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Marijuana has of late become an extremely popular alternative medicine for a variety of conditions. Marijuana can bring many benefits to both the mind and the body. That being said, some people report having diarrhea after smoking or ingesting marijuana.
There is pretty strong evidence that marijuana can cause diarrhea and constipation. Of course, this is interesting because it is also often used as a treatment for constipation and diarrhea. Let's take a closer look at this question now.
Content
- 1 Can Marijuana Really Cause Diarrhea?
- 2 How does marijuana affect your digestive system?
- 3 Does the herb help with stomach problems?
- 3.1 How marijuana helps with stomach problems
- 3.2 How marijuana can cause stomach problems
- 4 Marijuana Side Effects Explained
- 4.1 Positive
- 4.2 Negative
- 6 Can Edibles Cause Diarrhea?
- 7. Conclusion
Can Marijuana Really Cause Diarrhea?
What needs to be said here is that the issue of marijuana causing diarrhea is something that has not been studied. There is hardly any scientific research that has been done on this front.
Any evidence that exists is relatively anecdotal and based on first-hand experience. That being said, there are far too many marijuana smokers to draw any conclusions.
While there are no actual studies examining why or how marijuana can cause an upset stomach, there are studies that prove this is the case. The conclusion is thatyes, marijuana can cause diarrhea. However, this is certainly not always the case.
The simple reality here is that there are many people who smoke, vape, or ingest marijuana to control stomach problems. In fact, there are some people who use marijuana to help treat Crohn's disease andirritable bowel syndrome.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence showing that CBD oil can be a treatment forCrohn's disease. There is strong evidence showing that cannabis oil can actually significantly lessen or even eliminate the symptoms of Crohn's disease.
However, there is also a lot of evidence showing that marijuana can also cause stomach problems, as well as help alleviate them. As you can probably see, this is not going to be a conclusive article, as it could really go one way or the other.
How does marijuana affect your digestive system?
What is pretty clear is that marijuana has an effect on the digestive system. However, what is not clear is exactly what effect this has on people and why.
The problem here is that the results and findings are so diverse that it is almost impossible to reach a conclusion. Yes, marijuana can cause diarrhea in some people, but it's not clear exactly why.
What is known is that marijuana affects the digestive tract. This has to do with the ECS or endocannabinoid system in the human body. Marijuana contains more than 100 different cannabinoids, and these affect the human body by interacting with it.endocanabinóidesystem.
Our brains have special endocannabinoid receptors; Therefore, when we smoke, smoke, or ingest marijuana, these receptors receive these cannabinoids, which have various effects on the mind and body. Marijuana use in any form can change the way this endocannabinoid system works.
Changes in the endocannabinoid system can lead to changes in the digestive tract. Both THC and CBD, the two main cannabinoids in weed, can have a variety of effects on the human body and, yes, the digestive tract. This is something we'll look at more closely later in the section on marijuana and whether or not it helps with stomach problems.
That being said, it is not known exactly how these changes occur. Also, it is also not known why these changes are different in different people. Smoking marijuana can relieve diarrhea and cause it in someone else.
That is, in some people it can positively influence the digestive system, while in others the effects can be negative. Now it is shown that there are molecules in the digestive tract that bind to THC and CBD.
It is believed that marijuana can change the amount of time it takes for the stomach to empty. For long-term users, there is also a risk of developing CHS orcannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, something we'll talk about later.
That being said, in terms of THC and the digestive system, there are some studies that show that THC can slow down the digestive system, which can actually alleviate diarrhea. There is also strong evidence that the CBD contained in the herb can help relieve inflammation in the digestive tract.
However, some people may be allergic to the herb or sensitive to the other ingredients in the product, which could cause negative effects. There is too little evidence to say anything conclusive in either direction here.
There are also schools of thought that say that CBD can cause diarrhea. There is too little evidence to draw a strong conclusion anyway.
Does the herb help with stomach problems?
The answer here is yes and no. In some people, marijuana can help alleviate stomach problems, while in other people, weed can be the cause of these stomach problems.
Let's see evidence or cases where marijuana helps with stomach problems and others where it doesn't.
How Marijuana Helps With Stomach Problems
There is evidence to suggest that marijuana can help ease an upset stomach in some people, especially those with a variety of medical conditions.
