions in the functioning of the gut.

Anxiety, stress, and related ailments may be treated with the help of cannabis, especially CBD, and this means communication between the brain and the stomach is improved because patients are in a relaxed state. This means that in the treatment of stomach diseases, the patients will be evaluated psychologically, and in this case, cannabis will help in the all-rounded treatment of dietary illnesses.

What Changes Are Expected in Taking Cannabis for Digestive Health?

As of now, the lack of complete legalization of cannabis has inhibited many researchers’ efforts in doing numerous and well-controlled experiments on human subjects and mainly data came from small studies or patients’ self-reported histories.

Moving forward with realistic expectations in terms of normalizing legislation and public consumption, more precise studies will most likely ensue, which will elucidate the effects of cannabis on GI disorders.

How Can You Use Cannabis for Digestive Wellbeing?

Because of this, before taking any steps towards improving digestion with cannabis, it’s important to get proper medical consultation. The therapeutic effects are likely to change because of the particular cannabis product used (high in CBD or THC, or in a balanced ratio between them) and how it is used (i.e., vaped, edibles, oils).

A doctor can help in selecting the appropriate dose and the mode of treatment focusing on the particular gastrointestinal condition and the individual’s parameters.

Conclusion

The potential of cannabis in relation to the health of the gastrointestinal system is encouraging, particularly for those with IBD, IBS, nausea, GERD and chronic abdominal pain. Due to its effects on the endocannabinoid system, cannabis is likely to be useful in targeting inflammation, alleviating pain and discomfort, promoting gut movement and suppressing anxiety, all of which are essential in maintaining a healthy digestive system.