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Does CBD Weed Help With Nausea?

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Nausea can be a serious and truly annoying problem for some people, to the point that it can significantly affect the daily well-being of some. When you have nausea, everything around you can seem blurry, and hard to concentrate on. In some cases, nausea can be so pronounced or constant that it can disrupt your entire day. But, as Tony Snow said, “the art of being sick is not the same as the art of getting well.” Fortunately, there are many tools that can help us master the art of getting well, and CBD seems to be one of them. CBD is world famous for the long list of potential health benefits it could provide. But, since this popularity is relatively new, many people may still doubt whether calming nausea might be one of them. If you are looking for an alternative remedy to calm your sickness and want to know if CBD could help you, you just hit the bullseye! Keep reading, and you will find all the answers you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Nausea, as such, is not a disease but a symptom of different diseases or medical conditions.
  • CBD may help with nausea due to the way it interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain.
  • CBD and other cannabinoids have promising potential to function as cannabinoid-based antiemetic therapy.

What is Nausea and Its Symptoms?

The word nausea refers to the sick feeling in the stomach that usually precedes vomiting. Nausea, as such, is not a disease but a symptom of different diseases or medical conditions. Nausea symptoms can include general weakness, sweating, excessive salivation, and the urgent need to vomit. Various conditions can trigger the feeling of nausea. Among the most common causes of nausea are:
  • Stomach flu.
  • Food poisoning.
  • Motion sickness and sea sickness.
  • Pregnancy in its early stages.
  • Intense pains.
  • Indigestion.
  • Overeating.
  • Reactions to certain odors.
  • Contusions or brain injuries.
  • Ulcers.
  • Brain tumors.
  • Heart attacks.
  • Some types of cancer.
Nausea and vomiting do not develop the same in all people, and age can also play a role. Nausea and vomiting in children are usually due to food poisoning, viral infections, motion sickness, excessive coughing, dairy allergies, or illnesses that cause high fevers. The time it takes for nausea to appear can indicate the cause. For example, when nausea occurs shortly after a meal, it is most likely due to food poisoning or another type of stomach condition. On the other hand, when the cause is bacterial infections such as salmonella, nausea takes longer to appear.

Can CBD Weed Help With Nausea?

Yes, it seems that CBD may have the ability to offer relief from nausea. Nausea can occur for any number of reasons or medical conditions. This is why, for many people, nausea can be a really annoying problem; in this sense, CBD stands as a promising natural remedy to help calm it down. CBD is the non-psychoactive compound that occurs most abundantly in cannabis plants. This phytocannabinoid has been causing a stir in the cannabis and scientific community for some years due to the wide range of possible medical benefits it could bring. There are numerous studies, reviews, and surveys on CBD carried out by researchers from different parts of the world that, throughout the last 30 years, have helped expand the knowledge about the potential benefits of CBD. These studies shed light on CBD's possible analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antiseptic, and neuroprotective qualities. Some wonder if CBD can reduce a fever, help reduce seizures associated with epilepsy, or if it can help with nausea, and the good news is, it can. Science continues to unfold the veil of impressive capabilities that this cannabinoid carries, and as studies continue on CBD, there are more and more possible medical applications that this cannabinoid could have.

How Does CBD Weed Help Nausea?

Research investigating CBD's anti-nausea and anti-emetic qualities shows that its effects are mediated by indirect activation of 5-HT1A somatodendritic receptors in the dorsal nucleus. Consequently, activating these autoreceptors reduces the release of 5-HT in the terminal regions of the brain's frontal region. To put it more simply, CBD may help with nausea due to the way it interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. An interesting feature about the anti-nausea effects of CBD is that its mechanism of action is indirect and that its effectiveness can vary depending on the dose of CBD administered and the condition causing nausea.

Research Studies on CBD and Nausea.

It is important to highlight that science still needs more specific studies on the potential beneficial effects and drawbacks of CBD for nausea. Nevertheless, several preliminary studies are showing promising results on CBD's ability to relieve nausea and vomiting. Most of the existing studies on CBD and nausea focus on the potential benefits of this cannabinoid for people with some types of cancer or undergoing chemotherapy. Although research on the benefits of CBD in helping with nausea is in its early stages, there is data to suggest that CBD and other cannabinoids have promising potential to function as cannabinoid-based antiemetic therapy. Data from 2010 studies confirm the potential anti-nausea effects of CBD and demonstrate that it works through a non-cannabinoid mechanism of action. At the same time, this study suggests that CBD's anti-nausea effects could increase when mixed with THC. More recent studies published in 2022 on the effects of the most common cannabis products on nausea suggest that most patients who choose cannabis as a complementary treatment tend to experience relief shortly after use. However, these same studies show that the level of antiemetic effects of CBD can vary depending on the characteristics of the cannabis products used. As we already mentioned, most of these studies are inconclusive, and we need more specific studies before making any kind of claim regarding the use of CBD as a complementary treatment to reduce nausea. Although the results so far are conclusive, much of the data obtained comes from studies in animal models, and science still needs large-scale investigations carried out in humans to reach a consensus. Therefore, if you think CBD could help you control your nausea, it is best to make the case and your desire to try CBD with your healthcare provider to determine if it is the best option.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Treating Nausea With CBD Weed?

