Tag Archives: ibd

This is the next big thing, and it has arrived

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CBD oil is one of the components of cannabis (marijuana). Cannabis has a long history of being used in medicine (I am talking centuries of use).

THC and CBD are two of the phytocannabinoids in marijuana. THC has been found to have many health benefits and medical uses and is also the substance that causes the “high”. CBD has many benefits and uses as well but does not cause a high. For this reason, it can be used by people without dangers of impaired judgment or other consequences of getting high.

This CBD can be extracted from the plant and packaged into oil for human consumption. Research has been done on CBD oil, and there are many demonstrated benefits.

  • Analgesic (reduces pain)
  • Antioxidant (reduces free radicals that cause cellular damage that can lead to cancer)
  • Anticonvulsant (anti-seizure)
  • Anti-nausea
  • Anti-anxiety
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Muscle relaxant

Anxiety and insomnia

CBD oil has been researched extensively in regard to anxiety. CBD oil relaxes people, improves sleep, and reduces stress. On theory is that CBD oil changes the way the brain responds to serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter). This promotes sleep and positive mood.

In one study 600mg CBD given to participants with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder before taking a public speaking simulation test. CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in performance and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech.

Digestive Health

CBD oil has been studied in regard to IBS and IBD. The strongest data is with Crohn’s Disease. The molecules involved in processing cannabis control and prevent intestinal inflammation. Studies have shown the following benefits:

  • Less abdominal pain
  • Less cramps (anti-spasmodic and muscle relaxant)
  • Less diarrhea (same reason as above)
  • Less nausea and vomiting
  • Improved appetite

Thus CBD oil has become my newest favorite supplement to use in treating my clients (and myself!). The company I like best is VivaOil. Use the coupon vivadianne for 10% off.

IBS vs IBD

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It is a confusing topic. One that comes up a LOT in my world. People don’t know what IBS is or what IBD is or what the difference is. Why would you? I get it. Even health professionals say it wrong. (I have heard trained colleagues call it irritable bowel disease. Not it). So, let’s clear it up!

IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable bowel describes the syndrome of symptoms; bloating, diarrhea, constipation, pain. This is a syndrome not a disease because there is nothing ‘wrong’ with the digestive tract. On all medical tests, people with IBS come up ‘normal’. They don’t have another diagnosis so the doctors call it IBS and send them on their way. Why? Because in conventional medicine, IBS is a group of symptoms for which there is no cause or treatment. (This couldn’t be more wrong. Those of us in the functional medicine world know that there are several causes of IBS, all treatable.) These symptoms might be happening because of an imbalance in the microbiome, damage to the intestinal wall (leaky gut), food sensitivities or intolerances, or a sensitive gut-brain connection (stress and emotions cause the symptoms).

IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. These diseases include Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract, but usually the latter part of the small intestine. Colitis is only ever in the colon. People with IBD have visible inflammation and ulcers on the inside of their GI tract. These diseases are auto-immune, where the person’s own immune system is attacking the intestine. The symptoms include pain, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and fatigue. The disease shows up on the conventional medicine tests. And the primary conventional treatment is anti-inflammatories and immune suppressants. But the patients all have the same underlying problems as stated above (imbalance in microbiome and leaky gut, etc) in addition to the self-driven inflammation.

Both conditions can be miserable to live with. But both are very treatable and manageable with diet, supplements, and other lifestyle interventions. For more information about how to treat these issues, check out my eBook!