Can CBD Cause Diarrhea?

Tara DeVincenzo • February 22, 2019 • About CBD, FAQ

Everyone seems to be using CBD for everything. As companies continue to crop up, claims continue to rise regarding the benefits it can have on your health. It’s cast in a positive light, but the information isn’t often balanced with the possibility of side effects.

Side effects of the non-psychoactive component of cannabis seem to be few and mild, but may exist nonetheless. There are a few factors that play into the side effects, but the first step is discovering what those side effects can be. The big question when taking this cannabis-derived supplement is, can CBD cause diarrhea?

Here’s an attempt at simplifying a more complex answer to that question:

Human studies support that CBD is predominantly safe in humans with possible mild side effects including tiredness, weight change, and diarrhea.
For people affected by stomach diseases like IBS or acid reflux, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a reputable contender to remedy them
There are some cases in which CBD can cause diarrhea, but it’s possible that other factors can be at play

Why CBD May Cause Diarrhea

Much of what is currently known about CBD is its ability to pacify some of the body’s more alarming responses. Too much stress? Take CBD. Inflammation of the joints or irritation of the skin? Rub CBD on the skin.

The FDA took its first step in recognizing this power by approving Epidiolex. This medicine is the first approved drug to use CBD and the results are astounding. It effectively reduces the frequency and severity of seizures associated with Dravet and Lennox-Gastout Syndrome in children as young as two years old.

The extensive human trials it took to get this drug to market revealed some of the side effects it could cause. These side effects including tiredness, weight fluctuation, and diarrhea.

A series of studies was conducted to examine the efficacy of the drug. In the first, children and young adults with different forms of epilepsy were given trial doses of Epidiolex. Sixteen percent experienced diarrhea as a side effect.

In a subsequent larger study, children were given CBD in conjunction with normal epilepsy medication and, over the course of a year, 19 percent experienced diarrhea as a side effect. These researchers pointed out that there was no control group, making it difficult to pinpoint the reason for the side effect.

The case was slightly different for dogs. In a study of 30 dogs with epilepsy, every participant developed diarrhea at some stage of the study. This response was attributed to levels that exceeded what they would clinically administer. When dogs with arthritis were given lower doses of CBD daily, diarrhea was not a side effect for any of them.

CBD and the Stomach

CBD is known to be an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic. It isn’t limited to any one part of the body and can be especially helpful for those who suffer from stomach troubles.

Stomach troubles often have a lot to do with gastrointestinal motility. GI motility quite simply refers to the movements of the intestines and the contents that pass through. When the muscles of the GI-tract are over- or underactive, the result can be diarrhea or constipation, respectively.

GI motility is the response to a number of uncomfortable stomach issues.

IBS

Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS) is among the most common afflictions related to GI motility. It is a chronic disease that can be a result of stress, poor diet, infection, or other unknown reactors. The effects can include bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD can be helpful in treating IBS. It can help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, turning these bodily functions back to normal.

Since CBD is also used as a stress-reliever, it’s possible that stress-induced IBS can be cleared with habitual doses of CBD.

Acid Reflux

The esophagus–your throat–is also part of the GI tract and as such can be affected by irregular GI motility. If the muscles that are meant to let food into the stomach and lock it up, acid reflux is a result.

CBD works along with a series of receptors found in all tissue of the body known as the endocannabinoid system. ECS receptors in the GI tract can positively react to CBD, helping to reverse the over- or under-action of muscles that regulate stomach functionality.

So how, then, can CBD cause diarrhea? The answer lies in the quality of the CBD as well as what is added to the mix.

What Goes Into CBD Oil?

CBD is found in the cannabis sativa l. plant. CBD is commonly drawn from hemp, a member of the cannabis family with high concentrations of CBD and low concentrations of psychoactive THC.

There are varied methods for extracting CBD from hemp and some are more safe and effective than others. Industrial producers often opt for the CO2 extraction method. This method results in a CBD oil free of pollutants or residue, leaving a clean product.

The oil product, when done right, is predominantly CBD. Full-spectrum or whole-plant products will include other cannabinoids and terpenes naturally found in the plant. It’s believed that using a full array of these active plant extracts can boost the overall benefits of CBD.

Some companies will create CBD products blended with carrier oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, or hemp seed oil. These oils are an allergen for some people. It’s possible that an adverse reaction to these added oils can cause diarrhea, not necessarily CBD itself.

Sourcing CBD

There’s an inundation of CBD companies, all presenting different formulas and claiming quality and purity. It’s easy to get lost in the fog of terms like vertical integration, triple-lab tested, non-GMO, and the like while trying to identify unadulterated CBD oil.

At the bottom line, there are a few key factors that matter most: the quality of the hemp, the safety of extraction methods, and the additional ingredients, if any, that are added in the final product.

How Else Can CBD Cause Diarrhea?

There are a few important indicators of a trustworthy CBD brand. A commitment to quality should come first and foremost for all products, and they should be able to back it up. That includes extraction quality assurance, third-party lab testing, and sustainable farming and harvesting practices. Pollutants can occur at any stage of the process, seed to shelf.

Since we already mentioned how confusing these terms can be, we’ll help clear the dust a bit.

Quality assurance is the practice of actively inspecting the product at every stage of the process for faults or contaminants.
Third-party lab testing implies that an accredited, independent facility inspected the product to ensure it complies with specific safety standards.
Seed to shelf refers to the ability to track the lifeline of the hemp plant. Many companies will offer transparency about where the hemp seed comes from and where it’s planted, processed, packaged, and sold. Knowing all of the stops it makes helps to ensure quality and identify where a problem occurred if there are any reported issues with the final product.
Vertical integration refers to the practice of a company whose entire production processes occurs within that company without any outsourced materials or processes.

It’s important to keep these terms in mind while shopping for CBD products. Cannabis has a high potential to absorb contaminants in the soil or water from heavy metals, pesticides, or other hazardous chemicals. Meticulous attention to quality helps to avoid any potentially irritating pollutants that could cause diarrhea.

If you believe your CBD oil is the cause of diarrhea, it may be a good idea to look more closely at the other ingredients in the oil. It’s possible that the cause lies somewhere else other than CBD.

For those who take CBD oil specifically for stomach problems, taking CBD oil through tinctures, capsules, or gummies could be the surest way to have it absorbed into the GI tract. If you’re taking CBD for other reasons and experiencing adverse effects like diarrhea, a good option is to skip consumption all together and give topicals a try. It also might be that the dosage is off.

There is a multitude of topically applied CBD products available including lotions, salves, balms, and patches. These can have relaxing effects on joints and muscle pain and even result in some mental calm and clarity.

Final Thoughts

While all supplements can come with a risk of side effects, it’s rare that CBD on its own is the cause of diarrhea. If you notice a correlation between CBD-use and diarrhea, look first for other ingredients that may be the root of the problem.

If it really is the CBD to blame, we offer a reminder that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. It takes time to identify the right dosage of CBD, and side-effects can be a signal that the daily amount needs tweaking.

Diarrhea is considered a mild symptom, but should still be seen as a health risk if it persists. Changing your CBD brand, routine, or application could be a good first start to eliminating runs to the toilet and experiencing the beneficial power of CBD.