Being nauseous is absolutely miserable. You feel sick, weak, sweaty, and overall defeated. But did you know cannabis can help alleviate these symptoms, often times, faster than over the counter and prescription medications?
When it comes to dealing with nausea and vomiting one can use both CBD and THC, or the entire cannabis plant which would offer a full spectrum of cannabinoid benefits (entourage effect). CBD is typically used in small doses to alleviate nausea and vomiting. According to this study, it binds to the CB1 receptors which work to suppress vomiting. It also relieves anxiety attacks and can help to manage any chronic nausea.
Studies on cannabis and nausea
THC on the other hand, also works well in alleviating nausea and vomiting. Multiple studies have looked at the effects of using THC to treat nausea. This one, for example, observed children suffering from chemotherapy-induced nausea. According to the research, “vomiting was completely prevented and the side effects observed were negligible”. The good thing about THC is that it is also therapeutic and creates a nice, positive state of mind and this is what many patients dealing with chronic nausea long for.
What is Nausea?
Cannabis can provide quick and powerful relief against nausea
Vomiting and nausea are one of the body’s protective defense mechanisms. At times, short episodes of nausea can be therapeutic. But when prolonged they tend to make one feel very miserable and are hard to cope with. If nausea is not triggered by anything and does not resolve in 2 days’ time, then you would need to seek medical attention as it may be a sign of a much more serious problem and can lead to dehydration.
Nausea can be caused by numerous triggers. Sometimes, it’s as simple as the body trying to get rid of some type of unsavory food you may have consumed (think expired dairy, unwashed produce, poorly handled fast food, etc.). Other times, there is an underlying illness causing it such as gastroenteritis or GERD. In the most severe cases, it’s due to a chronic disease or it’s a side effect of the medication taken to treat such a condition, for example, medications used to manage HIV or cancer often cause nausea.
Final Thoughts
Whatever the cause, it’s important to know that you have options. Of course, you could try taking prescription drugs or OTC medications, but those often come with a myriad of side effects as well. Cannabis can work well to relieve nausea, better than standard treatments even, and many patients report that the effects are almost instant.
However, care needs to be taken when using it. Before you use cannabis to treat your nausea, seek to know any side effects that it may have, how it could interact with your medication, and if using it could have any impact on your insurance coverage. Always talk to a trusted medical professional before making any radical changes to your treatment plan.
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