Navigating Nausea with Cannabis: Essential Insights

Although not a disease in and of itself, nausea can be a sign of a number of illnesses, including morning sickness, some infections, and adverse reactions to some medications. Researchers have discovered that the body’s endocannabinoid system, a major target of cannabis chemicals, is crucial for controlling nausea.

There are many different causes of nausea, including infections and morning sickness during pregnancy. No matter what the reason, nausea always has the same symptoms: an unpleasant sensation in the stomach that frequently foreshadows impending vomiting. The endocannabinoid system appears to be a promising therapeutic target because, interestingly, a number of cannabis-based medications have been licensed for the treatment of nausea in very specific circumstances. Does marijuana use alleviate nausea? Let’s learn. 

If you frequently experience nausea and seek to explore cannabis as a potential remedy while residing in California, obtaining a medical marijuana card in Stockton is essential. Applying for your MMJ card offers the most convenient route to secure legal access to medical marijuana. 

What Is Nausea?

Nausea. We’ve all had this uneasy, sick feeling occasionally. It doesn’t matter if you overindulged the previous night or had a boat trip in stormy conditions—you’ve definitely experienced the beginnings of nausea in the past. But what is nausea exactly?

Vomiting and nausea are frequently confused; while they are distinct, they have certain similarities. Both are frequently indicators of an infection or other diseases. While nausea is a sense of unease in the stomach, frequently accompanied by the need to vomit, vomiting is an involuntary reaction that causes the stomach’s contents to be expelled through the mouth. However, feeling queasy doesn’t necessarily result in throwing up.

There are numerous factors that can contribute to nausea. Among the most typical are:

• Stress and anxiety
• Morning sickness during pregnancy
• Motion sickness
• Viral infections such as flu
• Migraine
• Gastrointestinal conditions (irritable bowel syndrome)
• Food poisoning
• Hangover/alcohol poisoning

In other situations, such as when we eat food tainted with harmful microorganisms, nausea plays a preventive role. But occasionally it happens even though it doesn’t seem required, like when we’re nervous or on a rough road. So what causes nausea, and why does it happen?

The Underlying Causes of Nausea

We are interesting collections of cells in our body. They have a variety of automatic responses designed to keep us secure. If you accidentally place your hand on a hot surface, your body will quickly take it away before you can even register the discomfort. Your body will automatically sneeze away those bothersome particles when you enter a room that is dusty. 

This group of preventative measures also includes gagging, feeling queasy, and eventually vomiting. But aside from in cases of specific disorders, people rarely struggle with excessive sneezing or muscle contractions. On the other hand, nausea tends to appear at random times even though it too is associated with a variety of illness situations.

Numerous separate brain regions are responsible for sending the signal that causes nausea. For instance, the cerebellum and vestibular detect signals caused by motion that cause feelings of nausea, but the region postrema detects specific vomiting-inducing compounds in the blood. These areas communicate with the nucleus tractus solitarius, which causes an increase in the hormone vasopressin (which causes nausea) and an autonomic nervous system reaction. The vagus nerve allows afferent signals from the GI tract to also reach the nucleus tractus solitarius. These elements cause stomach dysrhythmias, which in turn cause nausea.                                  

Is Cannabis a Potential Trigger for Nausea?

We’re going to look at cases when elements in the plant can cause nausea before we go into the studies on whether or not cannabis may be able to alleviate it. Some scientists are looking into the antiemetic qualities of specific cannabis elements, while others are learning how some of them make humans feel ill.

Cannabis frequent users typically go through a phase of “greening out” at some point. The term “greening out” describes having nausea, vomiting, panic attacks, and anxiety after consuming too much cannabis; it does not, however, refer to an overdose. THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain when it is inhaled, causing a sharp increase in dopamine and the well-known effects of cannabis. However, some people experience nausea and even vomiting after being overstimulated on this website. 

Can Cannabis Help Alleviate Nausea?

Aside from CHS and greening out, can cannabis aid with nausea relief? Although the investigations are still in their early stages and are not yet conclusive, the preliminary findings are encouraging.

It’s important to note that dronabinol and nabilone, two synthetic forms of THC, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting as a form of cannabis antiemetic therapy. Although the precise mechanism of action is still unknown, activation of the CB1 and 5-HT3 receptors is most likely a key factor.

Other cannabis components such THCA and CBDV also exhibit early potential in study on nausea.

Endocannabinoid tone, or the quantity of circulating endocannabinoids in the body, may also be a component in nausea, despite the fact that there are numerous potential causes. For instance, those who were most affected by motion sickness had lower levels of 2-AG in their blood, according to a study that exposed participants to parabolic flight maneuvers to cause motion sickness. The CB1 and CB2 receptors are both targets of this endocannabinoid. THC and caryophyllene, two phytocannabinoids, also target this location.

Additionally, CBD is able to stop the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme from degrading anandamide and, to a lesser extent, 2-AG.

Unraveling the Intricate Connection Between Cannabis and Nausea

Does marijuana use alleviate nausea? Which strain is most effective for nausea? These questions have yet to receive definite responses. However, compared to many other ailments, there is more study on medicinal marijuana and nausea, which has opened the path for cannabis-based medications to be accepted as therapies for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

The use of marijuana for medical reasons is permissible in numerous U.S. states. If you reside in Yonkers and wish to use cannabis for medicinal purposes, having a medical marijuana card is a prerequisite. Acquiring a MMJ card online is a straightforward process, with options to either visit a medical marijuana doctor or apply for it online, offering a more convenient route to obtain it.