Best CBD Strains for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

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Best CBD Strains for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you’re all too familiar with the uncomfortable symptoms associated with the disorder. Abdominal pain, constant trips to the bathrooms and even the inability to enjoy some of your favorite foods can be a daily occurrence to those with IBD.

Two conditions fall under the banner of IBD: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD). More than 3 million adults have been diagnosed with these diseases, and every year the number grows by at least 70,000. Since there’s no cure, IBD treatments are used to reduce inflammation and discomfort and hopefully lead to remission. Quite often, medication doesn’t work, which leads to drastic measures like surgery.

New research indicates medical marijuana could be an effective treatment for IBD. Almost half of the nation’s IBD patients are already using cannabis for their condition. However, many patients fear marijuana treatments because of its psychoactive side effects. They avoid this type of medication because they don’t want to get “high.”

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a common compound found in marijuana that provides many of the health benefits of the plant without the psychotropic effects. If you have IBD and want to avoid THC, the compound commonly associated with getting high, you should try cannabis strains that are CBD-dominant.

How Does CBD Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms?

CBD is a compound in cannabis known as a cannabinoid. Modern research has found the reason our body responds to cannabinoids in marijuana is because they mimic receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS has receptors that affect multiple systems throughout our body and regulate things like appetite, pain, immune and gastrointestinal functions and more.

IBD causes intense inflammation in the intestines. The excessive inflammation can lead to long-term damage. Patients with the condition have more endocannabinoid receptors in their colonic function. CBD is an anti-inflammatory that works with our ECS to reduce intestinal inflammation. It’s also a natural pain reliever.

CBD medications can help with many of the symptoms associated with IBD, including:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Joint pain
  • Cramps
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss

CBD Strain Recommendations for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

If you’re looking for a CBD heavy strain of cannabis, here are our top recommendations. These strains have been shown to have effective results while minimizing or eliminating all psychoactive side effects:

  • Harlequin: This favorite is a sativa and CBD-dominant strain. It has a 5:2 CBD to THC ratio. There is a mild euphoria associated with this strain.
  • Ringo’s Gift: This hybrid has a ratio of 24:1 for its CBD to THC content — it’s almost entirely cannabidiol dominant.
  • ACDC: The average ratio for this popular hybrid is 20:1, which allows patients to medicate and still perform everyday jobs and functions.
  • Harle-Tsu: This is another hybrid that provides a soothing effect without making the user high.
  • Cannatonic: This hybrid strain can have a CBD to THC ratio of anywhere from 5:1 to 1:1. It’s used as a medication for many different medical conditions.

Of course, our recommendations can’t take the place of an educated doctor’s advice. Use our search engine to find a licensed marijuana doctor or a nearby dispensary with budtenders who will be happy to help you.

Additional Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Cannabis Resources

For more information about how cannabis can be used to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease, check out our resources: