The one thing that many people do not understand is that nausea and vomiting are two different issues. Obviously, they are connected but are treated differently in the medical community. For those who have had to deal with severe nausea, it does not easily go away and is a constant sensation that can disrupt your daily life. It is difficult to control with prescription medications that can have severe side effects. As horrible as nausea and vomiting can be, it is always important to remember that this is a defense that your body has developed to protect itself. Think about a case of food poisoning, if you eat spoiled tuna, your body will let you know the food is bad and you will begin to feel nauseated. This is your body telling you to stop ingesting the tainted food. Your body then expels the food to avoid it being absorbed into your body, potentially causing a severe medical issue. That being said, it does not help in situations like chemotherapy where nausea and vomiting are continuous side effects of cancer treatment [1].
So what exactly is nausea? This is a combination of your brain, digestive system, and nervous system all communicating and making you feel sick. When you feel nauseated, this is your body signaling a revulsion to whatever was eaten before vomiting. But, since nausea is a non-specific symptom associated with multiple causes and medical treatments, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of feeling sick.
The most common pharmaceutical approach to controlling nausea is through serotonin receptors in the brain and GI tract. A popular prescription anti-emetic is Zofran. Zofran works by blocking the nauseating effects of serotonin release [6]. Like all prescription medication, there can be side effects to using Zofran, like constipation or headaches. This is why many patients and doctors are turning to alternative medicine like ginger [7] or cannabis for nausea relief [8]. One study published in 2010 showed that cannabis-based medicine added to standard antiemetic therapy (Zofran) was well tolerated and provided better protection against delayed chemo-induced nausea. Essentially, patients were able to use less Zofran and felt better the 3-5 days after chemotherapy than just Zofran alone [2].
The non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with serotonin release receptors and has been shown to help alleviate nausea and vomiting [3,4]. CBD produces an anti-emetic effect by indirect activation of the somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the brain (in simple terms, the serotonin area of your brain) [3]. CBD has also been shown to ease anxiety which is crucial in a chronic nausea situation where it is easy to micro-focus on the potential act of vomiting and induce a sympathetic response (i.e you think about throwing up…and you throw up) [5].
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is also an anti-nausea cannabinoid [5]. THC binding to Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) induces euphoria and relaxation to reduce vomiting. The uplifting sensation can also help reduce anxiety and stop the micro-focusing response that would induce a vomiting episode [9]. The downside to THC is that it can be very easy to take too much, and the intense psychoactive effects of THC may be too overwhelming for someone not feeling their best [10].
The mindset during chemotherapy, especially leading up to the first infusion, can heighten the nausea and vomiting response. The unknown of how treatment will affect your health is stressful and difficult to predict. Will the patient become constipated? Or suffer from extreme diarrhea? Will the patient develop fatigue or insomnia? Every person is different and will respond differently to similar treatment plans. The fear of the unknown can lead to anticipatory nausea. You do not know what to expect and the nerves can induce a vomiting incident before treatment has begun [1]. For patients with nausea caused by cancer treatments or other medical reasons, cannabis is an option. The endocannabinoid system clearly plays a role in the nausea response. Animal and clinical studies show the direct activation of the endocannabinoid receptor CB1 and indirect cannabinoid activation with 5-HT1A receptors by CBD reduces acute nausea and anticipatory nausea without the psychoactive effects of THC.
Nausea and vomiting are the most well-known and devastating effects of many medical treatments, particularly cancer treatment. It is best to start with a high CBD, low THC option until you become used to the effects of THC. As you begin to feel comfortable with the psychoactive effects, you can increase the dose as needed, and there are many CBD-rich products available. It is effective, well-tolerated, and growing in popularity as a safe anti-nausea option for cancer care.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Nothing said, done, typed, printed or reproduced by Torrey Holistics is intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat or take the place of a licensed physician.
References:
1. Bloechl-Daum B, Deuson RR, Mavros P, Hansen M, Herrstedt J. Delayed nausea and vomiting continue to reduce patients’ quality of life after highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy despite antiemetic treatment. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24: 4472–8.
2. Duran, M., Rabanal, M., Majem, M., Abanades, S., Rams, N., Capellà, D., … Saura, C. (2010). Preliminary efficacy and safety of an oromucosal standardized cannabis extract in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 70(5), 656–663.
3. Parker, L., Mechoulam, R., Cascio, M., Pertwee, R., Limebeer, C., Bolognini, D., … Anavi-Goffer, S. (2011). Cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic component of cannabis, attenuates vomiting and nausea-like behaviour via indirect agonism of 5-HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus. British Journal of Pharmacology, 165(8), 2620–2634.
4. Bolognini, D., Rock, E. M., Cluny, N. L., Cascio, M. G., Limebeer, C. L., Duncan, M., … Pertwee, R. G. (2013). Cannabidiolic acid prevents vomiting in Suncus murinus and nausea-induced behaviour in rats by enhancing 5-HT1Areceptor activation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 168(6), 1456–1470.
5. Rock, E. M., Sticht, M. A., Limebeer, C. L., & Parker, L. A. (2016). Cannabinoid Regulation of Acute and Anticipatory Nausea. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 113–121.
6. Morrow, G. R., Ph, D., Hickok, J. T., Rosenthal, S. N. (1995). Progress in Reducing Nausea and Emesis. Cancer, 76(3), 343–357.
7. Ryan, J. L., Heckler, C. E., Roscoe, J. a, Dakhil, R., Kirshner, J., Flynn, P. J., … Morrow, G. R. (2012). Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy- induced nausea: A URCC CCOP study of 576 patients. Support Care Cancer, 20(7), 1479–1489.
8. Sharkey, K. A., Darmani, N. A., & Parker, L. A. (2014). Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. Eur J Pharmacol., 71(11), 722.
9. Parker, L. A., Rock, E. M., & Limebeer, C. L. (2011). Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids. British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), 1411–1422.
10. Mechoulam, R., & Hanuš, L. (2001). The cannabinoids: An overview. Therapeutic implications in vomiting and nausea after cancer chemotherapy, in appetite promotion, in multiple sclerosis and in neuroprotection. Pain Research and Management, 6(2), 67–73.
