{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/ibs/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2949-markdown","title":"CBD May Help Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome","slug":"cbd-may-help-relieve-irritable-bowel-syndrome","content":"Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, affects about 15% of the world’s population. The condition causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. In IBS, the digestive system appears normal, but it doesn’t function properly. Treatments typically include lifestyle changes and medications to relieve symptoms. But these medications can have limited success and severe side effects. \n\nNow, many IBS sufferers are finding relief for their symptoms with the cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is found in hemp, a type of cannabis that contains only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in cannabis that makes people feel high.\n\nRecently discovered connections between the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), the gut and the brain explain [why CBD can be an effective treatment](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22815234) for the [many different symptoms of IBS](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-signs-and-symptoms-of-ibs)—without the risks and side effects of standard prescription medications.\n\n\n### What Is IBS?\n\nFor years, IBS has baffled doctors and medical researchers. It’s considered a “functional” disorder of the digestive system since examinations of the digestive tract with endoscopes and other imaging tools don’t reveal a physical cause, such as ulcerations or inflammation. \n\nWith IBS, the digestive system simply doesn’t work the way it should. And it results in the classic symptoms of:\n\n* Cramping\n* Bloating\n* Diarrhea\n* Constipation \n\nIn some people, diarrhea predominates; this type of IBS is called IBS-D. Meanwhile, people whose primary symptom is constipation are said to have IBS-C. And still others can have alternating bouts of both problems. \n\nOther symptoms are associated with IBS, too. These can include:\n\n* Fatigue\n* Brain fog \n* Problems sleeping\n\nPeople with IBS are also likely to have mood and anxiety disorders. A recent study found that IBS sufferers are 50% more likely to have an anxiety disorder than those without IBS. IBS sufferers are also 70% more likely to have a mood disorder, such as depression.\n\nRELATED: [USING CBD TO EASE DIGESTIVE ISSUES](https://www.hellolift.com/health-wellness/5c354bbcf07c6f0009ab313a/using-cbd-to-help-ease-digestive-issues)\n\n### IBS Treatments Focus on Symptom Relief\n\nDoctors aren’t sure [what causes IBS](https://www.aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs-sidenav/what-causes-ibs.html). But they think some factors include:\n\n* Genetics\n* Infections \n* Past traumas \n\nSome people with IBS have highly sensitive digestive systems that can be triggered by:\n\n* Emotional stress\n* Eating certain foods\n* Menstrual periods\n\nBut whatever the triggering factors may be, the result is a disruption of the connections between the gut and the brain. This leads to abnormalities in a process called colonic motility—the movement of intestinal muscles and liquids that enable digestion. This process may happen too fast, causing diarrhea. Or it may slow down and cause constipation.  \n\nSince we don’t understand the causes of IBS clearly, treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms that interfere with daily life. For some people with IBS, lifestyle and diet changes can help, such as:\n\n* Reducing stress\n* Eating more fiber\n* Avoiding problem foods like dairy \n* Exercising\n* Going to therapy to relieve stress, anxiety and depression\n\nBut a wide variety of very different kinds of medications is also a major part of managing IBS. These can include:\n\n* Over-the-counter medications to relieve gas, diarrhea and constipation\n* Anticholinergics, or medications such as Bentyl, which relieve bowel spasms\n* Antidepressants of various kinds, including tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac and Paxil\n* Pain medications such as Lyrica and Neurontin\n\nPharmaceutical companies have developed few medications specifically to treat IBS that don’t respond to other approaches. For example, medications like Amitiza and Viberzi target processes like muscle contractions and fluid secretion in the intestines. \n\nThese medications for IBS symptoms can cause side effects, and some of them can be severe. That’s why people with IBS are turning to CBD in any of its many forms—as an oil, topical or edible.\n\nCBD’s many documented healing properties include relief from pain, anxiety and depression, all of which are associated with IBS. But more than simply providing relief from symptoms, research indicates that CBD may be able to address what some scientists see as the root cause of IBS: deficiencies in the body’s ECS.\n\n### The Endocannabinoid System Connects the Gut & the Brain\n\nOver the past couple of decades, research has focused on the ECS, a network of receptors and chemicals called ligands that appears to affect the activity of nearly every cell in the body. Two endocannabinoids, cannabinoid-like chemicals produced naturally in the body, called anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) activate the ECS.\n\nBut external cannabinoids from plant sources, particularly compounds in the _Cannabis sativa_ plant, such as CBD also interact with the ECS.