Cannabidiol (CBD) has great potential for many therapeutic and medical treatments, ranging from the treatment of epilepsy and anxiety to providing headache relief, pain relief, and more. One key area of potential for CBD oil treatment is nausea. While nausea isn’t an especially dangerous condition on its own, it can be tremendously uncomfortable, ranging from a simple annoyance to a truly debilitating condition. And though research into CBD’s ability to curb nausea is in its early stages, the initial results are promising.
Best CBD Oil for Nausea
- PCR Tinctures
- Advanced Emulsion Tinctures
- CBD Soft Gels
- CBD Gummies
- CBD Mints
The cannabis plant contains many chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, including CBD, one of the most commonly known. Another widely known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the chemical compound responsible for the psychoactive effects often associated with marijuana use. In recent years, CBD oil has gained wide attention for its potential to serve as a remedy for a variety of health issues, including insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy, chronic pain, and more.
Nausea can be caused by hundreds of different things, and how effective CBD is at alleviating symptoms may depend on the nausea’s root cause. Sometimes the brain activates our urge to vomit in order to rid the digestive tract of toxic compounds, like drugs or alcohol, infectious agents, like bacteria or viral infections, or from abnormal neurological activity, such as the case of migraines or brain tumors. For many patients who suffer from nausea or vomiting, especially the anticipatory nausea often associated with chemotherapy treatments, CBD has shown early positive results.
Is CBD Good for Nausea?
Much of the research around CBD’s treatment of nausea centers on cancer patients who suffer from nausea and vomiting as a side effect of their chemotherapy treatment. Many patients report a decrease in nausea symptoms when treated with CBD. In addition, some animal studies have indicated that CBD’s interaction with the serotonin receptors of the endocannabinoid system may explain its role in reducing nausea and vomiting.
The endocannabinoid system consists of a series of cannabinoid receptors and hormone-like compounds that control balance throughout the body. One of the primary responsibilities of the endocannabinoid system is to regulate the region of the medulla oblongata that controls reflexes known to trigger nausea and vomiting. Stimulating this part of the endocannabinoid system can lessen the effects of nausea.
Additionally, some research has suggested that using CBD oil products to treat nausea may increase the body’s production of anandamide, a key cannabinoid that can reduce feelings of nausea and suppress the urge to vomit; acting as an anti-emetic. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two synthetic CBD-related pharmaceuticals for the treatment of nausea: Nabilone and Dronabinol.
CBD is of interest to many researchers because of its potential to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Severe nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy treatment. In fact, more than 80 percent of cancer patients suffer from chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. For some patients, the symptoms are so acute, they cause the patient to stop their cancer treatment. CBD oil could be a game-changer when it comes to protecting patients from chronic nausea and vomiting so that they feel comfortable seeing their treatment through.
Early research seems to show that CBD is most effective when combined with trace amounts of THC, which only are found in broad spectrum CBD products. By law, broad spectrum CBD can contain up to .3 percent concentrations of THC, still well below the threshold for having any psychoactive effects. In addition, CBD products show very limited side effects and are considered safe to incorporate into a therapeutic plan.
In addition to alleviating nausea, CBD oil may have a positive effect on appetite in some patients—which ensures that those dealing with chronic nausea as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment feel well enough to eat and maintain proper nutrition levels during their treatment.
How to Buy CBD for Nausea
When choosing a CBD product, please remember that these types of products are not currently regulated by the FDA, so you’ll find a wide range of quality and responsibility among companies that manufacture and sell CBD products.
When shopping for a CBD product for nausea, you’ll want to make sure that the manufacturer is willing to provide proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab, along with disclosing the CBD source. The manufacturer should also provide you with a certificate of analysis showing that the product contains no more than 0.3 percent THC. This is always important, but when it comes to nausea specifically, sometimes poor manufacturing processes use rancid oils and harmful additives that can exacerbate, rather than helping, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Take for Nausea?
It’s easy to wonder, “how much CBD oil should I take?” As with most health conditions when using CBD to treat, the best approach is to start with the lowest possible dose, and increase it gradually until you find the dosage with the best therapeutic effect for you. Ultimately, the best dosage will depend on the intensity of your nausea and your body’s reaction to cannabis—for mild nausea, a lower dose may offer effective relief, while intense nausea and vomiting may require a larger dose to provide symptom relief.
Your dosage also will depend on the type of CBD product you’re using and its concentration of CBD. As always, you should read the recommended dosage on the product you’ve chosen, along with conferring with your doctor or pharmacist on the best way to start adding CBD into your therapeutic regimen. The good news is that cannabis generally is considered safe, so you should experience little to no side effects as you gradually increase your dosage.
