Should You Take CBD to Help with Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a chronic digestive condition that can be extremely painful and cause enormous discomfort and disruption to daily life.  As a chronic condition, there is no known cure, but there are ways to treat it, ranging from prescription medications to natural plant derivatives aimed at reducing symptoms for a more comfortable life.  One of the most talked-about methods on the radar of acid reflux sufferers is cannabidiol (CBD), which has proven to be highly effective at addressing all kinds of symptoms, including those associated with acid reflux.

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a condition that affects the upper digestive tract – specifically, the stomach, diaphragm, and esophagus.  This condition causes stomach acid to flow upward into the esophagus, causing feelings of burning due to the acid making contact with esophageal tissue.  It tends to be more symptomatic after a person has eaten, or when they’re laying down. 

The most common symptoms include:

• Heartburn/chest pain
• Hypersalivation and difficulty swallowing
• Low appetite
• Regurgitation after consuming foods and beverages
• Metallic or acidic taste in the mouth
• The sensation of a lump in the throat

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux can be caused by all kinds of reasons, including genetic ones.  Or, a person may develop the condition due to poor diet – mainly, a diet high in acidic foods, or high in alcohol consumption.  Eating too fast as well as lying down after eating can lead to acid reflux symptoms, and smokers are also more prone to develop the condition than nonsmokers.

Acid reflux is also commonly caused by a hiatal hernia, which causes the upper GI tract to become misaligned due to moving the stomach above the diaphragm, allowing easy flow of stomach acid into the esophagus.  Aside from that, pregnant women can develop acid reflux due to upper GI misalignment caused by the growing fetus.

How Can Some Go About Treating Acid Reflux?

For anyone experiencing symptoms associated with acid reflux, it’s important to see a gastroenterologist whenever possible.  Sometimes, acid reflux symptoms can actually indicate something more serious, so it is critical to have an examination done to get a proper diagnosis.  The diagnostic process usually involves an endoscopy procedure, which allows a doctor to see the upper GI tract and observe abnormalities.

The most common treatment for acid reflux is medication – in severe cases, H2 blockers which aim to reduce the amount of stomach acid produced in the body.  For milder cases, antacids are usually prescribed to simply neutralize the stomach acid, since stomach acid is a critical component of the digestive process, and we need it in order to digest food.

Patients with particularly extreme cases may get a surgical procedure, which involves installing a LINX device into the lower esophageal sphincter.  A LINX is a metal ring that minimizes the flow of stomach acid upwards and into the esophagus.

Could CBD Potentially Help Acid Reflux Sufferers?

Being a cannabinoid, cannabidiol attaches itself to CB receptors throughout the digestive tract to regulate important processes related to digestion.  This is part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) role in keeping the body in homeostasis, by sending cannabinoids to various receptors to work toward equilibrium. 

CB receptors have been found in the esophagus and stomach which are likely to play a role in the function of the esophageal sphincter, along with the flow of stomach acid.  This means that CBD may be able to offer relief to those with acid reflux symptoms, by reducing the amount of stomach acid that can flow upward and into the esophagus and cause heartburn, hypersalivation, etc.

What Should You Know About Using CBD for Acid Reflux?

If your goal is to use cannabidiol to find relief from acid reflux, then we urge you to speak to your doctor first.  From there, they will then most likely refer you a gastroenterologist (a medical doctor with a specialized understanding of the digestive tract) who can make a proper determination if CBD is right for you.  Not only because of their knowledge in this field and having our medical history on hand, but because CBD could have a suppressant effect on the CYP3A4 enzyme that breaks down half the medications we take.  With low levels of CYP3A4, the patient may end up accumulating too much of a medication in their body, leading to potential toxicity in extreme cases.

Regarding product type, edibles may not be the best choice, since digestion is the issue here.  So instead, go with a tincture, such as a Nectar Wellness Supercharged™ CBD Oil.  Just a drop or two under your tongue is all you need for the CBD to get to work, as it makes its way towards the digestive tract.

CBD Might Actually Be Able to Help Acid Reflux Sufferers Afterall

Good news, cannabidiol has what it takes to regulate upper GI function in a way that can be extremely helpful to those dealing with acid reflux.  If you’re interested in finding out what CBD can do for you, again, we urge you to speak with your doctor and a gastroenterologist who can help you decide whether or not this natural, nontoxic plant derivative is a smart choice as part of your treatment.  From there, if given the okay to do so, you can check out Nectar Wellness Supercharged™ CBD Oils: Wild Berry and Mystic Mint today!