Can Consuming CBD Oil Cause Constipation?

CBD Oil Cause Constipation

CBD And Constipation - Everything You Need To Know

The potential to experience irritation after using CBD products is high, especially if you use them for the first time. 

It’s certainly challenging to predict the possible effects of hemp oil

CBD carrier oils include hemp seed oil, coconut oil, MCT oil, and olive oil. Each of them has its properties and varying  impacts on the gastrointestinal tract

If that wasn’t enough, it’s also tough to discuss constipation since our culture has taboos around bowel movements.

Its medical treatment is also hard because it can be a problem or indicate other digestive tract issues. 

In addition, constipation can be caused by the different products you consume daily, so finding the root cause is another issue.

So, let’s unpack the question ‘Can CBD Oil Cause Constipation?’ We’ll also discuss the other potential impacts of CBD oil on our appetite and digestion. 

What Is Constipation?

You must experience three to four bowel movements when your digestive system is operating appropriately within a week. 

However, when you have constipation, your bowel movements decrease.

Though constipation has many forms, some digestive problems include;

  • Bloating
  • painful bowel movements
  • hard stool
  • Trouble passing stool

The common causes of constipation include old age, inactivity, lack of fiber in the diet, less water and some prescription medication

Though these risk factors don’t essentially cause constipation, they are common identifiers among various people experiencing constipation.

Chronic Constipation

You can have chronic constipation, which leads to longer digestive issues. 

It’s classified into primary and secondary constipation. 

The main reasons behind primary constipation are issues in the body function, while secondary is due to some medical conditions or medication usage.

So, lets move onto the question can consuming CBD Oil cause constipation.

Effects of CBD on Human Body

CBD is extracted from medical marijuana and hemp plants like Cannabis Sativa and Indica.

Both are also linked to medical cannabis

The popularity of hemp is due to its higher CBD concentration than marijuana. 

However, it has less THC, an active ingredient that makes users high.

In contrast, marijuana has high THC and very little CBD

CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptors as per the latest information. 

These CB1 and CB2 receptors are components of the endocannabinoid system that controls mood, protection, sleep, stress, appetite, etc.

The popularity of hemp is due to its higher CBD concentration than marijuana.  However, it has less THC, an active ingredient that makes users high.

CBD Effects on Constipation

CBD also plays a vital role in digestive system regulation.

It’s usually assumed that CBD can cause fluctuations in appetite, which can involve constipation. 

However, reliable evidence also proposes that an unregulated endocannabinoid system can cause intestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease. 

Though there’s limited knowledge about CBD oil, one of its properties is that it aids in gut motility.

In contrast, TCH must delay internal procedures. 

Due to this, it appears that CBD products will have better effects than medical marijuana substances. 

The cannabinoid is employed to relax muscles and address spasms. CBD oil also has a potent sedative effect and is mostly used for stress relief

So can CBD oil cause constipation? The answer is yes, but it comes under the rare side effects of CBD oil, it is not very common.

But it’s more possible due to the additional ingredients, not the CBD. 

Further, opposite things happen if you take too much CBD. For instance, taking high doses of CBD regularly causes diarrhea due to the higher consumption of oil suspended in CBD.

Common effects of CBD

Let’s move towards CBD’s beneficial impacts on constipation. 

CDB has numerous functions in the human body, but it reduces constipation because it interacts with anandamide produced by our body. 

It’s involved in mediating inflammation and pain in the damaged tissues. 

CBD performs these functions by inhibiting an enzyme (FAAH) involved in anandamide degradation.

This helps your body maintain adequate anandamide levels and their instant availability as CBD lowers stress which can cause constipation relief. 

Epinephrine is released from adrenal glands during stressful conditions

Our body redirects blood from the small and large intestine to critical organs like the brain, lungs, and heart to protect us from fight or flight responses to stress

Consequently, intestinal movements decrease that can cause constipation. 

So, CBD reminds your body to evenly distribute the blood by lowering stress and provides aid through its anti-inflammatory properties. 

CBD And Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is usually associated with secondary constipation. 

However, the latest research has established a connection between IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain and our inherent endocannabinoid system. 

As CBD reduces inflammation, it can relieve pain and be good for Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. 

Moreover, CBD also decreases vomiting and nausea to the point of boosting appetite, which can help prevent secondary constipation and occasional bouts of constipation caused by nausea and less caloric intake. 

Lastly, CBD helps alleviate secondary constipation by opioid use. CBD isn’t addictive and can lower the dose and requirement for treating chronic pain

It makes opioids more efficient and lowers your tolerance to them.

Opioids can bring about nausea and stomach cramps which leads to secondary constipation. 

CBD can be good for lowering opioid use and opioid-induced constipation without side effects.

Which Form of CBD Is Most Efficient for Constipation?

CBD use in different ways will give somewhat different effects

For example, topical CBD products will have lower effects as they aren’t ingested rather than rubbed on the skin. 

However, cannabis edibles and under the tongue tinctures go through our gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and are more efficient for treating GIT problems like constipation.

CBD effects vary as per drug administration routes. 

Usually, the CBD effects in edible products appear after one to two hours as the cannabis is first absorbed in the gut and processed in the liver. 

However, CBD tinctures that can be sprayed or dripped under the tongue are directly absorbed in the blood vessels, and their effects appear within 15 minutes to one hour.

CBD Safety and Regulation

Pure CBD is present in the best CBD products, while it’s highly difficult to get pure CBD in America due to the decontrolled market. 

FDA has the authority to regulate drugs, food, and cosmetic products to protect humans. But it doesn’t monitor CBD products. 

Farmers across states of the United States were allowed to raise hemp containing up to 3% THC according to the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill). 

Though it allows Americans to get healing advantages of medical cannabis, no state laws are available that ensure the monitoring of CBD consumption. 

These issues have a huge impact on the efficiency and purity of CBD.

Thus, it’s essential to procure CBD products from reliable sources. 

The other important thing is considering full-spectrum CBD products to gain profits from the entourage effect.

CBD Oil And Constipation - The Bottom Line

Numerous causes are associated with constipation.

However, you can get some relief by staying hydrated, taking fiber-rich foods, and increasing physical activity. 

CBD also helps in endocannabinoid system disorders like IBS and opioid reduction. 

While in some very isolated cases it may lessen your ability to pass stool, the overall answer to the question can CBD oil cause constipation is no. 

CBD oil and some essential oils are the best way to treat constipation as it is ingested and acts on GIT.

Further, it’s vital to take only CBD products from trustworthy sources to verify their safety and quality. Unfortunately, its adverse side effects can be different for different people

Some potential side effects of excessive use of CBD include diarrhea, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fatigue, dry mouth, and interaction with medicines like blood thinners

Generally, it can be a secure and efficient way of treating chronic and occasional constipation. 

But you must take medical advice from a professional before taking CBD as medication and in extreme cases.