The Effects of CBD and Heartburn

Now that more conclusive research is being carried out with cannabis therapies, cannabinoids are becoming a more viable, healthy option to treat common, yet uncomfortable chronic conditions.

Heartburn is an informal name for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also known as acid reflux disease. It is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage done to the esophagus by abnormal reflux.

At least one in ten Americans experiences this disorder once a week. So many factors may trigger heartburn, including obesity, some foods (e.g., spicy, citrus, and fatty), medications and stress. Acid reflux is quite common, but the chronic condition can decrease the quality of life.

Advantages of Taking CBD Rather Than Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs

Typically, gastroesophageal reflux disease is treated with OTC medications.

Cannabis has an enviable record of being used in the treatment of gastrointestinal distress going back at least a century in western medicine, and far longer in the east. While clinical studies on the use of cannabis for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders has been mainly limited to investigations on nausea suppression and appetite stimulation, both are conditions on which cannabis is highly effective.

Comparatively, the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has relatively few side effects compared to the OTCs that are used to treat GERD.

Side effects of CBD include:

  • Inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism or a decreased functioning of P-glycoprotein and other drug transporters
  • Dry mouth
  • Drowsiness with high doses
  • Lightheadedness
  • Low blood pressure

Side effects of OTCs for GERD include:

  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Stomach pain
  • Constipation
  • Bloating

OTCs for the treatment of GERD seem to have side effects that cause pain and additional gastrointestinal issues. Compared to these, cannabidiol has far fewer and less severe negative side effects.

This may be due to another reason why cannabinoids are a better option over OTCs: cannabinoids are a naturally occurring chemical compound that our bodies, specifically our nervous systems, are designed to receive.

Cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system (ECS) directly. The ECS regulates the interaction between the mind and the body. Our nervous systems have what is called CB receptors. Cannabinoids bind with these receptors to help regulate the body’s natural balance.

According to CannabisScience.com,

“It has been found that activation of cannabinoid receptors CB(1), CB(2) and GPR(55) produces analgesic effects in several experimental pain models, including visceral pain arising from the gastrointestinal tract, in one study at AstraZeneca R&D Molndal in Sweden.

Promoting the Science Behind Cannabinoids

Politicians, clinicians and people suffering from varying degrees of medical and psychological conditions, are becoming more aware of the benefits of CBD. Along with a growing population of personal positive experiences, there is an increasing base of research to support these benefits of CBD on certain diseases and disorders and on health in general.

But support for the research and development of cannabinoids on human ailments must continue to progress. There is evidence enough already to suggest that cannabinoids could do more for humanity.

Now that the 2014 Farm Bill has made it possible for researchers to safely grow, develop and study a variety of cannabis strains and make use of the full spectrum of cannabinoids, we cannot afford to delay the advancement of this all natural alternative medicine.

References

  1. DeVault KR, Castell DO (1999). "Updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology". Am J Gastroenterol 94 (6): 1434–42.doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.1123_a.x. PMID 10364004.
    2. "The saliva PH test and cancer". Healingdaily.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
    3. a b c Kahrilas, PJ (2008). "Clinical practice. Gastroesophageal reflux disease.". New England Journal of Medicine. 359 (16): 1700–7.doi:10.1056/NEJMcp0804684. PMID 18923172.
    4. a b Wang KK, Sampliner RE (March 2008). "Updated guidelines 2008 for the diagnosis, surveillance and therapy of Barrett's esophagus". Am J Gastroenterol 103 (3): 788–97.doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01835.x. PMID 18341497.
    5. "Consumer Health Information". Healthlink.mcw.edu. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
    6. "Spitting Up in Babies". familydoctor.org.
    7. and Barrett's Esophagus. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
    8. Numans, ME; Lau, J; de Wit, NJ; Bonis, PA (April 2004). "Short-term treatment with proton-pump inhibitors as a test for gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis of diagnostic test characteristics".Annals of internal medicine 140 (7): 518–27. PMID 15068979.
    9. Diagnosis - Endoscopy. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.[dead link]
    10. Mills, S (ed.) 2009.Sternberg's Diagnostic Pathology. 5th Edition.ISBN 978-0-7817-7942-5
    11. Sontag S (1999). "Defining GERD". Yale J Biol Med 72 (2-3): 69–80.PMC 2579007. PMID 10780568.
    12. a b Piesman M, Hwang I, Maydonovitch C, Wong RK (2007). "Nocturnal reflux episodes following the administration of a standardized meal. Does timing matter?". Am J Gastroenterol 102(10): 2128–34. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01348.x.PMID 17573791.
    13. Ayazi S, Crookes PF, Peyre CG, et al. (2007). "Objective documentation of the link between gastroesophageal reflux disease and obesity". Am J Gastroenterol 102 (S2): 138–9

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published