- There is evidence to suggest that THC can slow down the digestive tract. Therefore, this can give the body more time to digest food, resulting in relief from diarrhea.
- There is also strong evidence to suggest that CBD has the ability to relieve nausea and vomiting. This is particularly the case for chemotherapy patients who are sick from their treatments. In fact, marijuana can help alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy.
- Similarly, THC is also an appetite stimulant. This can help combat a lack of appetite in people receiving cancer treatment (as well as other treatments that cause a lack of appetite).
- There is also very strong evidence that CBD is a great anti-inflammatory. Thus, it helps relieve symptoms caused by Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions related to inflammation of the stomach and digestive tract.
- Studies show that marijuana can help decrease the amount of loose stools per day, relieve abdominal pain, and decrease the frequency of bowel movements.
- Stomach problems can also be mental in nature. For example, depression, stress, and anxiety can lead to nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea. THC has been shown to relieve stress and therefore can help alleviate mentally induced stomach problems.
How can marijuana cause stomach problems?
Marijuana can also cause stomach problems in some people, but again, why exactly this is the case is not clear.
- Like marijuana, THC can slow down digestive function and therefore alleviate diarrhea, it can also slow it down to the point of causing constipation. Additionally, marijuana can also cause dehydration which would also not help in terms of constipation.
- Some people may be sensitive to the components contained in the herb, which in themselves can cause diarrhea. You are much less likely to get stomach problems from smoking or vaping than from ingesting marijuana. Remember that weed allergies are real. Unfortunately, you can be allergic to it.
- Some people's stomachs simply cannot tolerate herb oils, which could be due to their extreme oiliness or fatness, or other substances contained in the oil. Consuming herb oil by mouth can actually increase symptoms in people suffering from digestive problems.
- Keep in mind that it is not always known exactly why, but there are a number of gastrointestinal symptoms that can occur due to marijuana use. In addition to diarrhea and constipation, they can also include nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, and pain.
- Marijuana can also cause another major stomach problem known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. It is not known exactly why this condition develops, although it does sometimes develop in long-term users. This is a condition characterized by bouts of nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weight loss, lack of appetite, dehydration, and fatigue.
- While it's not exactly known why, for long-term users, especially heavy users, something known aspancreatitisit can happen. This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed. This can cause severe pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
- While the research is not conclusive, some believe that CBD can actually cause diarrhea.
Explanation of the side effects of cannabis
As we have explained so far, marijuana can have both positive and negative side effects on the human body, particularly the digestive system. Let's take a quick look at the complete lists of positive and negative side effects of smoking marijuana.
Keep in mind that we are talking about side effects related to stomach problems, not general side effects.
Positive
- It can increase appetite and decrease nausea in people receiving chemotherapy.
- It can also relieve nausea and increase the appetite of AIDS sufferers.
- It can help alleviate inflammation caused by IBS, Chrono, and other inflammation-related gastrointestinal conditions, and thus help relieve stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea, and more.
- THC is believed to be able to slow down the digestive system, so it can help alleviate diarrhea.
- It can help loosen the muscles of MS patients and therefore make eating easier.
- It can help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, which can also be mental triggers for stomach problems.
Negative
- It is believed that in some cases, CBD can cause diarrhea.
- Although the reason is unknown, marijuana use, particularly by ingestion, can cause diarrhea and constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pains, and abdominal cramps.
- The oils that edibles often contain can also upset your stomach. Some people's stomachs cannot handle these oils.
- Some people may be allergic to the herb, to other substances found in the herb, or to the oils themselves, which can cause an upset stomach.
- Although the reason is unknown, the development of CHS with prolonged use, a condition characterized by abdominal problems, is also a possibility.
Conditions that cause constipation and diarrhea.
Of course, there are other conditions and factors that can lead to both diarrhea and constipation. If you experience any of these things on a regular basis, there could be a bigger underlying problem.
- Celiac disease, or what most people call gluten intolerance, can cause both symptoms.
- Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disease, is well known to cause these two symptoms.
- Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS can also cause these symptoms, although it is usually diarrhea.
- Colon and rectal cancer can also cause both symptoms to occur.
