Stomach ulcers are lesions made by gastric acid when the stomach’s protective lining weakens. They usually require medical attention and treatment. However, there’s something to be said about using CBD oil for stomach ulcers as well. Before we talk about why that might be beneficial, let’s see why this condition even occurs.
Gastric acid can only affect the integrity of the stomach if there’s something wrong with its mucous protective layer. So what could lead to a deterioration of that substance? The barrier may weaken either due to:
- Overuse of certain painkillers like aspirin
- Bacterial infections that can be passed through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids
Still, both of these causes have similar consequences. So let’s see what kind of symptoms stomach ulcer patients may experience.
Typical Symptoms of a Stomach Ulcer
No matter what the underlying cause of a stomach ulcer is, the symptoms a patient experiences will be the same. Those may include:
- Discomfort in the upper stomach area
- Heartburn and burping
- Bloating and cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite and, consequently, weight
- Black bowel movements
The severity of these symptoms doesn’t only depend on whatever caused the weakening of the stomach’s protective lining. Instead, it may indicate the stage of the illness — which is why you have to visit your doctor as soon as you realize your pain isn’t simple indigestion.
Moreover, people who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, or habitually eat spicy foods may experience stronger symptoms. After all, these things can do a good job of wearing down the stomach lining even before any bacteria or harsh pain killers come into play.
Basic Stomach Ulcer Treatment Plans
Now that we know what causes stomach ulcers and what they feel like, let’s see how doctors usually treat them. If testing indicates that the cause of the ulcer was bacterial, the patient will do a round of antibiotics.
Whether or not that’s the case, though, they may also get antacids or PPI medication as a part of their treatment plan. These drugs should lower acid production enough for the stomach lining to heal itself.
Still, if the patient reported more serious symptoms, they may have to submit to surgical solutions as well. In that case, CBD oil wouldn’t do much of anything. But you may be able to use it before it gets to that point.
The Benefits of Taking CBD Oil for Stomach Ulcers
Ultimately, we wouldn’t recommend the use of CBD oil for stomach ulcers as your sole remedy. However, there are still some benefits to adding it to your treatment plan.
Pain Relief
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are one of its most studied features. That allows us to confidently state that cannabidiol should at least be able to stave off the most significant symptoms of stomach ulcers.
What’s more, it might be a good replacement for the kind of harsh pain medications that may cause recurring ulcers. After all, CBD oil is a completely natural way to relax any tense muscles and treat chronic pain. If it works on the kind of chronic pain that comes with arthritis, it should work on anything else too.
Of course, experiencing an overwhelming amount of pain can sometimes have surprising effects. It can make some people feel queasy and even induce vomiting. If you already have an ulcer, you probably shouldn’t be bringing up the contents of your stomach. Luckily, CBD also seems to have the ability to soothe churning stomachs.
Read more: CBD for Acid Reflux: Can It Help?
Gastrointestinal Effects
Cannabinoids such as CBD have an effect on our endocannabinoid system, which mirrors our central nervous system. So in theory, they should be able to influence any organs that are positioned along that path — including the stomach and the intestines.
According to one 2016 study, some cannabinoids may even have the power to reduce the production of gastric acid. Of course, THC may have had something to do with those results. Knowing that full-spectrum CBD oil was more effective than CBD isolate, we expected as much. Cannabinoids tend to bring out the best in each other so it only makes sense that THC would heighten the effects of CBD.
The same study in Current Neuropharmacology also found that these compounds may decrease the formation of stomach ulcers. Therefore, we could potentially use them as a preventative measure as well.
A Few Parting Words
Even though you could use CBD oil for stomach ulcers, we can’t recommend doing it without your doctor’s knowledge and consent. We simply don’t know enough about the effects of CBD in this case to guarantee any kind of results. Yet everything we do know tells us that it would be a decent replacement for any harsh pain medication you’re currently using. Moreover, it would likely soothe your upset stomach while it’s healing.