It generally doesn’t change your digestion at all, but for some people, CBD can impact gut motility and affect your bowel movements. For certain individuals, CBD improves bowel function, but for others, the cannabinoid causes mild-to-moderate digestive discomfort — at least in the short term.
The truth is the endocannabinoid system is vastly complex, and it affects digestion alongside a dozen other functions in the human body. Since CBD oil alters the functioning of the endocannabinoid system, it’s only natural to expect some changes in your digestive tract after you start using the cannabinoid.
In this guide, learn the ins and outs of how CBD affects your digestive system, with a special focus on whether this non-intoxicating cannabinoid can make you constipated. By the end, you’ll understand the important points regarding CBD and digestive health, putting you in a good position to make an informed decision.
What is CBD, and Does It Affect the Gut?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa. It doesn’t get you high, but it offers many of the same benefits traditionally associated with the intoxicating cannabinoid THC, such as relaxation and pain relief.
Unlike THC, CBD is protected under federal law. CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC are legal to sell on the internet, allowing individuals suffering from gut issues to access this cannabinoid easily in the form of high-quality and competitive products.
Does CBD Affect the Gut?
While there’s only limited scientific evidence that CBD considerably affects gut functioning, plenty of individuals who have used CBD indicate that it affects their digestion. Usually, reports are positive, but a rare few individuals do report constipation after taking CBD.
What Causes Constipation?
The causes of constipation vary and are often caused by deeper issues. An imbalance in gut microbiota, for instance, can impact bile production, leading to chronically hard stool. Constipation can also be transitory and based on changes in diet, exercise habits, or sleep quality. It’s generally difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of constipation without detailed laboratory tests, but you should consider all of the following potential causes:
- Changes to diet, hydration, exercise, or sleep
- Chronic stress or fatigue issues
- Underlying digestive conditions
- Lack of fiber in your diet
- Side effects of medications
- Ignoring the urge to defecate
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Age and stress
Can CBD Cause Constipation?
CBD can sometimes cause constipation in the short term as the human body’s natural endocannabinoid system gets used to the new influx of phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids from plants). When it’s a temporary symptom of endocannabinoid harmonization, however, CBD-related constipation generally clears up in a few days to a week.
If CBD continues to cause or worsen constipation for more than a week or two, another factor is likely at play. Now’s the time to consult with a doctor and consider the impact other medications may be having on CBD.
CBD and IBS
The relationship between CBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is complex and best navigated with the help of a doctor. Early evidence, though, suggests that CBD might be able to help with certain symptoms of IBS, like pain and inflammation. If you believe CBD might be able to help with your IBS, consult with your doctor, and start with a small dose.
CBD and IBD
There’s also evidence that CBD could be useful against inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD), a similar-but-different condition characterized by autoimmune dysfunction. A pilot clinical study, for instance, indicated that CBD might offer modest improvement in IBD symptoms. Clearly, these promising results call for more research on the subject.
Does CBD Oil Cause Constipation?
Taking CBD oil should not cause constipation — at least not severe constipation that lasts more than a few days. It’s certainly true that CBD often causes at least some small degree of digestive discomfort as you start using it — that’s only natural. If this discomfort persists and becomes full-on constipation, however, you should stop using CBD oil immediately and consult with your doctor.
- CBD oil should not cause constipation
- CBD can cause constipation in rare cases, though
- Often, it’s ingredients other than CBD in CBD products that are to blame
Does Taking CBD Gummies Cause Constipation?
Taking CBD gummies is more likely to cause constipation than taking other CBD products, but only because of the other ingredients also included in gummies. The best way around this is to choose all-natural CBD gummies containing ingredients you know you can digest safely. Together with your doctor, you can determine an appropriate CBD gummy dosage that improves your symptoms while posing the least possible chance of causing any digestive discomfort.
Can CBD Give You Diarrhea?
Yes, CBD can rarely cause mild diarrhea in some users. CBD affects the gastrointestinal tract of each individual differently, sometimes by loosening the bowels. This is generally a short-term symptom, however, that dissipates as your endocannabinoid system harmonizes. If CBD continues to cause you diarrhea, stop using it, and consult with a doctor.
