What is interstitial cystitis? It is a state that leads to lasting pelvic pain. In case you’ve ever undergone a UTI or Urinary Tract Infection, you are aware of the pain this bladder condition brings about.

Interstitial cystitis is likely to impact people as they reach a certain age. Also, it is comparatively more widespread in women than men.

However, different from UTI, which antibiotics can cure, IC doesn’t have a treatment. It can result in a substantial effect on your day-to-day routine, plus physical and mental wellbeing. The good news is that some therapies can aid in alleviating its symptoms.

The things that can aid in alleviating the distress of these signs count lifestyle variations. The conventional cure incorporates dietary changes, lowering stress levels, avoiding certain foods and beverages, marijuana, etc.

Medicinal marijuana is among the righteous methods for managing a chronic ailment, like interstitial cystitis. This drug has been utilized for medical purposes for several years.

Products having marijuana like CBD lubricants and CBD oils can affect positively and aid in lowering inflammation and easing pelvic pain.

CBD For Interstitial Cystitis: Does It Really Work?

There are countless CBD receptors within our body that can bind to endocannabinoids, counting the lower urinary tract. This implies that CBD lube is an effective treatment for IC.

Actually, CBD affects those with loads of disorders and ailments. It has also proved to do more than just ease pain. It even aids in enhancing the quality of sleep that, potentially lowering the discomfort all through the day.

CBD has many calming effects, and that’s why it would work for every pain and symptom that is caused by this bladder condition.

What to Consider When Using Medical Marijuana for IC?

As there isn’t much study or investigation regarding the delivery ways of marijuana, while it is about interstitial cystitis, it’s vital to discuss smoking. Smoking marijuana or weed is usually the main delivery way that sufferers of interstitial cystitis decide on. However, it’s vital to be careful. Likewise, smoking cigarettes and smoking weed can irritate the bladder and result in other health issues.

There is one more way to consume it and ease pelvic and bladder pain for women. It is to take it vaginally through vaginal suppositories or lubricants. The reproductive tract of a woman is lined with endocannabinoid system’s CB2 receptors and mucosa that have the ability to swiftly absorb the drug. But, the lasting and reproductive effects of CBDs are yet to be discovered.

Both the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system can be seen within the cells that create the bladder, making cannabis a great potential therapy alternative for bladder pain as perceived in animal reports that imitate bladder pain and interstitial cystitis.

Types of IC

A popular myth related to IC is that it just affects women. This cannot be true as about 1 to 4 million men have been diagnosed with this condition. A lot of folks who have IC have signs that started as kids, but the numbers of kids impacted haven’t been studied.

A few people undergoing this condition experience bladder pressure, pelvic pain, urinary frequency, and urinary urgency all the time. For other people undergoing the same condition, these signs vary from daily to monthly.

Since these signs vary so much in each person, some distinct types of interstitial cystitis have been found. Let us learn about them.

1. Ulcerative IC

About 5% of patients have ulcerative IC which is categorized by Hunner’s ulcers. These ulcers are unique, red areas of swelling on the bladder wall that bleeds.

2. End-stage IC

This form of interstitial cystitis is categorized by constant signs that remain for over two years. Patients usually have hard bladders from swelling or inflammation.

3. Non-ulcerative IC

Patients suffer from pinpoint haemorrhages in the walls. These are also called glomerations. They don’t have bleeding but yet undergo pain and bladder pressure.

The Ideal Dosages for the Patient

As per a medical professional, these are the average dosages that would be beneficial for a patient suffering from IC:

1.     The average dosages of vaping and smoking marijuana is 1 to 3 grams/day.
2.     It is recommended for the patients to make their own edibles for controlling the focus.
3.     A dosage of 10 mg of either cannabidiol or Tetrahydrocannabinol is sensible. A patient can begin with 10 mg and later on he or she can increase by augmentations of 5 mg.
4.     The most powerful form of weed is oil. Also, it is advised not to go beyond the correspondent of 1 gram decarboxylated oil per day.

Dose is specific to individual biology and other aspects. So, it’s highly recommended to consult a medical practitioner before you use medicinal cannabis for interstitial cystitis.  

The dose sizes mentioned above don’t tell about the starting dosages for a majority of patients. However, they help as potential rules of right dosages. It would be good to kick off with smaller dosages and work yourself up to bigger ones for lessening psychoactive effects.

Interstitial cystitis has no treatment. But there are loads of medicines, such as medical cannabis, that might aid in minimizing the signs of the condition. Most of the IC signs or symptoms mentioned below reflect anecdotally positive outcomes from medicinal cannabis usage. However, they have not been studied directly in association with interstitial cystitis. Patients suffering from any form of IC are likely to experience the following symptoms:

1.     Muscle tension
2.     Muscle spasms
3.     Frequent urination
4.     Pain during sexual intercourse
5.     Nausea
6.     Anxiety
7.     Pain

One must reach out to a qualified professional or medical marijuana clinic for the treatment of interstitial cystitis or bladder pain. Delaying the treatment or therapy may lead to more painful situations.

Is It Risky To Use CBD Lube?

Since CBD can have some uncommon side effects such as fatigue, irritability, and nausea, the major worry is that it is a supplement, and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t standardize it.

Some safety measures can ensure that you are obtaining a decent product. Firstly, you need to determine where the weed was produced and whether it was organically produced or not. Weed produced/cultivated organically is the best as there are strict rules to be entitled to as an organic product.

After that, seek a company that cultivates and extracts its plant and gives test results from an authorized testing centre. Look at the inactive ingredients, too.