Nausea: can cannabis help?

Nausea, or the urgent need to vomit, is one of the medical conditions treated with cannabis in states or countries where it is authorized. While nausea is not a disease in itself, it can still cause severe dehydration and become particularly troublesome, especially for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Cannabis' effect on nausea is undoubtedly one of its most well-documented applications. the one on pain.

Studies on cannabis and nausea

Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, including to alleviate nausea and vomiting. The first studies to investigate its action against nausea date back to the 1970s, using animal models.

In 1982, the Michigan Department of Public Health conducted a study in 165 patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were given either cannabis or a conventional antiemetic (Torecan in this case), and could switch groups if they wished. 71% of patients who received cannabis reported less vomiting and mild nausea after their chemotherapy.

In 1999, the Washington Institute of Medicine, an NGO founded in 1970 and attached to the National Academy of Sciences, published a detailed report on medical cannabis, reviewing 15 older studies. The report concluded that «the accumulated data indicate a therapeutic potential for cannabis-based treatments, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and stimulation of appetite.

In 2011, the British Journal of Pharmacology a studied cannabinoid regulation of nausea and vomiting. Preclinical research indicates that cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), could be effective in treating nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy or other therapeutic treatments.

These various studies therefore point to the relative effectiveness of cannabis on nausea. They also point out that not everyone reacts favorably, and that not all varieties are equally effective.

Dr. Lester Grinspoon and nausea

Dr. Lester Grinspoon is one of the most fervent advocates of the medical properties of cannabis. He even has a strain named after him, that's saying something 🙂 He has written numerous books on his favorite subject, and on the efficacy of medical cannabis, including Marijuana Reconsidered (1971). And has personally witnessed these effects.

His son Danny was diagnosed with leukemia in 1967, when he was 10. He soon received chemotherapy, which caused him a great deal of nausea. Grinspoon was unaware of the antiemetic properties of cannabis. It was at a dinner party in 1972 that an oncologist friend suggested that Grinspoon use cannabis to calm his son's nausea. Grinspoon was against the idea, as the treatment was illegal.

His wife didn't really hesitate and gave him cannabis during his chemo. While his son was usually very tired from his treatment, on the way home he asked to stop for a sandwich. Grinspoon describes in this video how her son found relief from cannabis.

Which cannabis varieties are used to treat nausea?

When medical cannabis is authorized, here are the varieties of cannabis that can be used to treat nausea. The list is by no means exhaustive, of course, and patients generally seek the advice of their doctor in order to receive the most suitable treatment:

• OG Kush A powerful variety, its energizing effects generally relieve the nausea and depression associated with certain illnesses. The euphoria induced is more cerebral.
• Jack Herer Jack Herer has earned its place as a medical plant with many patients. It was even sold in pharmacies in the Netherlands in the 1990s. A powerful sativa, it stimulates the appetite, and is often used by cancer patients.
• Girl Scout Cookies A cross between Durban Poison and OG Kush, GSC combats stress, pain and nausea with energy. Checking her THC levels may not be in vain, as she sometimes hits hard.
• Sour Diesel its instantly recognizable aromas are what have made it so popular. But medical users appreciate more its stimulating effects, as a good sativa.
• Berry White One of the important characteristics of this variety is that it has few side effects. A mild indica to soothe nausea