\n\nMany studies have documented the strong connection between the brain and the digestive system, or the gut. It’s a connection so powerful that some researchers have called the gut a second brain. \n\nThe digestive system has many of the same neurotransmitter receptors as the brain does, and they’re connected by the vagus nerve and other parts of the central nervous system. This connection explains many familiar phenomena such as\n\n* Butterflies in the stomach\n* Nausea upon seeing a nasty image\n* Diarrhea during stress  \n\nThe digestive tract, the brain and the spinal cord are all [rich in the endocannabinoid receptor CB1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16751708), which helps the body maintain balance, or homeostasis. This includes moderating the responses of pain receptors and pathways for feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.\n\nIn this way, CBD mimics the activity of the body’s natural endocannabinoids, particularly anandamide.\n\nRELATED: [EATING ANANDAMIDE: THE BLISS MOLECULE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a949d06f24d1300077ccb66/eating-anandamide-the-bliss-molecule)\n\n### CBD Can Regulate Signaling Between Systems\n\nAnti-anxiety medications and antidepressants can help treat IBS symptoms. This appears to confirm the connection between the gut and brain. Both areas contain abundant cannabinoid receptors, too. Researchers studying the processes that cause IBS have linked IBS to migraines and fibromyalgia, two other “functional” disorders without a clearly defined cause. \n\nBoth migraines and fibromyalgia respond to CBD, which appears to support the expression of anandamide. Recent studies imply that [both these disorders may be linked to low levels of these natural cannabinoids](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18404144)—a condition called [clinical endocannabinoid deficiency](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5576607/).\n\nThis means the same deficiency may cause the disruption of brain and gut signaling that produces the symptoms of IBS. And it also explains why CBD can help relieve these symptoms.\n\n### Taking CBD for IBS Symptoms\n\nYou can take CBD in many forms:\n\n* [Tinctures](https://www.hellolift.com/products?category=Tinctures)\n* [Topical creams](https://www.hellolift.com/products?category=Topicals)\n* [Edibles](https://www.hellolift.com/products?category=Edibles)\n* [Vape pens](https://www.hellolift.com/products?category=Vaporizers)\n\nIn all of these forms, CBD can activate endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body—and bring balance to both the gut and the brain. \n\nIt may take some time for CBD levels in the body to rise enough to balance your ECS, so pick the form of CBD that fits best with your lifestyle and try to add it to your daily routine, like you would a multivitamin each morning. \n\nAfter a couple of weeks or even months, reassess your IBS symptoms. Hopefully, you’ll recognize a reduction in your symptoms. \n\nPhoto credit: Mr. Thanathip Phatraiwat/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/14b42/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/f836f/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 200w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/2244e/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 400w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/14b42/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 800w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/47498/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 1200w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/0e329/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 1600w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/3610b/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.jpg 1697w","srcWebp":"/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/58556/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/61e93/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 200w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/1f5c5/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 400w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/58556/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 800w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/99238/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 1200w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/7c22d/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 1600w,\n/static/5407bb1ea4eeb6fb26aabab7f5d28604/2de5b/a6a12bd7b0a0c3168942ef4770a4eebb.webp 1697w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2805-markdown","title":"Beyond the CB1 & CB2 Cannabis Receptors: TRPV1 & GPR55 ","slug":"beyond-the-cb1-and-cb2-cannabis-receptors-trpv1-and-gpr55","content":"If you’re familiar with cannabis science, you know about CB1 and CB2, the receptors located throughout the body that are triggered by cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). It’s via these receptors that THC and CBD are able to bring about some of the therapeutic effects that cannabis is known for. \n\nWhile CB1 and CB2 get the most attention—likely because we know the most about them—there are other receptors in the body that also respond to cannabinoids, like TRPV1 and GPR55. These receptors are influenced by THC and CBD, as well as [anandamide](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a949d06f24d1300077ccb66/eating-anandamide-the-bliss-molecule) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), endocannabinoids made by our bodies. \n\nWe’re beginning to gain a better understanding of TRPV1 and GPR55. Both hold much therapeutic promise, and CBD may be one of the ways to unlock this potential.