IBS is commonly known as a syndrome and is not considered to be a disease. This is down to the fact that there is a range of symptoms associated with IBS and they cannot be linked to one specific case. However, what it is summarised as is a dysfunction of the digestive tracts.
Some of the symptoms that are commonly associated with this are bloating, abdominal pain and indigestion. There are also changes to bowel movement and in some cases, people might suffer from diarrhoea.
IBS can have an effect on someone in a similar way to that of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the main difference between IBS and IBD is that the latter involves the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
What are the Symptoms of IBS?
The symptoms of IBS can change from one person to the next although there are common symptoms that are related to the condition and this includes
- Nausea
- Gas
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Uncontrollable bowel movements
- Tiredness
- Weight gain
- Weight loss
Can CBD Help With IBS?
Research is still ongoing but evidence could suggest that CBD does have some potential benefit when it comes to IBS. There are still many studies ongoing and they are looking at the properties of CBD and how they might help to ease or treat IBS.
This review has looked into how CBD could be useful in helping to manage the pain and inflammation that is associated with IBS and how it could be a remedy for the two symptoms. There have been more reviews on this and a 2020 review has concluded that in some instances, CBD could provide some benefits for managing chronic pain and help to reduce inflammation.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine also supports these findings while another review considered the biological effects of CBD, suggesting that it could also have anti-inflammatory properties.
What form of CBD should I use?
The great thing about CBD is that it can be used in many different ways. Whether that’s oils, lotions or patches. Oils are more than likely to be one of the most widely used products but for those who suffer from IBS, then patches might be the better option. This is because it means that the CBD doesn’t have to be consumed through the digestive system in order to take effect
How long does it take for CBD to start working?
It is recommended that you use CBD over a period of 2-3 weeks before you begin to notice any of the potential benefits and how it could help with the symptoms of IBS. However, after around a week, there is a potential for you to begin seeing some effect. However, as each person is different, you might find that you have to experiment with different doses in order to see what works best for you and what delivers the best results.
IBS might still be a syndrome that is not fully understood but as understanding of CBD increases, it could turn out to be the treatment that people have been looking for.
