Almost everyone deals with constipation at some point. Though it’s not usually serious, you'll feel much better when your digestive system is back on track. Irregular bowel movements can ruin a good day or night, leaving you feeling cramped and bloated. Constipation can be caused by what you eat — or what you don't eat. Lack of exercise and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also contribute to constipation.
Opiates And Constipation
Some types of pain medications like opiates can cause constipation. It's not much of a trade-off to get rid of the pain and then deal with constipation. The need to take laxatives to relieve discomfort can be a trade-off too. Some laxatives can be harsh and actually cause more cramping. Some laxatives hit you out of the blue when you least expect it. It can be hard to go to work or enjoy an evening out if you aren't sure when you will have to go to the bathroom.
Hemorrhoids And Constipation
One of the most painful side effects of constipation can be hemorrhoids. If you go several days without a bowel movement, or strain when you go, it can cause hemorrhoids. If you think constipation is painful, just wait until you experience this pain in your butt! Often, hemorrhoids are not serious and resolve on their own, but for some people, they can become serious. If they begin to bleed, it's scary. Sometimes it even takes surgery to repair them. One of the best ways to avoid hemorrhoids is to never get constipated.
Symptoms Of Constipation
The symptoms of constipation are usually easy to recognize. According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the first signs of regular constipation is passing 3 stools or less per week. Having to strain because you have hard or lumpy stools is another easily recognizable sign. It can feel like there is a blockage in your rectum. Sometimes you may feel as though you can't complete a bowel movement. The worst is if you can't pass anything, and you have to resort to an enema or a doctor visit to find relief.
Using Weed As A Medicine
Marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries. Research has shown marijuana can be beneficial for treating many medical conditions, including pain, nausea, loss of appetite, eating disorders, sleep disorders, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Crohn's disease, and more. Even though marijuana is still illegal federally, it has been legalized in 15 states, decriminalized in 15 states, and Washington, DC, and 35 states currently have medical marijuana programs.
Using Weed For Constipation
We all know that the keys to staying regular include exercise, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough fiber in our diet. That is all common sense — but sometimes common sense just doesn't do the trick. If you have bowel disorders, stay stressed a lot, don't get to eat like you always should, have a job that requires sitting a lot, or take medications that cause it, all of these things can lead to constipation.
Although laxatives can help to bring relief, they don't always help with the pain and discomfort that go along with constipation. Hemorrhoids alone can make you not want to go even though you need to. So, how does weed play into treating and preventing constipation? According to marijuanadoctors.com, research has shown that endocannabinoid receptors in the human digestive system react to cannabis.
Constipation Symptoms Marijuana May Treat
Besides obvious constipation symptoms, like bloating and not being able to go, constipation can cause chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Marijuana can help alleviate many of these symptoms. It could even help relieve the inflammation that accompanies hemorrhoids.
Sometimes when you have gone several days without a bowel movement, your system gets backed up. This can cause nausea, and in some cases, vomiting. Using marijuana can help alleviate these symptoms. The cramping that often accompanies constipation can be painful, and cannabis can also help reduce pain.
Trying to sleep while you are constipated can be almost impossible. Some weed strains are great for helping you get to sleep. When your digestion is out of whack, it can cause anxiety, and when it occurs often, it can even lead to depression. Many people use cannabis to treat these conditions. Even if you still need to use a laxative or stool softener to deal with constipation issues, many people find that adding cannabis to their treatment can help.
What's The Best Way To Use Weed For Constipation?
Many people that use cannabis choose to smoke it. It's the fastest way to get the benefits you are looking for. Some people choose to vape weed because it is less harsh on the lungs. Even if you don't want to smoke or vape weed, there are other choices, like edibles.
Consuming cannabis edibles is a way to get the benefits you want without the smoke. You can also get tinctures, transdermal patches, topicals, sprays, and even suppositories. One of the best ways to use cannabis is in juice. You must keep up your intake of fluids when you are constipated. Adding a little cannabis tincture to apple juice, prune juice, or another favorite drink is a great way to get the liquid and the benefits that cannabis can provide at the same time!