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### The TRPV1 Receptor Controls Our Pain Response \n\nTRPV1, also called vanilloid receptor 1 or the capsaicin receptor, helps control our body temperature and plays a role in how we feel pain. This receptor can be activated via physical and chemical cues, including:\n\n* Temperatures above 109 degrees F\n* Capsaicin, the molecule responsible for the spicy sensation of chili peppers\n* Acidic conditions in the body\n* Anandamide\n* CBD\n\nIndeed, TRPV1 is one of the few receptors we know of that CBD directly influences; CBD doesn’t really bind to CB1 or CB2. CBD’s affinity for the TRPV1 receptor may be one of the ways it brings about therapeutic effects in the body, and some studies are beginning to shed light on this. \n\nA 2004 study on rats found that [CBD acts in a similar way to capsaicin]( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1575333/#bib2). When we eat a chili pepper, capsaicin acts on the TRPV1 receptors in our brain cells, making us feel that burning sensation we associate with spicy foods. \n\nThese brain cells then become desensitized—they no longer signal that burning sensation to our brain when capsaicin acts on TRPV1. This is perhaps why some people have a higher tolerance for spicy foods: Their TRPV1 receptors have become desensitized. \n\nBut capsaicin does more than make our mouth burn when we eat spicy foods. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure properties. \n\nThe researchers in this study think that CBD behaves in a similar way to capsaicin—except without imparting that spicy sensation. Somehow CBD desensitizes TRPV1 receptors, thus reducing our pain response. And we already know that CBD has pain-relieving effects and can help those with epilepsy—as much anecdotal evidence suggests. \n\n### Researchers Focusing on TRPV1 in Epilepsy & Endometrial Cancer Studies\n\nIndeed, TRPV1 likely has something to do with CBD’s anti-seizure abilities. Rodents with epilepsy and some human epilepsy patients tend to have more TRPV1 receptors than their healthy counterparts. It’s possible that the body makes more of these receptors in response to the condition.\n\nKnowing this, researchers decided to test the effect of CBD on mice with and without TRPV1 receptors. They subjected the mice to electric currents high enough to produce seizures and found that [mice without the TRPV1 receptors were more susceptible to seizures](http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/S53.004). The results suggest that CBD was acting on TRPV1 to reduce seizures, since those without TRPV1 receptors were more likely to get them after being subjected to electrical currents.\n\nMost recently, research has suggested that substances that attach to [TRPV1 may be useful in treating endometrial cancer](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29441458), though this evidence is preliminary. In a petri dish, researchers exposed susceptible cells to high levels of estrogen to make them cancerous. They then monitored what happened in the presence of THC and CBD.\n\nThe researchers found that CBD, but not THC, caused these cancerous cells to die. They believe that CBD was doing this by acting on the TRPV1 receptor. While these results are promising, much more research is needed. \n\nRELATED: [CAN CANNABIS HELP DEFEND AGAINST ENDOMETRIAL CANCER?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5adfa21c049b4f000a64e8d5/can-cannabis-help-defend-against-endometrial-cancer)\n\n### GPR55 Plays a Role in the Development of Cancer \n\nGPR55 is what’s known as a G-protein coupled receptor—the same type of receptor as CB1 and CB2. GPR55 is a likely contributor to many of cannabis’s health benefits, though we still don’t have the whole picture. \n\nThis receptor can be activated by both anandamide and 2-AG, as well as THC. Because GPR55 seems to interact with many cannabinoids, some researchers think that it could be the much-speculated-about third cannabinoid receptor, or CB3, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. \n\nInterestingly, CBD doesn’t activate this receptor. Rather, it prevents other substances from attaching to it. Researchers think that this special quality may be one of the reasons behind CBD’s therapeutic effects, and they think it could have applications in many conditions including cancer, gastrointestinal inflammation and certain seizures. \n\nResearch links [GPR55 activation with tumor activity]( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28029647). Thus, something that prevents substances from binding to this receptor, like CBD, could have an anti-tumor effect, though the molecule’s capacity to do this hasn’t been tested yet. \n\nSo far, researchers have tested the ability of substances that block GPR55 in the following cancers: \n\n* Brain\n* Breast\n* Colorectal\n* Pancreatic \n\nThe results have been positive, though it’s important to remember that these studies were preliminary.\n\n### How GPR55 Impacts Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Dravet Syndrome \n\nWe know that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. Yet we don’t know why it tends to provide relief for folks who suffer from inflammation of the colon and intestines, commonly known as inflammatory bowel disease. Here, GPR55 may again be part of the answer.