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Can CBD Cause Diarrhea?
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Can You Use CBD to Relieve Diarrhea?
Research indicates that CBD may be a useful tool in easing symptoms of conditions that often cause diarrhea, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The reason for this is CBD may help regulate gut motility – the movement of food throughout the body.
This relief is largely thanks to the gut’s direct connection to the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Since CBD helps to return the ECS to a state of homeostasis, consumption of cannabidiol has also been found to balance out intestinal hypermotility (uncontrolled digestive muscle movement) and hypomotility (restricted movement).
Such activity allows CBD to reduce symptoms of varying digestive conditions, including diarrhea. Of course, these results aren’t a one-way street. Being the fact that each of our bodies is built differently, it comes as no surprise that CBD has varying effects. As a result, some people may experience the opposite of diarrhea relief from CBD consumption.
Does CBD Cause Diarrhea?
When it comes to the side effects of CBD, diarrhea is often found somewhere. That said, some may wonder how CBD can cause diarrhea in some individuals while relieving it in others.
The answer to this concern is simple: CBD dosage. Studies that report diarrhea caused by CBD often indicate the user took an extremely large dosage. We’re talking upwards of 300mg at a time.
Since most people don’t take near this amount (with the average dose being between 25mg to 50mg), reports of diarrhea caused by CBD are rare. Still, being that there is research indicating CBD can cause diarrhea, it’s worth exploring a bit deeper.
Can THC Cause Diarrhea?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the other most active chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. While only limited amounts are found in CBD products, you’ll find large quantities of this cannabinoid if you consume medical or recreational marijuana.
As of this time, there’s even less evidence to indicate that THC causes diarrhea in comparison to CBD. In fact, time and time again, research reveals THC has different side effects than CBD. With the most notable being psychoactivity (or a “high”).
Why CBD Causes Diarrhea
If CBD products are causing you to experience diarrhea, there are a few reasons as to why. These include:
Dosage
As already mentioned, the most notable reason people experience diarrhea from CBD is by taking too much of it. If you’re new to these products, it’s best to start small and work your way up. This will give you an idea of how CBD makes you feel and how much you’ll need to garner the effects you’re expecting.
However, maybe you’ve been taking CBD for some time and simply don’t have a grasp on the right dosage. In such cases, we recommend you follow this chart as a means of figuring out what an average CBD dosage looks like for you:
| Body Weight | Average CBD Dose |
|---|---|
100 lbs | 30mg |
125 lbs | 38mg |
150 lbs | 45mg |
175 lbs | 52mg |
200 lbs | 60mg |
225 lbs | 67mg |
250 lbs | 75mg |
Product Quality
If you are taking the right dosage and still experiencing diarrhea, it may be the quality of the product you’re consuming. Since the CBD industry is unregulated, a number of low-quality products continue to hit store shelves. In most cases, these products simply don’t have an effect on users. However, in some cases, they’re made using other ingredients that cause adverse effects.
In order to avoid purchasing low-quality products, it’s in your interest to take a deeper look into the products you’re buying. You can do so by checking to see if a brand offers a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) on their products. These are third-party lab results that check varying aspects of a product, including the cannabinoid count and whether or not it contains any contaminants.
Consumption Method
If you’ve ensured the above two criteria and are still experiencing diarrhea, you may need to try a new type of product. In most cases, the diarrhea may be caused by other ingredients within a CBD product rather than the cannabidiol itself.
For example, CBD oils are made using MCT oil as a carrier. When consumed in large batches at once, this oil can cause adverse digestive issues. There are similar risks found in other CBD products, including CBD gummies – when too much gelatin is consumed – or CBD capsules – when too much of the binding ingredient is consumed.
In order to avoid diarrhea, it’s best to consume CBD products that don’t process through the digestive system. These types of products include CBD vaping or CBD topicals.
Best Products for Diarrhea
For those interested in continuing their CBD journey, but looking to avoid diarrhea, we recommend the following 3 products:
Charlotte’s Web: CBD Oil
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Full spectrum CBD tinctures
- Locally grown hemp
- Gluten-free
Earlier, we noted that part of the reason you may experience diarrhea is due to the other ingredients found in a CBD product. Generally speaking, most CBD oils are made only using CBD extract and MCT oil. Still, some are made with other active ingredients, flavoring, and/or a different carrier oil.
To keep things simple, we choose Charlotte’s Web 17mg CBD oil as our top tincture choice. One of the biggest reasons for this is dosage. Admittedly, 17mg isn’t a large dose of CBD and you may find that it’s not enough to garner the effects you’re looking for. However, it’s a really good starting point if you’re a newcomer. Not to mention, Charlotte’s Web offers potency options up to 60mg – so, you can always opt for more if necessary.
Still, in terms of diarrhea, we recommend starting low. As mentioned, the number one reason people experience diarrhea from CBD is they take too much. 17mg will ensure that you won’t experience diarrhea from dosage alone.
On top of this, Charlotte’s Web is one of the top brands on the market. Their products are of such high quality that they’ve been approved by the U.S. Hemp Authority. This ensures that even with all the varying potency and flavor options here, it’s very unlikely you’ll experience diarrhea from these products.
CBDfx: Vape Pen
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- American grown hemp
- Third-party lab tested
- Different flavors and effects
- Low CBD concentration
- Well priced
Still, you may experience diarrhea from CBD oil simply due to the nature of consumption. If so, we recommend avoiding products that run through the digestive tract. A great alternative to this is CBD vape pens.
In our opinion, the best vape pens are offered by CBDfx. And the reason we say this is due to the sheer variety they have on offer here. They offer a selection of disposable vape pens, each containing 500mg of broad-spectrum CBD. This is great for newcomers as it gives them a chance to try CBD vaping without making a commitment. Furthermore, this is a great THC-free option if that’s a concern of yours.
However, if THC is not a concern of yours, CBDfx also offers a number of THC vape pens. These are made using 500mg of full-spectrum CBD along with 5mg of THC. Admittedly, this amount is so low that it’ll likely only cause a mild buzz. Still, it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for more of a kick to your vaping experience. These pens come in the flavors of Purple Punch, Maui Wowie, Pineapple Express, Wedding Cake, OG Kush, and Blue Raspberry.
FAB: CBD Topicals
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Natural ingredients
- Full-spectrum
- Easy to use
The last product on our list is a CBD cream. Admittedly, topical products are more geared towards muscle and joint pain relief. That said, if you’re looking to use CBD for something like IBS, you’re better off with our CBD oil or vape pen recommendation.
However, if you are looking for a CBD topical, there’s no better option than the one offered by FAB CBD. This is made using 1000mg of full-spectrum CBD extract. Such strength is meant to provide you with powerful relief, more so than other topicals currently found on the market.
CBD for Diarrhea FAQs
Diarrhea induced by CBD will last as long as the cannabidiol is in your digestive tract. That said, CBD usually leaves the body within 10 hours to 2 days.
If you’re currently experiencing CBD diarrhea, you may find relief in over-the-counter diarrhea relief medication. However, it’s more in your interest to prevent CBD diarrhea from happening in the future. You can do so by taking a lower dose, only buying quality products, and/or changing your consumption method.
Some research indicates that CBD may help to relieve symptoms of constipation. Still, it’s not going to be as effective as traditional over-the-counter laxatives.