The enormous openness and popularization of CBD-rich cannabis have continued to grow exponentially since the signing of the Farm Bill of 2018. But the popularity of this plant is not only due to its change in legal status but also to the enormous list of potential benefits of smoking hemp flower. These same benefits and the high demand for cannabis products that currently exist led to new hemp-derived cannabinoids such as Delta-8, Delta-10, and HHC appearing on the market. If we talk specifically about nausea, we will find that many people doubt whether cannabinoids like CBD or Delta-8 help with nausea. The good news is that both cannabinoids carry great potential benefits in helping with nausea, but several factors can influence their effectiveness. Like everything in life, using CBD weed to treat nausea can have its pros and cons depending on the point of view from which you look at it. If we take a closer look at the pros and cons of using CBD weed to treat nausea, we find the following.

Pros of CBD Weed For Nausea.

CBD is potentially safe: One of the most significant benefits of using CBD weed to treat nausea is that, compared to prescription drugs, CBD has very few side effects and is non-dependent. The few adverse effects that CBD could generate have a link to the use of excessive doses or use of low-quality or expired products. In this case, the negative effects are due to ingesting expired ingredients or harmful components that products of dubious origin may contain. CBD is multi-purpose: CBD's anti-nausea effects are one of the many potential benefits this cannabinoid brings. But CBD weed could help with many different medical conditions, especially those related to inflammation or chronic pain. CBD shows enormous potential as a complementary compound in treating some symptoms of various types of cancer and relieves nausea caused by chemotherapy.

Cons of CBD Weed For Nausea.

Difficulty to take: one of the disadvantages of CBD is that many of the products containing it are edibles or oils that require oral intake to enjoy its possible benefits. For some patients with very pronounced nausea, taking medications or food by mouth can be difficult. However, there are many ways to take CBD, and you just have to find the method of consumption that works best for you based on your specific condition or needs. Appetite regulator: CBD could be a possible appetite suppressant in some people. Nausea itself can also limit appetite. Fortunately, the other organic compounds in cannabis can also influence appetite. So you can balance the appetite-suppressing effects of CBD by choosing a CBD strain from the best appetite-boosting strains like Strawberry Banana Kush, Blueberry Kush, or Orange Glaze CBD. This way, you would obtain the potential benefits of CBD without negatively affecting your appetite.

Can CBD Weed Also Cause Nausea?

No, CBD by itself cannot make you nauseous. Frequent and long-term use of THC-rich cannabis carries the risk of developing Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or CHS. This condition causes frequent and severe nausea and vomiting, especially in frequent users with a history of use since adolescence. But, CBD cannot cause this syndrome as it is an entirely different organic compound than THC. While mixing THC with alcohol could make your experience unpleasant or even dangerous, mixing CBD and alcohol could be the total opposite and even enhance the alcohol experience. This is because CBD may protect the body from some of the adverse effects of alcohol, including nausea.

Can You Take CBD While Pregnant For Nausea?

No, taking CBD during pregnancy is strongly contraindicated by the FDA. The FDA believes that using any cannabis products, including CBD products, could pose severe risks to the fetus or nursing infant. This is mainly because specific studies on the risks of CBD use during pregnancy are lacking. The only specific study on the use of CBD during pregnancy so far is an animal study published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics. This study found that CBD use during pregnancy could potentially affect mood and cognition in offspring long after CBD exposure had ceased. Therefore, if you are a CBD user and you are pregnant or suspect you are, it is best to discontinue and consult your doctor.

Final Thoughts: Does CBD Weed Help With Nausea?

Without a doubt, CBD seems to carry enormous anti-emetic and anti-nausea potential. But while the findings so far are promising, we need more specific studies on the potential anti-nausea effects of CBD in humans that will also help us further define what factors might influence the antiemetic effectiveness of this cannabinoid. It is still too early to make any kind of acclaim, and we certainly cannot point to CBD as a substitute for any anti-emetic medication. Nonetheless, anecdotal reports from many users seem to encourage others to try CBD for nausea due to its apparent effectiveness. In any case, it is best to consult with your health provider before starting to take CBD as part of your nausea therapy.

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