Medical Marijuana For Severe Nausea
We have all had occasions when our stomachs did not agree with us. Unfortunately, severe nausea can interfere with people’s ability to enjoy life.
Researchers have learned a lot through years of investigating and assembling data related to the benefits of medical marijuana. Luckily, there is increasing scientific evidence demonstrating the medicinal value of using medical marijuana for nausea.
Now, let’s look at the evidence of medical marijuana’s effectiveness in treating nausea.
What Is Nausea?
Nausea refers to stomach discomfort and a desire to vomit. A nauseated individual may involuntarily vomit the contents of their stomach. This condition has several causes such as:
- Motion
- Diet
- Medications
- Conflicting medical conditions.
Nausea isn’t classified as a disease, and fortunately can often be treated and avoided.
Medications that are used to treat nausea are known as antiemetics.
Is Medical Marijuana Effective For Nausea And Vomiting?
Medical professionals have researched the outcome of medical marijuana for nausea for a span of almost half a century.
One experiment was conducted in 1975, where 44 chemotherapy patients consumed chemotherapeutic drugs recognized for their nauseating effects. Half were given THC and the other half consumed a placebo. Out of those who received THC, a whopping 70% of them experienced antiemetic properties (effective against vomiting and nausea). Meanwhile, those who received the placebo experienced no antiemetic effect.
This experiment concluded that THC overwhelmingly functioned better than the placebo in reducing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapeutic agents.
A more recent study from 2016, revealed that one hour after consuming THC, 96% of the 886 test subjects experienced symptom relief. Within 5 minutes, significant symptom relief was observed, and the relief increased as time progressed.
Results indicated that product characteristics played a role in its effectiveness. THC flower and concentrates yielded the best results compared to other methods, but they were overall similar results.
Sativa and hybrid strains performed greater than Indica strains, and joints were a more helpful consumption method than pipes and vaporizers.
Although results determined that a vast majority of test subjects who used THC products to treat nausea experienced relief within a relatively short period of time, the evidence was inconclusive for long-term symptom relief. More research is necessary.
Further support for the use of medical marijuana comes from Mayo Clinic, who suggests medical marijuana is effective for nausea and vomiting, particularly caused by cancer treatments.
Can You Get Medical Marijuana For Nausea?
Medical marijuana isn’t legal in every state, therefore, it is important to check state guidelines, laws, and regulations. In Colorado, nausea is a symptom of several qualifying conditions and severe nausea is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
