Introduction: Weed Strains for Nausea
We’re all familiar with the queasy, uneasiness that characterizes nausea. It feels like you’re going to throw up. Sometimes nausea is accompanied by other symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, a rise in temperature, and increased heart rate.
One of the fastest and highly effective ways to combat the symptom of nausea is to use cannabis. In this post, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the use of cannabis for nausea and highlight some of the best marijuana strains for nausea.
There are several possible causes of nausea including infections, digestive issues, anxiety or panic attacks, hormonal issues, and so much more.
Although in most cases, nausea is temporary and nothing to worry about, some people experience recurring nausea that can affect their quality of life. Whatever the case, no one enjoys feeling nauseous and we want to get rid of the symptoms as quickly as possible.
It can be difficult to treat nausea. Most of the time, we’re forced to just sit with the unpleasant feeling till it goes away. With that said, there are many ways to combat nausea, but most of the solutions available are preventive rather than corrective.
And when you try the popular ways of dealing with nausea like getting fresh air, using a cold compress, taking deep breaths, and drinking tea, it often takes some time before you’ll start to feel the effects.
Many people associate cannabis with ‘getting high’, so it may seem counterintuitive to turn to this plant to treat nausea. But cannabis has been used to treat the symptoms of nausea for millennia.
In recent years, the use of cannabis for nausea has become increasingly popular among people dealing with chemotherapy-induced nausea. The main advantage of using cannabis for nausea is that you start to feel relief within a few minutes.
Best Strains for Nausea
There are scores of cannabis strains that are good for mitigating the symptoms of nausea. However, these are some of the best cannabis strains for nausea.
1. Durban Poison
Durban Poison has a THC level of around 21% to 26% and a CBD level of around 1%. This strain has a sweet, earthy, and herbal aroma with hints of citrus, anise, and pine flavor.
Durban Poison produces a head high. It has an energizing and mentally uplifting effect. This is a good strain to use when you want to do something creative, attend a social event or explore nature.
Durban Poison is one of the top strains recommended for nausea. It is also good for other conditions like chronic pain, depression, lack of appetite, stress, and anxiety.
2. Sour Diesel
Sour Diesel (also known as Sour D and Sour Deez) is a prolific Sativa-dominant hybrid strain that is known for its strong aroma and powerful effect.
It is a cross between Chemdawg and Super Skunk. This strain originated in New York in the 90s.
Sour Diesel has a THC level of around 19% to 26% and a CBD level of around 1%. It has a sour skunky aroma with prominent diesel and citrus notes.
The effect of Sour Diesel is what you’d expect from a typical Sativa strain.
It produces a strong head high, and the effect tends to kick in quickly and last for a long time. It has a euphoric and mentally energizing effect.
Sour Diesel is recommended for many conditions including depression, stress, loss of appetite, migraine, mood disorder, chronic pain, fatigue, and more. It is also one of the top strains for combating nausea.
3. Blueberry Diesel
Blueberry Diesel is an Indica-dominant hybrid strain that was created by crossing Blueberry and Sour Diesel. It has a unique blueberry-like aroma with diesel notes.
Blueberry Diesel has a THC level of around 15% to 20% and a CBD level of just around 1%.
This is a very unique strain. Although it is predominantly an Indica-dominant hybrid, it tends to produce the type of effect you’d expect from a 50/50 Sativa/ Indica strain.
Blueberry Diesel has a calming and energizing effect. It also tends to make users feel euphoric. This is a good daytime strain.
It is excellent for combating nausea and many other conditions like depression, chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue, stress, migraines, and loss of appetite.
4. Blue Dream
Blue Dream is a popular Sativa-dominant hybrid strain that can be found just about everywhere in the world. It is a cross between Blueberry and Haze.
Blue Dream has a THC level of around 17% to 27% and a CBD level of around 2%. This strain has a lovely sweet, blueberry flavor.
Blue Dream produces a head and body high. It will have you feeling mentally energized and a relaxing feeling will wash all over your body.
s a result, it is a good strain to use when you want to stay focused but you’re stressed.
The energetic feeling tends to fade into a calm feeling after some time. Blue Dream is one of the best strains for managing the symptoms of nausea.
It is also recommended for anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, fatigue, and chronic pain.
5. Northern Lights
Northern Lights (also known as NL) is an Indica dominant hybrid strain that is highly rated among cannabis connoisseurs.
It is a cross between Afghani and Thai Indica strains.
Northern Lights has a THC level of around 16% to 30% and a CBD level of less than 1%. It has a sweet earthy flavor with hints of pine and citrus.
Northern Lights is not a typical Indica strain. While it does make you feel deeply relaxed, it also has a euphoric and mentally stimulating effect.
Northern Lights is widely used in the world of medical marijuana. It is recommended for nausea and many other conditions including seizures, lack of appetite, chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, and stress.
Cannabis and Nausea: How it Works
If you have done any reading on the relationship between cannabis and nausea, then you may have come across some paradoxical results.
While cannabis has been shown to provide almost immediate relief from symptoms of nausea, in some cases of repeated, excessive use, it has been found to induce a condition known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).
There have not been a lot of studies to uncover the reason for this paradox, but this is what we know so far.
When we use cannabis, the cannabinoids in the plant interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to bring about the effects.
A study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology revealed that cannabinoids bind with CB1 receptors in the body to suppress the symptoms of nausea.
Although this study was conducted on rats, it potentially explains how cannabis works in the human body to combat nausea.
In another study conducted by the University of Mexico involving about 2200 participants, it was discovered that cannabis successfully reduced the symptoms of nausea in only 5 minutes, and the relief became more significant over time.
While cannabis can help to suppress the symptoms of nausea, preliminary findings from multiple experts indicate that excessive use of the plant can lead to CHS, which is characterized by repeated and severe vomiting.
The exact relationship between cannabis and CHS is unclear. In most cases, patients also had an underlying medical condition that may have contributed to the effects. With that said, CHS is extremely rare.
The consensus among medical experts is that although cannabis is effective for dealing with nausea and related symptoms, further research is necessary to improve our understanding of how it works and also shed more light on CHS.
CBD Helps With Nausea, But THC is Also Equally Good
Most people who use cannabis for medical purposes prioritize cannabidiol (CBD) as being more beneficial than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). And although CBD is known for reducing the symptoms of nausea, THC is equally good if not better.
In the study conducted by researchers from the University of Mexico, researchers found that THC performed much better than CBD to provide relief for symptoms of nausea.
Jacob Vigil, associate professor at the University of Mexico Psychology Department and co-author of the study, elaborated on their findings.
“Perhaps our most surprising result was that THC, typically associated with recreational use, seemed to improve treatment among consumers of Cannabis flower, while our CBD, more commonly associated with medical use, actually seemed to be associated with less symptom relief,” he said.
Since THC is also highly effective for combating nausea, experts recommend full-spectrum cannabis products for people with nausea.
Another thing worth noting is that going for strains with very high levels of THC may not necessarily be the best way to get the full benefits of cannabis when dealing with nausea. Instead, products with moderate levels of THC and also a reasonable amount of CBD may produce the best results.
As indicated above, there is so much to learn about using cannabis for nausea. It is advisable to experiment with different strains and find out what works best for you.
Also, it is recommended that you consult a medical expert before you use cannabis especially if you have recurring nausea.
Is Sativa or Indica Better for Nausea?
There is no consensus on whether Sativa or Indica strains work best for managing nausea and associated symptoms. You’ll get varying answers depending on who you ask.
Vigil and the other authors of the study found that Sativa and hybrid strains worked better than Indica strains for people dealing with nausea.
It is unclear why Sativa strains worked best, possibly because they have a relatively higher level of CBD. Sativa strains have an energizing effect compared to Indica strains which can make users feel sedated.
Some other experts recommend Indica strains over Sativa for nausea. They argue that the mental stimulation that Sativa strains produce is not always conducive to combating nausea.
Ultimately, it comes down to how each individual reacts to particular cannabis strains. Apart from CBD and THC, the terpenes in particular strains can also determine how individuals respond to them.
Strains that have citrus notes as well as strains that have diesel notes are known to be great at providing relief from nausea.
Best Marijuana for Nausea: Can Ingestion Method Influence the Effect?
There are numerous cannabis products available today including flowers, edibles, tincture oils, topicals, and so much more.
It may seem that all products work the same to provide relief from nausea, but that is not necessarily the case.
Vigil and his co-authors found that flowers and concentrates were generally more effective than edibles and tinctures. What’s more, when flowers and concentrates were used in joints, they appeared to work better than when they were used in pipes and vaporizers.
Smoking or vaping cannabis flowers and concentrates is the fastest way to get the cannabinoids into your system.
It is also worth noting that the effects are more short-lived compared to when cannabis is consumed as edibles. The use of cannabis edibles is more associated with an intense experience.
All indications point to the fact that smoking or vaping cannabis flowers and concentrates may be the ideal way to use the plant for people dealing with nausea.
Besides, the last thing you’ll want to do if you’re feeling nauseous is to eat or drink something.
Medical Marijuana for Nausea: Safety Risks
Cannabis is generally safe to use for different conditions including nausea. However, there are some safety risks to keep in mind. Some people may experience anxiety, paranoia, and lightheadedness when they use cannabis.
But these effects tend to be rare, and only particular individuals – especially those with a low tolerance level for the plant – experience this.
It is generally advisable to consult a medical expert as well as a cannabis expert to guide you on the best strains to use.
Also, use the plant sparingly if you don’t have a lot of experience with it. This will prevent you from getting an intense, and possibly unpleasant experience.
Conclusion
Apart from the strains we’ve highlighted above, many other strains are equally good for combating nausea. They include Lavender, White Fire OG, OG Kush, Jack Here, Silver Haze, Lemon Haze, Chocolope, and Headband to name a few.
Cannabis has been proven to be effective for dealing with nausea. But it is important to use the plant cautiously, and preferably with the guidance of an expert especially since each person’s reaction to cannabis may be different.
There is a lot to learn about how cannabis works in the body to suppress the symptoms of nausea, and as experts uncover this, we’ll be able to gain more insight into how to use this plant more effectively and what makes particular cannabis strains more effective for nausea.
While we recommend the use of cannabis for managing nausea, we must also emphasize the importance of investigating the root cause of the symptoms.
