Cannabis has been used for its medical properties for many years. In the US, cannabis has been legalized for medical use in 33 States and 11 States have also legalized its recreational use.

Marijuana has been used for its medical properties to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer and AIDS patients. Moreover, it is also used to treat people with anxiety. In addition, many people use cannabis to treat stomach problems.

Cannabis has been used to treat many other conditions as well. For example, many people use it to treat lower back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, mood disorders and depression. Due to its many medical properties, cannabis is considered by many as a panacea.

There are many digestive conditions that could improve when the patient uses cannabis. For instance, cannabis has been also used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

How Does Cannabis Work? Our Endocannabinoid System

Cannabis interacts with a complex system in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system. This system consists of many receptors known as CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are found in our brain and throughout the body, while CB2 is mainly found in our immune and gastrointestinal system. THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, mainly binds with our CB1 receptors while CBD binds more closely with CB2.

We still do not understand the exact functions of the endocannabinoid system, but it might be involved in the regulation of physiological and cognitive processes. The endocannabinoid system acts as a neuromodulator for multiple processes such as appetite, motor learning and pain. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system regulates other functions such as memory and reproduction and fertility.

Cannabis to Treat Stomach Problems

Cannabis has been mainly used to treat nausea and vomiting, which are one of the most common stomach problems. Many people use cannabis to treat stomach problems, especially cancer and AIDS patients.

The digestive system is a complex one, and many organs are involved in it. There are short-term conditions such as a viral infection that can cause disruptions in your digestions. Moreover, there are also other long-term conditions such as IBS (intestinal bowel syndrome), Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis and gastroesophageal reflux syndrome (GERS) that also cause digestive problems.

According to Medicine Plus, the following symptoms are commonly associated with digestive problems:

  • Bleeding
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Incontinence
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain in the belly
  • Swallowing problems
  • Weight gain or loss

How can you use cannabis to treat digestive conditions?

Many people choose alternative methods after experiencing many side effects from conventional treatments.

As previously mentioned, cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system and the number of CB1 and CB2 receptors are very important to determine how healthy the stomach is. For instance, some studies show that a healthy stomach has just a few CB2 receptors while and inflamed stomach has many of the CB2 receptors. This could be explained as a protective measure taken by our endocannabinoid system to reduce pain and inflammation.

Many digestive conditions can also cause fatigue and insomnia. Cannabis can help people with this sleep disorders. Moreover, cannabis is also useful to treat cramps and diarrhea that often cause fatigue. Many cannabis strains cause euphoria and will help you to recover your energy.

In addition, you can also use cannabis to treat stomach problems that cause loss of appetite. Perhaps you have already experienced craving for food and water after you vape or smoke weed. This is normal, as cannabis is appetite-stimulating. Therefore, cannabis has been used to stimulate appetite in people with eating disorders and also in people that need to gain weight for other medical reasons.

Furthermore, marijuana can also help with anxiety and depression associated with stomach problems.

Is it Safe to Use Cannabis to Treat Stomach Problems?

Yes, it is safe to use cannabis to treat stomach problems. As a matter of fact, there are studies that show that people with IBS, Crohn’s disease and other digestive illnesses have a deficiency in their endocannabinoid system. Therefore, the use of cannabis could be useful in people with these conditions.

Moreover, cannabis is easily tolerated, and it is impossible to die of a cannabis overdose. However, it is possible that chronic cannabis users develop cannabis tolerance. Nonetheless, this problem is easily solved if you discontinue its use for two or three days.

Cannabis and Stomach Problems: Conclusion

There are many conditions that cause stomach and digestive problems and cannabis can help relieve many of the associated symptoms.

Cannabis interacts with our endocannabinoid system through its many CB1 and CB2 receptors in our brain, immune system, and digestive tract.

Furthermore, cannabis can help you relieve symptoms such as nausea, cramps, lack of appetite and even anxiety associated with stomach problems.

Some cannabis strains are more suitable than others for stomach problems and you need to choose a cannabis strain that interacts more efficiently with CB2 receptors found in the digestive system.