There are trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract, and they play an important role in keeping you healthy. They also help you absorb nutrients from food.
Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of these bacteria, causing them to multiply and become unhealthy. Luckily, Cannabis contains compounds that can help restore and maintain the integrity of your intestinal lining.
1. Cannabinoids
The gut microbiome plays a key role in our health. It influences our immune system, metabolism and the ability to heal. It also affects pain processing and our perception of pain.
Cannabis, which is the most well-known of all cannabinoids, has a variety of effects on the gut microbiome. It can reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and improve glucose metabolism.
In fact, a recent study found that cannabinoids can actually improve the function of the gut microbiome by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria. In addition, they decrease the amount of harmful bacteria.
Another study found that cannabis can actually suppress the inflammatory response in mice that are suffering from an autoimmune condition. This was especially true of THC, which reduced a type of chronic autoimmune disease called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
According to one study, CBD/THC extracts are more effective at mitigating pain than either drug alone. This is because it reduces inflammation in the body and boosts immunity, while reducing the levels of THC in the blood.
However, the exact mechanism of how this happens is unknown. It may be that the plant’s compounds affect the bacteria in the gut or that they change the way the bacteria communicate with the brain.
There is a lot more research that needs to be done on this topic. For example, it is still unclear how different cultivars of cannabis affect the microbiome.
The mode of administration is also an important factor in the impact of cannabis on the gut microbiome. Inhalation has a rapid onset of effects, while oral administration takes longer. This is because of the time that it takes for the drug to be processed and absorbed in the stomach and small intestine.
A lab in South Carolina is pioneering work on how the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiome are interconnected. The research team led by Prakash Nagarkatti is looking at how a combination of THC and CBD can reduce inflammation in mice with an autoimmune disease by altering the bacteria in the gut. This could be a potential treatment for COVID-19, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to ARDS.
2. Terpenes
The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in a symbiotic relationship with us. They aid in digestion, break down potentially toxic food, synthesize essential vitamins and amino acids, strengthen the gut barrier, and regulate the immune system. When these microbes are in balance, we can experience a sense of well-being and overall good health.
It’s been shown that cannabis can have a positive effect on the gut microbiome. This is thanks to its phytocannabinoids, which activate receptors in the gut walls that encourage the growth of good microbes and kill off bad ones.
Using cannabis can also help to improve the health of your gut bacteria and reduce inflammation. This is due to the presence of cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant.
Many of the terpenes found in cannabis, including caryophyllene, beta-pinene, and limonene, are thought to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. They may also have wound-healing capabilities.
Some of the terpenes in cannabis also have antimicrobial properties that help to rid your body of harmful bacteria and other pathogenic organisms. This can benefit your overall health and prevent diseases like gastrointestinal disorders and allergies.
A few terpenes that have been shown to affect the microbiome include myrcene, humulene, and beta-caryophyllene. These terpenes are common in plants and have been used as medicinal herbs for centuries.
There is currently a great deal of research being done on the effects of terpenes on the gut microbiome, but more studies are needed to truly understand how they affect our health. In addition to the anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and anti-depressant properties of these compounds, they can even have antibacterial and antifungal effects in animal models.
One preclinical study published in 2019 showed that CBD could help lower the permeability of the gut and increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. This can help reduce chronic inflammatory disorders, such as Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the same study, a combination of CBD and THC was also shown to reduce symptoms and improve the microbiome.
3. Cannabidiol
The gut microbiome is an important aspect of human health, as it influences the body’s physiology and behavior, and also helps with digestion. It’s a complex and often overlooked system, but it’s one that scientists are increasingly learning more about.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) interacts directly and bidirectionally with the bacteria in your gut microbiome, influencing their activity and makeup, while also helping to transport messages to your brain. This is an important connection because chronic imbalance of your microbiome, known as dysbiosis, can cause a variety of health issues.
Studies have found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can alter the makeup of the microbiome and influence its inflammatory response. This effect is particularly notable in people with obesity, a condition that has been linked to an overactive endocannabinoid system.
Researchers in Canada have shown that a daily regimen of THC can reduce weight gain in mice that were sustained on a high-fat diet. They also discovered that cannabis use improved the overall health of a mouse’s gut microbiome, restoring it to its normal levels after just 3 to 4 weeks.
These findings suggest that cannabinoids’ ability to change the composition of your gut microbiome may be a key to its therapeutic effects. The exact mechanisms involved remain unknown, but it seems that tetrahydrocannabinol may work by regulating gut motility and permeability, and by improving the immune system’s ability to fight off pathogens.
In addition to these effects, THC has also been shown to alter the microbiome in a way that could reduce inflammation and improve your mood. For example, a June 2020 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology showed that THC reduced the inflammatory response seen in a type of respiratory disease known as ARDS.
Lastly, studies have found that CBD can improve the overall health of your gut microbiome, especially in people with multiple sclerosis. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help to treat the autoimmune disease that causes the symptoms of MS.
While more research is needed, these results have already begun to impact the medical community. In fact, cannabidiol is gaining a lot of attention as a potential treatment for an array of conditions.
4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
It’s no secret that your gut microbiome can make a huge difference to your health. These bacteria synthesize key vitamins, help spread energy that you absorb from food, strengthen the lining of your digestive tract, and develop and regulate your immune system. When they’re in balance, they can boost your energy levels, improve digestion and immunity, and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Having a healthy gut microbiome can also help you avoid diseases that affect the intestines, like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). Some of the most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Research shows that cannabis may be able to change the microbiome to help people who have IBD. Some studies have found that the plant may increase the abundance of a specific type of bacteria called Akkermansia muciniphila.
These bacteria are considered ‘good’ in terms of their metabolic health benefits, and the study showed that cannabis could improve these microbes’ abundance in mice. The researchers say that this is because the plant has the ability to modulate systemic inflammation, which can encourage the growth of these bacteria and kill off bad ones.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about how cannabis affects the gastrointestinal tract and what it does for patients with IBD, but one thing is clear: it helps to manage the pain and other symptoms that can come with it.
This can help you feel better in your daily life and give you more energy to do things that you otherwise might not be able to do. Some people report that using cannabis regularly can also help them get more sleep and feel better when they’re stressed or ill.
A large part of this is because of the effects that cannabis has on your endocannabinoid system. This system controls a variety of important functions in your body, such as mood, appetite and pain.
Cannabis may also have a positive effect on your gut microbiome by helping to regulate your metabolism, which can lead to weight loss and a more balanced microbiome. In addition, cannabis can help your body fight infection, which can also improve the condition of your gut bacteria.
