Why I Use CBD Oil for IBS

Due to my Crohn’s Disease and irritable bowel syndrome diagnoses, I work with a gastroenterologist and naturopathic medical Doctor to help keep my CD and IBS diagnoses in check. Having both diagnoses can be a bit tricky but that’s why it is important that I stay up to date with appointments and get multiple medical opinions when it comes to treatment.

About a year ago, my naturopathic medical doctor (NMD) suggested that I start to use CBD oil as it is a natural treatment that helps improve sleep, manage pain, and lowers both inflammation and anxiety. All four of these are major culprits in both Crohn’s and IBS, so I was eager to try.

Learning about CBD oil

As is the rule with all things in life, not all CBD oil is made equally. There are many brands out there, and at this point, it is easy to get lost in all the options. I personally have tried two different brands, which I found to work well and were recommended by my naturopathic medical doctor.

According to my NMD all companies process CBD oil differently, and all contain different amounts of the therapeutic properties found in cannabis, therefore it is important to do your research and find an oil that is appropriate for you and your symptoms. It is imperative to reach out to a medical professional familiar with CBD oil and ask for an individualized recommendation.

The oils that I have personally used come in a small bottle with a dropper. You take the dropper and apply the prescribed amount underneath the tongue. Before swallowing allow about 30 seconds for the liquid to absorb on the tongue; then swallow.

My experience with IBS and CBD oil

First, I found that the oil offers a calming effect. By no means are you high, and the particular brand I use contained zero THC, so getting high is impossible, but it did lessen my anxiety. I found this to be a helpful aspect, as, for me, anxiety can trigger urgent IBS symptoms.

Secondly, I noticed that if I were in a bad IBS flare with painful abdominal cramping, the oil would lessen the pain and sometimes take it away completely. Whenever an episode would hit, I would take the prescribed amount of oil and within a couple of minutes, symptoms would subside.

Thirdly, due to the fact I also deal with Crohn’s disease, inflammation is a an on-going problem. Whenever I go for blood work and check my inflammation markers, they are through the roof. I remember I began taking the oil 3 times a day as my NMD prescribed. I remember I began consistently for about a month. I went in for blood work afterward and found my inflammation markers were cut in half compared to my last results. I was impressed.

Lastly, whenever I would take the oil before bed, I found that I would get deep sleep. Oftentimes, IBS likes to wake us up in the middle of the night, but I found that the oil helped me stay asleep. And even the 1 or 2 times when I did wake up, I was able to get back to sleep easily.

Overall, I highly suggest talking to your doctor about trying CBD oil for IBS. It is an amazing natural tool to help lessen symptoms and the best part about it is that there are no unpleasant side effects.

Do you use CBD oil to help with your IBS? If so, share below!