Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Medical cannabis for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be a natural treatment option to help manage challenging symptoms such as pain and diarrhoea.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive condition affecting 5-20% of the population. It’s usually caused by specific foods or stress, and leads to painful or uncomfortable stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. Although medications and lifestyle changes can help, most people will always live with IBS, experiencing flare-ups that last for days, weeks or months.
Symptoms
IBS symptoms are different for everyone, and could result in a lower quality of life. Symptoms may include tummy pains or cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and a need to quickly relieve yourself.
Treatments
Treatments that work for one person may not work for another, but some lifestyle changes that could help include eating a healthy diet, avoiding trigger foods, and lowering stress levels. Taking probiotics can regulate gut bacteria, and prescription anti-diarrhoea medications or laxatives could provide relief.
Research shows endocannabinoid deficiencies could contribute to IBS, suggesting that medical cannabis could also be a potential treatment.
10-20%
Around 10-20% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease actively use cannabis, and this is also thought to be commonly used by IBS patients
2.16
In a 2018 study, cannabis effectively treated abdominal pain caused by gastroparesis, with cannabis use resulting in a 2.16 reduction in pain score
74.6%
A survey on cannabis for pain found that, on a 0-100% scale (0% = ‘no relief’, 100% = ‘complete relief’), the average result was 74.6%
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Word from our expert
Dr Sunil Arora Chief Medical Officer
For some people living with IBS, medical cannabis may help ease symptoms like abdominal discomfort, cramping, and anxiety—especially when stress plays a key role.
When thoughtfully prescribed, it can offer a more settled gut and a calmer mind.