\n\nPeople with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis tend to have more GPR55 receptors in their bodies than their healthy counterparts do. And studies on mice where molecules block GPR55 lead to [a reduction in intestinal inflammation]( https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nmo.12639). We’ll have to wait and see whether or not CBD has similar effects in future studies. \n\nThough it’s likely that TRPV1 has something to do with CBD’s anti-seizure properties, GPR55 may be doing something as well. In order to better understand why patients with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy, tend to respond favorably to CBD, researchers tested the effect of CBD in a mouse model of this condition.\n\nThey found that [CBD reduced seizure activity by binding to GPR55 receptors]( http://www.pnas.org/content/114/42/11229) in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that seems to play an important role in seizure activity. \n\nThe anti-seizure activities that can be credited to both GPR55 and TRPV1 highlight how many different factors must come together to produce cannabis’s therapeutic effects. CB1, CB2, TRPV1 and GPR55 are just some of the receptors in the body that THC and CBD interact with—there are many more that researchers are just beginning to understand. \n\nCannabinoid science is a field of study that’s still in its infancy. As research progresses, it’ll paint a clearer picture of the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis can be used to its full medical potential. \n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101]( https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/14b42/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/f836f/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg 200w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/2244e/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg 400w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/14b42/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg 800w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/47498/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg 1200w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/19e6b/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.jpg 1469w","srcWebp":"/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/58556/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/61e93/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp 200w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/1f5c5/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp 400w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/58556/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp 800w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/99238/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp 1200w,\n/static/8fb12afbb21296eeb48bdf453942b83a/a7d4f/f9596d6d523e2f3497565079ae40bc21.webp 1469w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2408-markdown","title":"Marijuana, Gut Health and the Brain ","slug":"marijuana-gut-health-and-the-brain","content":"Feeling queasy about making a big decision; butterflies in the stomach before a big date; wondering whether to trust a “gut” feeling—though they may seem to be completely separate organs, the brain and the gastrointestinal system are in constant communication. Stressed-out folks have long understood this relationship, and now recent studies reveal that the \n[“gut-brain axis”](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/)\n plays a role in a long list of health conditions. As it turns out, cannabis may have an important role to play in keeping those lines of communication working smoothly. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Understanding the Mind-Gut Connection \n\nUntil relatively recently, people who suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions might have been told that their problem was “all in their head.” But recent research reveals that the [opposite is more likely true](https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection). A complex and comprehensive network of neurotransmitters and hormones shared by both the brain and the digestive tract link these two systems. \n\nHelped along by organisms in the gut biome, this axis of communication is anchored by the [vagus nerve](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997031). The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brain all the way to the abdomen. Although it actually consists of two branches, it’s usually referred to as one system. \n\nCommunication between the brain and the gut, which includes all parts of the digestive system from mouth to anus, is possible because many of the same neurotransmitters and receptors occur in both places—that’s why emotions generated in the brain can also be felt in the belly. A good example of this is irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, a condition that often has no clear physical cause.\n\nIf the brain speaks to the gut, the opposite is also true. Dysfunction in the digestive system can be communicated to the brain, contributing to conditions such as anxiety and depression. More evidence for this connection comes from recent studies on treating anxiety disorders and depression by targeting the gut with dietary changes, probiotics and other remedies for gastric problems.  \n\nThe gut-brain network also involves the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system and a little known channel called the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, or HPA. Because so many systems are engaged in this network, its function (or dysfunction) can affect just about every part of the body. But these systems aren’t the only ones to participate in the “crosstalk” along the gut-brain axis—the endocannabinoid system also plays a key role.\n\n### Marijuana and the Endocannabinoid System\n\nThe bodies of humans and other mammals contain a far-flung network of cannabinoid receptors that occur in many organs, nerves, cells and tissues. The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, has two receptors, CB1 and CB2, which are activated by the body’s own cannabinoids: 2-AG and anandamide. These molecules behave similarly to compounds found in marijuana.\n\nTetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the best known and most abundant of the compounds found in cannabis. It’s the psychoactive ingredient that’s responsible for the euphoric and relaxing “high,” but cannabis also contains over a hundred other substances. The second most prevalent of these is cannabidiol, or CBD, a compound that has no psychoactive qualities, but is able to work both with THC and on its own to affect the body’s immune system and many other functions.\n\nAlthough the endocannabinoid system wasn’t discovered until the early 1990s, numerous studies since then have revealed just how deeply connected it is to the body’s other systems. Moreover, the studies have also discussed the important role cannabis can play in activating the ECS to fight disease and maintain good health. Some research suggests that the [endocannabinoid system may actually be the body’s main regulatory system](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997031), acting as a sort of “controller” for other systems, including the gut-brain network.\n\nThe endocannabinoid receptor CB1 is found throughout the body, but particularly in the brain and central nervous system. CB2 receptors occur most often in white blood cells, the peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. These associations mean that the ECS likely plays a role in regulating many essential functions including pain control, pleasure and reward, immune responses, memory and cognition, and mood.  \n\nSome studies suggest that low levels of natural cannabinoids contribute to diseases like fibromyalgia, migraines and IBS. They also speculate that consuming cannabis can help resolve that deficiency and eliminate symptoms of those disorders.\n\nThe systems that contribute to the gut-brain axis also contain endocannabinoid receptors, and the activity of these receptors can regulate dysfunctions in those other systems. For example, cannabis may ease the symptoms of IBS and reduce the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy; it can also aid anxiety and depression. Because endocannabinoids regulate activity in the HPA pathways, cannabis may also help regulate body temperature and support homeostasis, the balance of the body’s physiological processes. \n\n### Cannabis Supports Crosstalk between Systems\n\nThe discovery of the gut-brain axis also revealed a network of connections to many other essential systems, all engaged in constant “crosstalk.” But the endocannabinoid system has receptors in all those networks and more, and recent research suggests that the [ECS may stand behind them all, regulating the crosstalk that keeps the body’s systems working in sync](https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/cannabinoids-and-the-gut-how-the-endocannabinoid-system-impacts-m).  \n\nThis relationship between the endocannabinoid system and the gut-brain axis can explain why conditions like anxiety and IBS seem to be connected. It also helps us understand why cannabis seems to have a powerful effect on health conditions of many kinds.\n\nIf you're new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \n\nPhoto credit: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/29637120@N08/2828064870/in/photolist-5iUza9-PnAqU-5qhoFx-HE48H-CsQBK-dHeGuM-5QzaFz-85QCWD-pKj69o-8b3y8p-9cBK64-5ZwXTV-7iE8me-5cTyMb-dvVddx-QK6C7G-9LCVja-dL2K3b-7iE8w2-hcdfZ4-dtWLsJ-beNrkr-bNyXdP-rZiuiq-55jDpH-o7doQM-9Bnyq-bC8vXu-dvw7qp-A4vLs-7iE93v-tpDJm-tpDJn-d9YzRk-yMTom-tpDJz-bVMtAx-49ZGkG-6JC2Zx-yMToq-2VZkck-7iE8Jv-a171Nn-tpDJh-oavbQM-3cEGtq-Vj4fYf-tpDJt-86AeND-deyfib)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/14b42/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/f836f/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg 200w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/2244e/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg 400w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/14b42/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg 800w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/47498/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/54ac5/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/58556/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/61e93/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp 200w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/1f5c5/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp 400w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/58556/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp 800w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/99238/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp 1200w,\n/static/03d86d9b7cd9211e98ddb689f10782da/5e0b8/0cc0770eadb5746d3153e48e6eac493c.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5369,"name":"IBS","slug":"ibs","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}