- Anal fissures, tears in the lining of the anus, can also cause diarrhea.
Can edibles cause diarrhea?
If there's one way to consume marijuana that's more likely to cause diarrhea or constipation, it's by ingesting it, especially if the oils were used to make the edibles.
Your stomach may be sensitive to cannabinoids, oils, or other substances contained in edibles.
Related:
- Can you smoke marijuana when you're sick?
- How to get rid of black lips from smoking marijuana.
- Can you smoke a joint after having a wisdom tooth extracted?
- Why does your poop smell like grass?
Conclusion
The bottom line is that there simply isn't enough evidence or research to say anything definitive. In some people, marijuana can ease stomach problems and help treat gastrointestinal problems. In other people, it can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Also, it's not known exactly why this might happen anyway. The bottom line is that if you use marijuana, you'll figure it out on your own fast enough.
FAQs
Why do I get diarrhea after smoking? ›
On top of that, researchers note smoking can raise your risk for developing Crohn's disease. It can also make the symptoms much worse due to inflammation in the intestines. Moreover, smoking may also raise your risk for bacterial infections that affect the intestines and cause diarrhea.
Does marijuana cause constipation or diarrhea? ›Digestive Risks of Smoking Weed
In addition to stimulating appetite, THC also slows down the movement of food through the digestive system. This can lead to constipation and/or diarrhea.
Your digestive tract also has a number of molecules that bind to THC and related substances. So marijuana also affects the digestive tract. For example, the drug can change the time it takes the stomach to empty. It also affects the esophageal sphincter.
Can marijuana give you IBS? ›Following propensity matched analysis, the researchers found that cannabis use disorder was correlated with an 80% increased risk for IBS (OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.27-2.6).
Is marijuana good for diarrhea? ›Cannabis also helps individuals who have a difficult time eating enough by increasing appetite and it can help reduce diarrhea and nausea.
Can marijuana cause bowel obstruction? ›Cannabis use was an independent risk factor for intestinal obstruction (OR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.06-2.77, p < 0.05). However, adjusted odds ratios of shock/hypotension, colectomy, intestinal abscess, intestinal fistula, and intestinal perforation were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05).
Can CBD cause bowel problems? ›CBD use also carries some risks. Though it's often well-tolerated, CBD can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue.
Can smoking cause stomach pain and diarrhea? ›Can smoking cause stomach pain? Digestive issues and more. Smoking can produce multiple negative effects on the stomach and other organs of the digestive tract, leading to pain and discomfort in the abdomen. The harm from smoking may contribute to conditions such as ulcers and Crohn's disease.
Can smoking nicotine cause diarrhea? ›Nicotine can cause nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. In high enough doses, nicotine paralyzes the respiratory system or causes respiratory failure, leading to tremors, cyanosis, dypnoea, convulsion, collapse or coma.
Can smoking make you poop more? ›This may be because of the fact that nicotine is a stimulant, and it can act as a stimulant laxative. This means that it can influence muscle contractions in the bowels, forcing stool through and out of the colon.
Can smoking cause bowel problems? ›
Smoking contributes to many common disorders of the digestive system, such as heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and some liver diseases. Smoking increases the risk of Crohn's disease, colon polyps, and pancreatitis, and it may increase the risk of gallstones.
Can smoking cause irritable bowel syndrome? ›Smoking was significantly found to be associated with IBS (P=0.002). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that non-smokers were more likely to have IBS (Crude OR: 3.00, 95% CI 1.23-7.30) than smokers, and females were more likely to have IBS (Crude OR: 3.73, 95% CI 1.56-7.69) than males.
Is it OK to smoke with IBS? ›Smoking can make IBS symptoms worse
Since there's no cure for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), managing the condition through treatments, lifestyle changes and avoiding 'triggers' is really important for sufferers – and this includes not smoking.
Diarrhea is a common problem. It may last 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem.
Is smoking a laxative? ›Nicotine is thought to alter taste bud sensitivities, and for those with reduced nicotine tolerance it can have laxative effects.
What are the symptoms of smoking stool syndrome? ›Smoking and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects the large intestines. the symptoms are cramping or pain, bloating and gassiness, diarrhea, and constipation.
Drink plenty of liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your bowel movements return to normal. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken.