Does Marijuana Work for Nausea?

Ozark MMJ Cards in Medical Marijuana October 5, 2023

We all know what it’s like to have an upset stomach. What’s hard to imagine is feeling this severe nausea all the time.

Whether caused by an underlying condition or a new medication, nausea can make life unbearably difficult. Fortunately, there is an all-natural solution for it: medical marijuana!

Many are turning to marijuana for suppressing nausea, but can this promising plant help? Is marijuana good for nausea?

These are some of the questions we will answer below as we take a closer look at the antiemetic effects of medical cannabis.

Understanding Severe Nausea

Most of us associate severe nausea with food poisoning or pregnancy. However, there can be other reasons behind this annoying problem.

Nausea can be the side effect of a health condition or a response to harsh medications like those used in chemotherapy and HIV management.

No matter what causes severe nausea, it can interfere with your life by making you feel constantly sick and unable to hold down food.

These are the reasons why many patients have started using marijuana for nausea, in hopes that this natural supplement will help them feel better. Now, studies are confirming these hopes!

Is Marijuana Good for Nausea?

Numerous studies are showing the efficacy of marijuana for neuropathy, stress, and sleep. Fewer studies have focused on the antiemetic benefits of marijuana. However, the existing ones strongly support its use for stopping and preventing nausea.

Since 1975, studies have shown that different cannabinoids, such as THC, can have antiemetic effects. Newer research suggests that even non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD can be effective against nausea.

Scientists have examined the effects of other antiemetics combined with marijuana for nausea. Their findings reveal that combining the two can significantly enhance the effects of both.

So, it seems like marijuana is good for nausea, but how does it work inside the body?

How Does Marijuana Help With Nausea?

Marijuana works by affecting your body’s endocannabinoid system. This system is composed of cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids that are responsible for regulating various functions, such as food intake and nausea.

Research shows that when levels of certain endocannabinoids increase, you get nauseated. By regulating these endocannabinoids, you can suppress the feeling of nausea.

When you use marijuana for nausea, you supply your body with more cannabinoids. These compounds can then help regulate your endocannabinoid system and suppress nausea.

Benefits of Medical Cannabis for Nausea-Related Symptoms

Another way marijuana can help reduce the feeling of nausea is by easing its related symptoms, such as:

Pain: It’s not unusual to feel abdominal pain and discomfort while feeling sick. Marijuana has extraordinary pain-relieving properties that can help you with this issue.

Reduced Appetite: Vomiting won’t let you hold food down or have the appetite to eat anything. Fortunately, marijuana can have quite the opposite effect. Ever heard of the munchies?

Fatigue: Being constantly sick takes a toll on the mind and body. A little cannabis will go a long way in helping you de-stress and relax.

So, marijuana is not just for nausea. It’s also a natural alternative to synthetic drugs you must take to treat its related symptoms.

Which Types of Nausea Is Marijuana Good for?

Marijuana can be effective against various types of nausea with different underlying causes. Here are four types of sickness that can benefit from medical marijuana.

1. Marijuana and Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea

Marijuana can help cancer patients by suppressing chemotherapy-induced nausea. Chemotherapy cocktails include harsh medications. They kill cancer cells while also affecting other parts of the body.

These drugs trigger your body’s defense mechanism. It causes you to reject them by making you feel nauseated. Reviews show that using marijuana for nausea can be an excellent solution for cancer patients.

Marijuana’s cannabinoids have strong antiemetic effects against chemo-induced vomiting. They work even better than some popular synthetic medications like prochlorperazine and chlorpromazine.

2. Marijuana and HIV-Related Nausea

Studies also show that marijuana is good for HIV-related nausea. HIV/AIDS patients are another recipient of harsh medications.

Antiviral drugs like protease inhibitors can suppress the effects of the virus. However, they cause severe nausea and appetite loss.

Studies support the use of marijuana for HIV-related nausea. Patients who used cannabis reported a 3.9% weight increase and less sickness. Marijuana can also help HIV patients deal with other symptoms, including anxiety and depression.

3. Marijuana and Motion Sickness

Cannabis may also help relieve acute motion sickness. People experience motion sickness when traveling in a car, boat, or plane for a long time. This sickness can ruin the whole trip.

Synthetic medications like Dramamine and Scopolamine are available for motion sickness. However, these drugs can have side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness.

Researchers have shown that motion sickness causes a drop in certain endocannabinoids throughout the body. Supplying the body with marijuana’s cannabinoids can be an effective strategy in battling motion sickness.

4. Marijuana and Food Poisoning Nausea

Marijuana is also good for nausea from food poisoning. As evidence shows, marijuana can help manage various gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.

New studies suggest that marijuana can calm an upset stomach and reduce vomiting. Additionally, it can stimulate appetite, which benefits those experiencing appetite loss due to food poisoning.

Side Effects of Medical Marijuana for Nausea

Cannabis is well-tolerated by most people. However, some may experience rare side effects after using it.

Some of these temporary side effects include:

Red eyes
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Lightheadedness
Increased appetite
Impaired coordination
Short-term memory loss

Note that some of these side effects, like increased appetite, are something patients with severe nausea seek.

Compared to synthetic medications, marijuana’s rare side effects are less severe and manageable. If you’re concerned about these side effects, talk to a medical marijuana doctor beforehand.

The Right Way To Use Marijuana for Nausea

While marijuana is good for nausea, you must use the ideal form of it to reap the most benefits. There are different types of cannabis products, each with advantages and disadvantages.

Here are the best cannabis consumption methods for suppressing nausea.

Inhalation

Inhaling marijuana is one of the quickest ways to suppress nausea. This method is perfect for when you suddenly feel nauseated. You can inhale marijuana with a vape or a marijuana inhaler.

Sublingual

If you can wait a little, you can take sublingual marijuana for nausea. Cannabis tinctures will be absorbed by the small veins under your tongue and enter your bloodstream, starting to take effect minutes later.

Edible

If your nausea is caused specifically by an upset stomach, you can target it directly with edibles. It might take up to an hour for edibles to do their magic, but the antiemetic effects are well worth the wait.

Finding the best method of consuming marijuana might take a while. You must be patient and consider your symptoms and the cause of your sickness. You can also ask a professional about the ideal method of using marijuana for nausea.

The Best Cannabis Strains for Nausea

Every strain of marijuana is good for nausea. However, some are more effective in suppressing sickness. Understanding different marijuana strains and how they can help you is crucial.

Here are some of the best strains you can use for nausea.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant cross between Blueberry Indica and Super Silver Haze. With 18% THC and 2% CBD, Blue Dream offers a perfect balance of cerebral and soothing effects.

This strain can help combat nausea while delivering an enjoyable experience with delicious citrus and berry flavors.

Durban Poison

Another excellent strain of marijuana for nausea is Durban Poison. This pure sativa cultivar has up to 25% THC, 0.9% CBD, a spicy scent, and some of the best terpenes for stress and anxiety.

With its incredible antiemetic and energizing properties, Durban Poison can help you fight nausea and the fatigue that comes with it.

Jack Herer

The third strain of marijuana that is good for nausea is the sativa-dominant Jack Herer. This lovechild of Shiva Skunk and Northern Lights #5 carries 24% THC and 7% CBD.

You can find relief from nausea with Jack Herer and overcome the feelings of sickness with its soothing pine aromas.

Lavender

The last strain of marijuana for nausea we will introduce you to is the indica-dominant strain, Lavender. Bred from four parent strains, Lavender packs up to 27% THC and 1% CBD.

With floral scents of lavender, this strain can suppress nausea while promoting a sense of tranquility.

Manage Nausea With Ozark MMJ Cards

So, is marijuana good for nausea? Yes! Medical marijuana offers an all-natural solution to suppress nausea and vomiting.

You can start using it today to manage your condition. If you don’t already have a medical marijuana card, we can help!

Ozark MMJ Cards offers fast and affordable marijuana card certification and renewal services in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. With our online appointments, you can get evaluated from home and receive your MMJ card in no time!