Here comes the abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation of irritable bowel syndrome. The debilitating condition can strike at a young age, from the teens to the 40s, cramping not just the guts but also the lifestyles of those diagnosed with IBS.

While traditional treatments are available, new research reveals what many patients already knew – that medical marijuana can help alleviate the discomfort associated with IBS. Although the symptoms of IBS are felt in the gut, it turns out that the brain is piloting the ship, and medical cannabis can intervene to put the system on the right course.

A tale of two cannabinoids

Two different systems control our brains and our innards. The central nervous system takes charge of the brain and spinal cord, controlling cognition and emotions. The enteric nervous system controls the gastrointestinal tract. In normally functioning bodies, the two systems conduct two-way communications. Disrupted communications lead to consequences in the gut.

Interestingly, the same cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant are mirrored in our bodies, in a form known as endocannabinoids. In the digestive system, endocannabinoids can regulate muscle contractions – too fast, and the result is diarrhea-predominant IBS, and too slow, and the result is constipation-predominant IBS. Endocannabinoids also impact visceral hypersensitivity, which lowers the threshold for abdominal pain and discomfort caused by pressure, stimulation, or distension. In short, too few endocannabinoids, and the gut overreacts.

Now, a study from the University of Massachusetts and University of Bath found that certain cells can overconsume the healthy microbes that maintain intestinal balance. What’s stopping them is a chemical pathway made up of those endocannabinoids. The research suggests that the cannabinoids of medical marijuana can help counteract the dearth of endocannabinoids in the body that could be contributing to inflammatory bowel diseases.

Although the study looked at endocannabinoids in mice, researchers hope that “these findings will help us develop new ways to treat bowel diseases in humans,” said Univerity of Bath Professor Randy Mrsny.

Medical cannabis and IBS

Enter medical marijuana, which can activate cannabinoid receptors to make up for the shortfall and jumpstart the body’s endocannabinoids into doing their traffic-cop thing. Medical cannabis can help IBS patients by:

Decreasing the gut inflammation that underlies the condition.

Controlling intestinal muscle contractions.

Correcting nervous system abnormalities.

Reducing the stress and anxiety that can accompany IBS. These benefits, according to some research, can be derived through the medical cannabis compound known as cannabidiol, or CBD.

Although more research must be done, “manypatients with IBS appear to be getting benefit from the low-dose, controlled application of cannabis,” reports Dr. Jordan Tishler, a leading cannabis specialist based in Boston.

As always, patients should talk with their doctors to see if medical cannabis can be an effective part of treatment regimens. From there, they can consult with a state-registered physician who can certify that the patient has a serious medical condition– IBS and other inflammatory bowel conditions are on the list — that qualifies for a medical marijuana ID card. With that card, they can make purchases at Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensaries and perhaps discover relief from the symptoms of IBS.