Approximately one in five people have acid reflux disease. When you have acid reflux, you cannot enjoy your favorite foods and drinks without experiencing painful burning sensations, irritation, and chest pain. So, does medical marijuana help with acid reflux?
At LeafMed, a leading medical cannabis dispensary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, we want to help you learn all the health benefits of marijuana. Below, we discuss how medical cannabis can help with acid reflux.
Using Medical Marijuana for Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is not as simple as occasional heartburn. Those who suffer from acid reflux typically have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), causing their digestive system to repeatedly send acid back through their esophagus, creating severe, frequent irritation.
To learn how medical marijuana helps with acid reflux, you must understand the disease. We discuss everything you need to know below.
Why Does Acid Reflux Occur?
Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (valve) is weak or too relaxed, so when food enters your stomach, the stomach acids can easily escape and flow back into your esophagus, causing irritation. Many factors can increase your risk of acid reflux, including pregnancy, obesity, smoking, specific medications, hernias, abdominal pressures, and more. Specific types of food and eating habits can also worsen acid reflux symptoms, particularly spicy foods or anything with high acidity levels, like coffee, tomatoes, citrus fruits, dairy products, red meats, etc.
Acid reflux causes various uncomfortable symptoms, including the following:
· Heartburn
· Chest pain
· Coughing
· Regurgitation (food coming back up your throat)
· The feeling of food stuck in your esophagus
· Issues swallowing
· Sore throat
· Vomiting
While some experience occasional heartburn after eating a spicy dish, patients with acid reflux typically experience the above symptoms at least twice a week or more. The current remedies for acid reflux include antacids that neutralize stomach acids, H-2 receptor blockers to decrease acid production, proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acids and repair damaged esophagus tissue, drugs for affecting esophageal relaxation, and surgery.
How Medical Marijuana Can Alleviate Acid Reflux
So, does medical marijuana help with acid reflux?
Medical marijuana has the potential to alleviate acid reflux symptoms by mimicking the chemical compounds your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) produces. The ECS regulates numerous bodily functions, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The cannabinoids found in medical marijuana, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can attach to ECS receptors, reducing inflammation, stomach acid levels, and pain.
Medical marijuana may offer the following benefits for acid reflux patients:
·Reduced inflammation: GERD typically comes with high levels of inflammation and oxidative stress caused by the irritation. Cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties that may reverse some of this damage.
·Lower stomach acid levels: Research from 2016 shows that cannabis has the ability to lower stomach acid production while protecting tissue from damage.
·Reduced pain: A wealth of evidence supports medical marijuana’s ability to reduce acute and chronic pain. You may enjoy reduced heartburn by lowering stomach acid levels, reducing inflammation, and blocking pain.
·Esophageal relaxation prevention: Acid reflux occurs when the esophageal valve relaxes too much. A comprehensive review of clinical studies showed cannabinoids can inhibit lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakening.
Preventing GERD by Reducing Anxiety and Depression
As mentioned above, acid reflux has many causes. Some people experience acid reflux as a side effect of anxiety and depression. Such conditions greatly increase your risk of developing GERD.
If you fall into this category, medical marijuana may help. Medical marijuana can improve anxiety and depression, reducing your risk of developing acid reflux. Research shows that medical cannabis can reduce symptoms for patients with anxiety.
Learn How To Find the Right Medical Cannabis for Your Needs Today
So, does medical marijuana help with acid reflux? Yes, medical cannabis can help with acid reflux symptoms by reducing inflammation, stomach acid levels, pain, and lower esophageal sphincter weakening.
Next, read about the top five forms of marijuana, then visit one of our LeafMed medical marijuana dispensaries in Mississippi or call us (228) 382-5323 with any questions.