There’s a good chance that you’ve heard of CBD oil. Its popularity has blown up over the recent years being praised with helping relieve pain, reduce anxiety and depression, and tons of other illnesses. This is because of the positive medical benefits that are related to the use of this cannabinoid. Many people are turning towards CBD oil to cope with all sorts of issues.
While CBD oil has many medicinal purposes, there’s also a common side effect that has been reported by the users of this cannabinoid. Maybe you‘ve guessed from the title of this post? Diarrhea seems to be fairly common among people who have recently started using CBD oil for different ailments.
So wait, how can CBD oil cause diarrhea? We’re here to help you out. It’s important to understand both sides of the equation so let’s first dive into some information about the two.
What even is CBD oil?
Let’s jump backwards for a moment. What exactly is CBD oil? Basically, it’s a cannabinoid (known as cannabidiol) that has many medicinal purposes. This cannabinoid comes from the sativa plant. And many have found great success by putting CBD oil to use.
But, wait a minute. THC is also a cannabinoid. So, does this mean that CBD oil is psychoactive like THC? Here’s what you need to know: CBD oil isn’t psychoactive at all. It gives you the health benefits related to THC. But without any of the “high” effects that go along with it.
It’s time to introduce the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system maintains responsibility for many different functions throughout the body. The ECS is linked to the control of inflammation, cell degeneration, and even pain. It’s an important health system.
There’s a big difference between CBD oil and THC. When it comes to the endocannabinoid system, THC attaches itself directly to the system. CBD doesn’t attach, but instead, it activates receptors in the system. And this activation is what helps heal an assortment of problems.
Whenever CBD oil is used, it immediately begins the healing process. Inflammation can be reduced and pain can be eased. Also, CBD oil will assist in the deployment of melatonin and serotonin. These neurochemicals will help you sleep and maintain a positive mood.
The Diarrhea “Talk”
Okay, so let’s have “the talk”. No not the one you had when you were 13, let’s talk about something a maybe just as uncomfortable, Diarrhea. There’s a common saying that goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” We’ll be disregarding that saying today. Instead, we’ll be using the power of words to help you understand a little more about this common condition that many people face.
Diarrhea basically refers to bowel movements that are liquid-like in nature. There are 3 types of diarrhea including acute, persistent, and chronic. Acute diarrhea goes away within a couple days. Persistent diarrhea lasts 2-4 weeks. And chronic diarrhea lasts over a month.
It should be noted that persistent and chronic cases are quite rare. However, depending on the extent of the situation, diarrhea can cause a couple complications. First, it can cause dehydration of the body. Second, it can cause malnourishment from malabsorption.
There are over 100 million cases of diarrhea reported in the USA every single year. Diarrhea is extremely common and can be caused by many different things. For example, medications and alcohol abuse can lead to some unwelcoming bowel movements. Diarrhea is nothing new.
Now, let’s go back to the CBD oil topic. You’re not likely to get chronic diarrhea from using the stuff. Reported cases have been of the acute and persistent varieties. While diarrhea isn’t a fun side effect, it only lasts a little while, and then you’re onto the big medical benefits of CBD.
Why does CBD cause Diarrhea?
There’s no doubt that CBD oil has many medicinal purposes. This means that patients will use this oil on a regular basis. This can be thought of as someone who’s prescribed certain pills for good health. This is a new medicine entering into the body. It takes getting used to.
Whenever something new is introduced into the body, it’s common to go through a stage of adaptation. Your body will start acting in slightly different ways. And this can lead to the side effect of diarrhea. This isn’t only true with CBD oil, but with many other medicines as well.
There’s something important to keep in mind here. There have been scientific studies conducted on the use of CBD oil. And the results showed that chronic CBD oil users were typically the ones who had issues with diarrhea. Most people showed no symptoms.
CBD oil is seen for its power in the medicinal world. But, like any other new medication, it’s possible that the early stages of use can lead to minor discomfort in the form of diarrhea. Your body is just trying to get used to the new medicine that it’s taking in. And that’s normal.
CBD Oil: Diarrhea From (Lack Of) The Munchies
Whether you’ve ever used marijuana or not, you’re probably well aware of a common effect that goes along with this ingestion of THC. We’re talking about the munchies. When people have the munchies, they feel the need to eat massive amounts of snack foods.
As we’ve mentioned before, THC and CBD are quite different. Sure, THC will give you the munchies. But CBD oil will have the opposite effect. CBD actually helps to suppress your appetite, meaning that you’ll be less likely to consume all of that unnecessary junk food.
So, where exactly does diarrhea come into play? Basically, when you regularly use CBD oil, your body is forced to make a big change. You find yourself snacking a lot less in between your big meals. Your cravings for small snacks decrease, and your body has to adapt to this.
Just like adapting to a new medicine, your body must adapt to new eating habits as well. These new eating habits cause slight changes in the body, which can lead to diarrhea. CBD oil will help you steer clear of the junk food. The positive definitely outweighs the negative here.
Your Body Will Adapt To CBD Oil
So far, we see that there are 2 main reasons as to why the use of CBD oil can lead to diarrhea. First, it’s your body’s way of coping with a new medicine entering the body. Second, it’s your body’s way of coping with new eating habits. Did you spot the common denominator?
Basically, whenever a person begins taking CBD oil on a regular basis, the body must adapt to new situations. These new situations are what cause the slight changes in the body. And these slight changes can lead to cases of acute or persistent diarrhea, but not in all cases.
Here’s some good news: your body will, indeed, adapt to CBD oil. Consider moving to a new place for the first time. You’re a little confused, off your game, and need time to adapt before reaching your full potential. The same goes for your body when taking CBD oil constantly.
Here’s some even better news: the positive effects of CBD oil reach way further than the negative effect of diarrhea. CBD oil has been shown to help relieve people of pain and inflammation. It also helps you to sleep better at night and generally feel in a better mood.
Rare Case: Chronic Diarrhea
As we mentioned earlier, there are 3 different types of diarrhea. There’s an acute, persistent, and chronic case. Acute and persistent cases last 2-4 weeks. But chronic diarrhea can last for over a month. Chronic diarrhea is rare in general, and not associated with CBD oil.
But what should you do if you experience chronic diarrhea? For starters, you should try to decrease your intake. If that doesn’t work, then it’s a good idea to check the ingredients on the bottle. Stay safe and make sure that you’re not having an allergic reaction to CBD oil.
There’s a good chance that you’ll never suffer through chronic diarrhea while using CBD oil. Most symptoms will subside within a couple weeks, and that’s for chronic users of this cannabinoid. But you should consult a doctor if you experience a chronic case of diarrhea.
CBD Oil: Short-Term Diarrhea & Long-Term Health Benefits
CBD oil is a cannabinoid, just like THC. But there’s a big difference between the two. While THC is psychoactive, CBD is not. You won’t be getting that “high” feeling when you use CBD. You also won’t be getting the munchies. But you’ll definitely be reaping some health benefits.
Short-term cases of diarrhea can happen with the excessive use of CBD oil. However, many people won’t experience such symptoms. When it comes to chronic diarrhea, this is unheard of when it comes to using CBD oil. There’s not much to worry about with this cannabinoid.
Here’s what you can expect from CBD oil: a relief from pain, an enhancement in your mood, better sleep at night, and less inflammation. These long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term effect of diarrhea on any given day. We hope this article has given you insight.
