How Cannabis Helped Relieve my IBS Symptoms
A lot of people have asked me recently how cannabis specifically helps my IBS symptoms. I’m happy to share, because cannabis is medicine and cannabis promotes unity and community in a way that’s unlike any other medication!
Let’s start with a little background.
I have had tummy troubles for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until high school that I finally saw a gastroenterologist, had my first colonoscopy, and was diagnosed with IBS. After that, it was a seemingly never-ending parade of different medications: one for the nausea, one for appetite, one for the cramping, one to help “move things along”…. so many medications with so many side effects that I felt sick, bloated, and uncomfortable whether I took them or didn’t. My sophomore year in college, my hair broke off in my hand, because the meds made it weak and brittle. That’s when I really understood the havoc I was wreaking on my body through the prescription meds. And that’s when I decided to stop taking them.
Enter: Cannabis
What then, would I do for the cramps? The nausea? The inability to eat? Enter: cannabis. I have always been a cannabis user, but it wasn’t until 2012 that I found myself a cannabis patient as well. Instead of using it recreationally, I used it medicinally. It soothed my cramps, eased the nausea, and gave me an appetite when I had none. My hair grew back, I lost a bunch of weight (60 lbs!), I wasn’t tired and I didn’t feel sick all the time. I haven’t looked back since.
Let’s talk Treatment
Now let’s talk treatment. Every body is different, and not everything works for everyone. I have found success with indica-dominant strains. I’ve also utilized CBD-only strains, which are wonderful for pain and spasms. If you’re like me, you like a little THC, so I would suggest grinding up both the CBD-only strain, and your favorite strain that contains THC in your grinder together. The bud tenders at the dispensaries are an invaluable resource- use them! Ask them about strains that help with pain, cramping, and nausea. They can point you to specific terpenes, like myrcene, linalool, and limonene, which all have a variety of properties that help with a variety of symptoms.
I’m not symptom-free, but my quality of life has improved ten-fold! My symptoms are managed and my life is in control. I give a lot of credit to cannabis. I hope that I’ve been of some help to you, and that you find relief and peace.
