From probiotics to health-specific diets, the digestive system is the focus of professional interest and CBD is starting to grab their attention for its gut health benefits.
Naturopathic Doctor Aimée Gould Shunney believes in the power of good gut bacteria and believes that CBD offers benefits that are not yet fully understood. In a recent interview, she said declared : "CBD is an immune modulator and a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Additionally, it helps balance the ECS (endo-cannabinoid system) system, and, therefore, has enormous potential to positively impact a variety of ailments related to the digestive system. "
The link between CBD and the digestive system
Going further, Dr Shunney demonstrated the link between stress, anxiety and the body's digestive system, citing that “stress exacerbates our gut and stress management is crucial to keeping symptoms at bay. CBD has been shown to promote resilience to stress and decrease anxiety, adding to its powerful role in bowel function. "
Studies support Dr. Shunney's claims, including recherches conducted in 2017 by the U.S. National Library of Medicine on the often misunderstood condition of inflammatory bowel disease and the potential of cannabinoids. The study found that cannabinoids showed promise in fighting intestinal disease (such as the SCI and Crohn's disease) and that more research was needed.
Medicines can also hurt the gut.
Another recent study in the Netherlands found that once marked as safe, drugs could pose a risk to the microbiomes that live in the gut, thereby killing off good bacteria and allowing infections to occur and increasing the risks of obesity.
Arnau Vich Vila, one of the lead researchers, said: “We already know that the efficacy and toxicity of some drugs is influenced by the bacterial composition of the gastrointestinal tract, and that the gut microbiota has been linked to multiple health problems. Our work underscores the importance of taking into account the role of the gut microbiota in the design of treatments and also raises new hypotheses that could explain certain side effects associated with the use of drugs ”.
In fact, the study published in October and presented during UGE week in Spain, found that more than half of commonly used drugs affect the gut and pose a risk. The list of drugs with the greatest risk included:
- Metformin, which is used for diabetes
- Antibiotics often used for bacterial infections;
- Laxatives to treat constipation
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used for dyspepsia.
As gut health often dictates the well-being of the human body as a whole, there is an interesting discussion to be had whether cannabis or CBD oil could help the body protect itself from the effects of other drugs.
