Gastric ulcers are wounds in the lining of the stomach that can cause a long list of symptoms and no small amount of pain. They usually come about after something weakens the barrier that protects the stomach from gastric acid. Until recently, we only had two possible treatment plans for the condition depending on its underlying cause. However, some people have started using CBD oil for stomach ulcers as well.
After all, it has proven itself useful for treating many of the symptoms that come with this condition. The painful sores in the lining of the stomach can cause heartburn, cramping, bloating, burping, nausea, and vomiting. Naturally, those symptoms can also make patients experience fatigue and a loss of appetite and, consequently, weight. But why do some people seem more prone to getting sores in the stomach and small intestines?
Why Do Some People Develop Stomach Ulcers?
Most people can go their whole lives without experiencing the kind of discomfort that comes with having a stomach ulcer. Gastric acid isn’t strong enough to eat its way through our stomach. So what can weaken the protective lining of the stomach enough to cause these kinds of ruptures? As far as we know, most ulcers happen because:
- A person came into contact with the saliva, vomit, or fecal matter of someone who has the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. The bacteria cause a burning sensation in the stomach, among other things, particularly when the stomach in question is empty. That may help you figure out if you’re infected.
- A person overused non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and other popular pain killers. These medications can wear down the lining of the stomach, leaving it unable to protect the organ from the digestive fluid. That’s one of the reasons all those drugs shouldn’t be used too often. In fact, people with sensitive stomachs ought to stick to paracetamol.
There are additional factors that may aggravate an already weakened system into developing sores. Smoking can increase the risk for people who already have an infection. Moreover, alcohol and spicy food can contribute to the erosion of the stomach’s lining, as can stress.
How Do We Usually Treat Stomach Ulcers?
Obviously, one way to reduce the risk of developing a stomach ulcer would be to avoid the factors we’ve just listed. However, once you have one, you’ll be able to turn to one of two viable treatment plans. As we have mentioned, the solution your doctor will recommend will depend on the underlying cause of the sores.
If you got the ulcer because of an infection, you’ll probably need to go on a course of antibiotics. Alternatively, if the weakening of your stomach lining was caused by harsh pain medications, you’ll have to reinforce it in other ways.
Most doctors would have you on proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medication as well, to reduce acid production while your stomach heals. Of course, these treatments would need to be administered before the situation became dire enough to require surgical intervention.
How Can You Use CBD Oil for Stomach Ulcers?
Cannabidiol has the potential to not only treat sores once they occur but also prevent them from ever forming. On the one hand, it can reduce pain, nausea, and vomiting, which already covers many symptoms you may experience.
Additionally, CBD can interact directly with the gastrointestinal system. According to a 2016 study, it could even reduce stomach acid production, taking over the role of PPI medication. While acid production is low, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties should reduce any pain you might feel and hasten your healing rate.
On the other hand, taking CBD daily can make a huge difference as well. Even if we disregard its effect on gut health, the cannabinoid has shown great promise in treating stress. And, as we have established, that’s a huge factor in the development of stomach sores. And of course, taking CBD oil instead of harsh pain medication may be another way to prevent ulcers altogether.
You’ll just have to find the dose you need to take for the pain and nausea to go away. Mind you, that may be harder than it seems. After all, people who have never taken CBD might find potent doses nauseating in their own right. More specifically, you’ll want to avoid taking 1000 mg of CBD on an empty stomach.
When in doubt, start by applying a smaller dose under the tongue and waiting for half an hour. If you don’t get the effect you want, add more CBD oil until you do. Remember to write down the dosage that works so you don’t have to guess next time!
A Few Parting Words
As we have seen, CBD can vastly improve our overall quality of life. However, we’ve only begun to realize the beneficial effects it can have on stomach health. Ultimately, you’ll have to figure out how to use CBD oil for stomach ulcers on your own. When your stomach heals, you could play around with more interesting CBD products like gummies and other edibles.