How to Take CBD Oil for Nausea
If you’re wondering how to take CBD oil, it’s fairly simple. With a CBD oil tincture, you can start with one or two drops under the tongue and increase if needed. With a soft gel or capsule, start with one and increase as necessary according to package directions. Make sure to swallow them whole just like you would any other capsule or soft gel. Use same approach for gummies, mints or other edibles—follow the package directions and work with your doctor on the dosage that’s right for you.
Most people report no side effects when using CBD, even in large doses, but it’s always a good idea to find the lowest therapeutic dose of any medication. Keep in mind, though, that CBD can interact and/or reduce the effectiveness of other medications, which is why it’s imperative to talk with your physician or pharmacist before adding cannabis to any pharmaceuticals you’re already taking.
How Fast Does CBD Oil Work for Nausea?
The time it takes for CBD oil to alleviate nausea or vomiting depends on a few different factors, including the delivery format, the size of the dose, and your body’s particular physiology. For the most part, CBD is delivered orally for nausea, and it’s metabolized by the body fairly quickly.
For example, tinctures typically take somewhere between 15 minutes and an hour to take effect, and they may last for up to six hours. With gummies, you can expect to wait about 30 minutes for the CBD oil to enter your bloodstream and provide relief, so they may not be the best option if you’re experiencing intense nausea and need immediate relief. For many people who want the fastest possible nausea relief, tinctures may be the best option.
Best CBD for Nausea Products
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best CBD products offered by Farmer & Chemist to alleviate nausea and vomiting:
1. PCR Tinctures
Phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) tinctures are a good option if your nausea makes it hard to keep food down. With a tincture, you simply place a few drops under your tongue and wait for it to be absorbed, so you’re unlikely to trigger a gag reflex if your nausea is intense. This actually is one of the most common ways that people take cannabis products.
Capillary blood vessels inside your mouth absorb CBD oil fairly efficiently without it having to travel through the digestive system while you are feeling nauseous. PCR tinctures may vary in potency and strength, so make sure to carefully read the product label before using. Farmer & Chemist PCR tinctures are available with an added mint or orange flavor, which may be more palatable when you’re nauseous. We also offer a PCR tincture with no added flavorings.
2. Advanced Emulsion Tinctures
Much like PCR tinctures, advanced emulsion tinctures can be placed directly under the tongue for quick absorption. Or if you’d prefer, these tinctures also are water-soluble, so they can be added to food or drink. Just remember that if you go this route, your tincture may take a bit longer to provide relief since it must travel through your digestive system rather than going directly into your bloodstream, as with an under-the-tongue treatment.
Farmer and Chemist’s advanced emulsion tinctures come in grape, natural and cara-melt flavors.
3. CBD Soft Gels
CBD soft gels or capsules are a good option if you don’t like the taste of tinctures or oils. CBD soft gels are easy to swallow and generally well tolerated, even with intense nausea.
Farmer and Chemist has several soft gel options available, all filled with top-of-the-line CBD oil – they are safe and easy ways to get steady relief from nausea.
4. CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are another popular way for people to consume CBD products. If this is your preferred method, just remember that when you eat a CBD gummy, the CBD will need to pass through your digestive system before you feel its effects. It may take more time before the CBD travels through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream, but the benefit is that the effects of CBD gummies typically last a long time.
Some physicians recommend using CBD gummies preventatively, especially if you’re going into a situation like a chemotherapy treatment that has been known to cause nausea.
One gummy is typically a serving size, but, as always, make sure to check the product packaging and directions for guidance on how the product should be used. Gummies are a portable, easy way to make sure you have nausea relief close at hand.
5. CBD Mints
Peppermint often helps alleviate feelings of nausea, and when combined with CBD, mints can be a safe and portable way to carry nausea relief wherever you go. Farmer and Chemist offers Mint Condition dissolving 10 milligram CBD mints that can be an effective part of your nausea prevention and treatment plan.
CBD is Promising for Patients Experiencing Nausea
For those who battle chronic or even occasional nausea, relief can be hard to come by. And while nausea in and of itself isn’t a dangerous medical condition, it certainly can feel terrible, and may be a sign or side effect of a more serious condition.
While more research into the effects of CBD is needed, many experts remain optimistic that cannabis cis a safe, fast, and effective way for many people to manage nausea. If you think this approach might be right for you, our team of knowledgeable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians would be glad to talk through any questions and help you identify your best options. Reach out to us today!