Do you like bread, crackers and cookies? All of these delicious and, most importantly, favorite products may contain wheat, rye and barley that can cause immune reaction. Celiac disease is a very common autoimmune disease that affects people, who eat products containing gluten. Celiac disease can cause a large number of symptoms. Meanwhile, CBD – extracted from the cannabis plant – has been found to help treat a number of autoimmune conditions. But the question is: Will CBD help to relieve some of these symptoms and help with dealing with Celiac? Read on and find out.

What is Celiac disease? What are the symptoms?

Celiac disease is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy and is an autoimmune disorder where eating gluten breaks down the intestinal walls in your body causing inflammation and pain. When the person eats gluten, the inflammation makes it hard for the intestines to absorb essential nutrients and can kill off your appetite and cause weight loss.

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disease, which affects a significant portion of the population. When a person eats gluten in different foods, such as: wheat, rye, and barley, the immune reaction occurs. When the affected person eats this protein, his or her immune system responds by attacking the intestinal wall. With critical structures such as villi found all over the small intestines, this condition has the potential to affect one’s health greatly. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Celiac disease if not abstention to consumption of all foods and substances based on or containing gluten.

Some common symptoms of this disorder include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating
  • Excess Gas
  • Fatigue
  • Weight Loss
  • Iron-Deficiency Anemia
  • Constipation
  • Itchy Rash
  • Mouth Ulcers

And in adults, these symptoms can be a little bit different:

  • Arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Liver Disorders
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Dermatitis Herpetiformis
  • Miscarriage or infertility and more

What are the causes of Celiac disease?

Celiac disease is said to be a genetic disorder but its precise cause is still unknown. Some research suggests that Celiac disease happens to individuals who have particular genes. These particular genes are common and carried by about one-third of the population. Unfortunately, researchers do not know exactly what triggers Celiac disease in people at risk who eat gluten over a long period of time. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the presence of gluten in your diet can trigger your immune system, which responds by attacking the intestinal wall. Certain environmental factors can also play a role in causing Celiac disease, but mostly it depends on the reaction of your immune system to the gluten products. It is also good to know that this disorder can start at any age and the symptoms may change as the person ages. You can also have a chance of developing Celiac disease, when you have changes in your genes. Moreover, changes in environment can influence genes that can lead to Celiac disease.

What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the Cannabis sativa plant, which is also known as marijuana. It’s a naturally occurring substance that’s used in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. Moreover, CBD is not psychoactive, so you will not get the ‘high’ effect. Read more about CBD, it’s extraction, and its effects on the body here .

Could CBD help with Celiac disease?

In order to treat Celiac disease you need to follow gluten free diet and avoid gluten. There was an Italian study done in 2003, which was focused on children struggling with Celiac disease. It was found that cannabinoid receptors in the intestinal tract were more widespread in the untreated patients to those who had been following a gluten-free diet for more than one year. This study led researchers to believe that if you target the cannabinoid receptors, it can help in relieving Celiac disease symptoms quickly. Other studies suggest that people that suffer from Celiac disease have a higher risk of nerve damage and CBD has a great potential to help with that, as it is a great natural antidepressant. In conclusion, CBD can help to prevent other health issues that can be caused by Celiac disease, such as nerve damage. CBD can also help to relieve pain and get more relaxed if the person feels anxious.

Could CBD help manage the symptoms of Celiac disease?

While exploring the potential effects of CBD oil in treating Celiac disease, we must admit that only limited studies focus on this subject. Furthermore, most of the research on CBD oil and Celiac disease, unfortunately, has ended up in inconclusive results. In 2011, for example, the scientific journal PLOS One published a research by Italian scholars that were determined to measure the possibility of reducing intestinal inflammation after using CBD for Celiac disease. According to their research, they summarized that CBD can regulate inflammation reactions in the intestine. As a result of this, CBD prevents intestinal damage, one of the symptoms associated with Celiac disease.

Research conducted at the University of Teramo also analysed the specific attributes of the Endocannabinoid System. Although their findings are inconclusive, the researchers proved a significant connection between the malfunctions of the endocannabinoid system and the pathogenesis of Celiac disease. Nonetheless, more studies and researches should be done in order to explore the therapeutic effects and benefits of CBD towards easing the symptoms of Celiac disease. CBD can be a great dietary supplement, but not a treatment itself. The best way to treat Celiac disease symptoms is to get rid of all of the gluten in your diet. Nothing else will work better than this.

Does CBD or hemp have gluten?

Pure CBD or hemp oil is definitely gluten-free. In fact, there are even those who treat Celiac disease with CBD. CBD oil (or hemp oil) is a botanical extract made from the hemp plant, which is naturally free of gluten. That’s why we assume that anything coming directly from the hemp plant with nothing added to it, flavourings, or preservatives is definitely gluten-free, as hemp plant is gluten-free on its own. To avoid any products with gluten, make sure you read all of the ingredients of the products properly. Of course, there are some types of CBD products which can or do contain gluten. This is very important to know which type of products doesn’t contain gluten, if you’re maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle. Most organic and high-quality CBD products are gluten-free, but not every single one.

The main difference between actual Celiac disease and more general gluten sensitivity or intolerance (which affects up to 10% of people) is that gluten intolerance does not do irreparable damage to the gut lining, whereas Celiac disease does. So from that it’s understandable that Celiac disease is a severe form of gluten intolerance and in order to avoid any symptoms, you have to be very careful with what you consume. Remember to always check the ingredients of a product before eating or taking it to avoid health problems.

Top CBD brands for 2020

Joy Organics
THC-free. CBD is made from hemp oil and is extracted with organic extra-virgin olive oil, providing a base for a smooth intake.

Elixinol
Well-established company that uses CO2 extraction process, which is clean, solvent-free method. They perform extensive lab testing for microbiological contamination, pesticides, heavy metals, etc.

Endoca
Tested in lab. Certified organic cannabis plants. Use CO2 extraction process. Wide variety of CBD products.

Vape Bright
High-quality organic CBD vape with terpenes. Extra strength formula. No chemical fillers.

Select CBD
Select CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, with products designed to benefit people, it comes in Select CBD Drops, which is a tincture form, or in disposable vape.

CBD oil for Celiac: Final verdict

In my humble opinion, pure CBD oil will be a great supplement to your everyday gluten-free diet. It’s good to understand that CBD will not help you to treat this disease, as it is autoimmune disease, which is connected to your genes. That’s why you can not get rid of this disease. The best way to avoid any symptoms or worsenings is to follow gluten-free diet and be extremely cautious about what you consume. CBD oil is generally safe and will not harm your health. However, it is good to remember that CBD can interact with some prescription medicine, so if you are taking some, you have to talk to your doctor about taking CBD and make sure your medications will not interact with CBD. You should remember that by taking CBD alongside with other medication can cause some health issues and your current condition will get worse. CBD oil will not fully treat all of the symptoms of celiac disease, but it can definitely help with some of them. CBD can actually prevent some consequences of celiac disease, such as nerve damage, so it definitely will not be bad to take CBD if you’re struggling with celiac.

Now it’s your turn

If you feel like you have a relevant experience or story using CBD oil while dealing with celiac disease, please feel free to share it in our comment section. Your comments are very appreciated. Moreover, your experience will help others to get educated about the topic and help them to make their own decisions and form opinions, so you will make a great contribution to the community by sharing your knowledge.