Hemp Effects on Bladder

One of the most embarrassing things that you can experience is involuntary urine leaks during the day. Likewise, the sudden urge to go to the bathroom multiple times in a short time when you are in the middle of something. This can be quite stressful, especially if you have engagements to attend to and have to excuse yourself all the time. This condition, whereby the bladder squeezes urine out at the wrong time, is referred to as an overactive bladder, or OAB. Millions of people worldwide suffer from overactive bladder syndrome; so, if this is you, know that you are not alone. You can develop this condition in a lot of different ways, such as inflammation or weak bladder muscles. Diseases associated with nerve damage can also trigger it. Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis are some of them. Since soaring into popularity in 2018, users swear by the positive effects they have in tackling this disease by taking hemp-based CBD.

CBD has become quite popular over the years due to its numerous purported benefits. Endocannabinoids’ role in regulating the body’s homeostatic processes, such as urinary disorders, is something many are starting to notice. So, can CBD help people suffering from overactive bladder syndrome and other bladder issues? What are the hemp effects on bladder? Read on to find out more.

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder syndrome, also known as Spastic bladder, is a condition that’s quite challenging to control. You may feel the urge to pee all the time during the day and night. You may also get unintentional releases of urine. It is especially worse for people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Below are some of the symptoms of OAB.

• Urgent and uncontrollable urge to urinate.
• Frequent urination, about eight times or more in 24 hours.
• Waking up more than twice during the night to urinate.
• Frequent involuntary loss of urine.

Many people suffering from OAB suffer from social embarrassment as they will constantly excuse themselves to use the bathroom. They may fear attending social functions due to the anxiety it causes and fear of suffering a mishap.

The cause of OAB is still unknown. However, some factors such as too much fluid intake, nerve or muscle problems, or even drinking caffeinated drinks can lead to it. When the bladder fills up, the nerve usually sends signals to the brain to feel the urge to pee. The coordinated nerve signals then tell the muscles in the pelvic floor and urethra to relax or contract. Once the bladder muscles tighten, urine begins to come out. In OAB cases, the bladder muscles start to contract involuntarily even though the bladder is not full. This tightening of the bladder muscles will then create an urgency to urinate.

Overactive Bladder Current Treatments

There are two types of medications currently used to treat OAB. They include Mirabegron and antimuscarinics. However, these drugs have some side effects, even when taken correctly. These include dry mouth, itchy eyes, indigestion, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, high blood pressure, blurred vision, and even headaches. When you take too many of these drugs, you may end up getting even more severe side-effects such as hallucinations, heart rhythm changes, seizures. In the absolute worst-case scenario, you would fall into a coma. It is for these reasons that people have been looking into using CBD for bladder control.

How Bladder Control Works

The major component of the bladder is the smooth detrusor muscle. The lower detrusor muscle is located at the bottom of the bladder. The muscle is contiguous with the urethral sphincter and facilitates urination when it contracts. During the filing stage, the detrusor will remain relaxed, and the sphincter remains closed. The neural circuits usually organize the central nervous mechanisms that control the lower urinary tract in the brain and spinal cord. These neural circuits ensure that there is a healthy function and voluntary control of the urinary bladder. With overactive bladder conditions, the communication between the bladder and the brain is off, which will cause problems.

Hemp Effects on Bladder

Research on the effects of hemp on the bladder is still in its early stages, and more research is still on its way. However, one outstanding fact is that the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) also has an extensive presence in the urinary bladder. Since cannabinoids bind to or interact with receptors in the ECS, researches think that CBD has a relaxing effect on the human bladder, especially in the filling stage. Since hemp-derived CBD became legal and word of mouth got around, more people are curious about what it has to offer. According to research, CBD could be helpful, especially to females suffering from overactive bladder syndrome.

The Endocannabinoid system receptors are widely present within the urinary bladder. Hence, there are cannabinoid receptors in the lower urinary tract that are involved in lower urinary tract control. The ECS has two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2; CB1 is more present in the urinary bladder than its other counterpart, CB2. Therefore, the CB1 receptors that interact with CBD will result in the bladder’s relaxation during the filling up phase. The CB1 receptors are usually primarily found in the bladder’s central and peripheral neuron terminals. The interaction with CBD does, on a neurochemical level, end up inhibiting neurotransmitter release.

Interstitial Cystitis

Millions of people struggle with this condition. However, currently, there’s very little info about what causes Interstitial Cystitis, but it is more prevalent in middle-aged women. Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS), will offer the same discomfort as urinary tract infections. Urination frequency may even reach up to 60 times every 24 hours. The difference with urinary tract infections is that bacterial infections do not cause painful bladder syndrome. Hence, taking antibiotics will not do you any good. There is also no definitive cure for the disease, making it even more of a hassle. Some of the options available are bladder installation or bladder wash. Exercise and diet can also help ease the discomfort the condition causes.

The good news is that according to studies, it seems that the use of CB2’s agonists can benefit people suffering from this condition. It might affect cystitis and bladder inflammation, which usually leads to an increase in urination frequency.

Can Hemp-Based CBD Help with Overactive Bladder Conditions?

According to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), CBD could help combat some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Some of which include, among others, overactive bladder syndrome and spasticity. It also might help with detrusor muscle overactivity.

In a meta-analysis done in 2017, there were three studies done using THC or a combination of THC and CBD to treat overactive bladder patients with multiple sclerosis. Researchers used oromucosal spray during the meta-analysis. Once the study concluded, researchers noted that cannabis use decreased incontinence in all three studies. However, they noted some side-effects, such as headaches, vomiting, dizziness, and dry mouth on patients that received the treatment through the spray. On the other hand, in the tablet trials, they observed no side effects. These studies’ findings were optimistic, but there’s more data to gather to give a definitive answer.

Another study by a team of researchers from Wisconsin-Madison University used mice to investigate whether the activation of CB2 receptors can inhibit the severity of cystitis. The research team first applied a catheter to bring about cystitis using acrolein. After this, they treated the mice using GP1a, a selective CB2 agonist. They administered a placebo at three different intervals; at 3.5 hrs, 22hrs, and 30 hrs after the acrolein installation. After 48 hours, they proceeded with examining every single mouse to see the results. The results revealed that the activation of the CB2 receptors reduced inflammation as the swelling began to subside. But only for the group that got the cannabinoid treatment.

Also, the activation of CB2 receptors decreased the pain induced by acrolein. Cystitis enhanced the mice’s urinary frequency. Yet, once the CB2 receptors activated, this effect began to subside. Thus, the hemp effects on bladder appear favorable and may help manage the chronic bladder ailments’ symptoms.

Hemp Effects on Bladder – The Takeaway

Overactive bladder is one of the most embarrassing and disruptive conditions you might suffer from. The sudden back and forth to the restroom can be quite uncomfortable. However, don’t lose hope. CBD might offer hope if you have these symptoms. Research suggests that it significantly influences the bladder’s contraction and relaxation; hence, it may help control the bladder. However, there is still more to learn about the hemp effects on bladder, and, as such, more research is on its way.

If you plan on using CBD with bladder issues, know that there is no established standard dosage of CBD for bladder conditions. Therefore, before you go experiment with CBD, talk to your doctor first. This is especially true if you have other underlying conditions, are on other medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. The doctor will advise you on how to go about it and if it is safe to use. Once you get an okay from them, please start with a small dose to see how your body reacts. You can increase the dosage with time, based on how your body reacts to the medication.