Tips for Preventing or Managing Constipation from CBD
If you’re concerned CBD might make you constipated or has already impacted your digestion, there are a few best practices you should follow:
1. Choose your product carefully
It’s often not the CBD itself but something else in a CBD product that’s affecting your digestion negatively. Research all the other ingredients included in any CBD products you’re considering, and check lab reports to make sure they don’t contain any agrotoxins, which have been linked to gut diseases.
2. Start with a small dose
If you’re at all concerned that the cannabinoid will affect your digestion negatively, it’s a great idea to start with the smallest CBD dosage possible. Give your endocannabinoid system plenty of time to acclimate to the presence of phytocannabinoids within your body — this will dramatically reduce your chances of experiencing any digestive discomfort.
3. Keep up with your doctor
Make sure your general care physician knows you’re taking CBD. Check in frequently to monitor any existing symptoms and determine whether CBD is making them better or worse.
4. Improve your digestion in other ways
Even if CBD doesn’t negatively affect your digestion at all, it’s never too early to make some improvements. Eating more fiber, drinking more water, exercising more, and sleeping better can all naturally improve your gastrointestinal motility.
5. Try a different CBD product
If CBD is causing you stomach discomfort, it might not really be the CBD — it could be something else in the product. First, try switching product types (from gummies to oil, for instance), and then, try switching to a different brand.
6. Stop using CBD
It’s definitely best if things never come to this, but in the end, you need to think of your health. If you’ve tried everything else in this list but CBD continues to cause you constipation, ask your doctor if it’s a good idea to stop using CBD entirely — at least until your digestive system heals.
FAQs
Can CBD cause diarrhea instead of constipation?
Yes, while CBD more commonly causes bowel hardening, it has also been known to relieve constipation — at times with some degree of intensity. If you’re concerned that a CBD product is causing diarrhea, stop using it, and consult with your doctor.
What CBD dosage is safe to avoid constipation?
The ideal or safe dosage of CBD to avoid constipation depends on the individual, and keep in mind that most people who use CBD don’t experience any constipation at all. If you’re concerned CBD might cause constipation, it’s best to start with a dose of 5mg or less.
Can specific forms of CBD affect constipation differently?
Yes, the specific form of CBD you’re taking could impact whether or not the cannabinoid causes constipation and the degree to which it constipates you. CBD gummies, for instance, contain many other ingredients aside from CBD, any of which could be causing your constipation. Try switching to a simpler CBD product type if you’re concerned the CBD you’re taking is constipating you.
Should I stop taking CBD if I experience constipation?
Yes, if you experience persistent constipation after taking CBD, it is best to stop using any CBD products — at least for the time being. Consult with your doctor, and do your best to determine the cause of your constipation on your own. Hopefully, it’s the CBD product you were using that made you constipated, not CBD itself.
Conclusion: CBD and Constipation
While no one can deny it’s uncomfortable and unhealthy, the other facts surrounding constipation can be harder to pin down. What’s the cause of your particular case of constipation, for instance? Is CBD really to blame, or is it something else included in the CBD product you used?
Put as simply as possible, CBD only rarely causes long-term constipation. If it does, there’s likely something else wrong with your digestive system — thus making it so important to regularly consult with your doctor. There’s nothing inherently about CBD that’s constipating, but it can interact with other medications.
Plus, there’s the fact that plenty of CBD products on the market contain contaminants or subpar ingredients. That’s why going with companies like Colorado Botanicals is such a relief — paying close attention to ingredient quality and proper certification helps customers feel confident in the products they chose.
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to experiment as you determine the ideal cannabinoid choices for your digestive system. Remember that CBD is hardly the only cannabinoid that might aid your digestion — check out CBG as well, which might help your digestion just as well as (or even better than) CBD.
Sources
- Zhang, Y., Li, Z., Gou, H., Song, X., & Zhang, L. (2022). The gut microbiota–bile acid axis: A potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.945368
- Story, G., Briere, C., McClements, D. J., & Sela, D. A. (2023). Cannabidiol and Intestinal Motility: a Systematic Review. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(10), 101972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101972
- Irving, P. M., Iqbal, T., Nwokolo, C., Subramanian, S., Bloom, S., Prasad, N., Hart, A., Murray, C., Lindsay, J. O., Taylor, A., Barron, R., & Wright, S. (2018). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, pilot study of cannabidiol-rich botanical extract in the symptomatic treatment of ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 24(4), 714–724. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izy002
- Samsel, A., & Seneff, S. (2013). Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 6(4), 159–184. https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2013-0026
