I want to share my experience with using CBD to treat acid reflux and other digestive complications. CBD is an amazing substance with many wonderful properties, but it is not a silver bullet. Through trial and error, I have found that using it in conjunction with other products to aid in digestion has helped me tremendously. As always, i want to first clarify that I am not a medical professional. I’m just sharing my experience and giving my opinions.
CBD Only
When i first started trying to treat my acid reflux with options other than anti-acids or PPI inhibitors, CBD oil was the first product that I experimented with. It really was life changing and i felt way better. However, I would eat and it would feel like food was just sitting in my stomach ten times longer than it should be. If i ate fibrous vegetables or beans I found that CBD barely helped my reflux at all. I tried increasing my dose, but that only helped so much. This was when I realized that I was not producing enough stomach acid. When the body does not produce enough stomach acid the lower esphogeal sphincter will not shut. No matter how much CBD I took, my esophagus would stay open without the right balance of stomach acid. On top of this, I was diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia. CBD helped with the pain and discomfort, but could not repair this hole. Only, surgery can fix a hiatal hernia.
Apple Cider Vinegar and CBD
After doing some research I found out than many people with acid reflux have used apple cider vinegar to treat acid reflux that is caused by low stomach acid. I began using this in conjunction with CBD oil and it helped my digestion tremendously. Apple cider vinegar actually has many benefits that people do not know about. I plan on going over some of these benefits in another post. The main benefit for me was cutting down on reflux. However, just like with CBD, I discovered that i was missing something. That’s where HCL tablets and digestive enzymes come in.
HCL and Digestive Enzymes
Today i take a concoction of things to properly digest my food and eliminate acid reflux. This includes HCL tablets with pepsin, lactase, alpha-galactosidase, apple cider vinegar, and several other digestive enzymes. It is not only important to take all of these to eliminate or lessen the acid reflux, but also to help with nutrient absorption. Many of us who suffer from these digestive issues are lacking in many nutrients.
Hiatal Hernia
If you have acid reflux that does not get better and gets worse when you do physical activity, I highly recommend visiting a medical professional about this. If you get pain in your upper abdomen after eating or when laying down, you could have a hiatal hernia. For many people with a hiatal hernia having a procedure will fix many of their issues. However, if there are other digestive issues, then other methods may still need to be used after the surgery. Digestive enzymes may be needed for healthy digestion even after the procedure. I also use a massage gun on and around my ribs to relax the muscles in the upper abdomen,
Conclusion
So, what I’m really trying to say here is that there is not a silver bullet in dealing with these digestive issues. I take CBD oil, apple cider vinegar, and several other enzymes to deal with my acid reflux and hiatal hernia. It takes some trial and error to figure out exactly what will work for you.