When you smoke cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) quickly enters your bloodstream. You’ll feel its effects within 1-2 minutes, and they peak after 30 minutes to an hour.
The endocannabinoid system, a complex network of molecules and receptors, plays an important role in regulating emotions, appetite, pain, and stress. It also communicates with the brain, gut, and immune system.
Increased appetite
One of the most common side effects of using cannabis is an increased appetite. It can be especially helpful for people who have lost their appetite due to illness or treatment.
The body has a chemical system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps control many functions, including feeding and appetite. When THC binds to its CB1 receptors, it stimulates the ECS to increase your levels of certain hormones that regulate hunger.
These hormones include ghrelin, which stimulates your appetite and tells your brain that you’re hungry. It also signals your body to release fats. This is why you may find yourself craving foods that are high in sugar and salt.
Scientists have also found that THC stimulates the hypothalamus, the part of your brain responsible for controlling your appetite. This is where your satiety level is partly modulated through special neurons (called POMC neurons).
When you activate these cells, your eCBs decrease and leptin increases. This is why you feel hungry when you eat, and you want to eat a lot of food afterward.
Researchers have also shown that THC can stimulate a group of neurons in your nucleus accumbens, a low-brain area, to release dopamine — a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good. That’s why when you eat a high-fat meal while stoned, it tastes better and feels more rewarding than usual.
The appetite-stimulating effect of THC can be countered by other compounds in the cannabis plant, such as CBD and THCV. THCV has been known as “diet weed” because it suppresses your appetite, so if you’re looking for a way to curb your hunger without getting the munchies, opt for strains with higher levels of THCV.
But it’s important to note that the effect of THC is very variable, so it may not always be as noticeable as you might think. It’s important to consume cannabis in moderation and in the correct dose, as too much can be overwhelming and make you feel drowsy. It’s also important to drink plenty of water, as staying hydrated will help keep your appetite in check.
Reduced nausea and vomiting
If you’re looking to relieve your nausea and vomiting, then cannabis may be able to help. This is because it affects the brain-gut axis.
The human body has an endogenous cannabinoid system, also known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is composed of cannabinoid receptors and fatty lipids that engage these receptors. The cannabinoid receptors are found in the brain, but also in the peripheral organs and the gastrointestinal tract.
In the brain, cannabinoids interact with a variety of different neurotransmitters that are responsible for memory, thinking, concentration, movement, sensory and time perception, and pleasure. They can change a person’s mood and make them feel more relaxed and happy.
Some people find that cannabis can reduce their symptoms of nausea and vomiting, especially if they are undergoing chemotherapy. This is because the chemicals used in chemotherapy can interfere with your body’s natural ability to regulate the endocannabinoid systems.
There are many ways that you can use cannabis to help relieve your symptoms of nausea and vomiting, including edibles, tinctures, and capsules. These products are safe, easy to take, and effective at controlling your symptoms. They can provide relief ranging from a few hours to a few days.
Another way that cannabis can help with nausea is by stimulating the appetite. This can be particularly helpful if you are undergoing chemotherapy and experiencing CINV.
This is because chemotherapy can cause a condition called cachexia, which causes severe weight loss. Studies have shown that using dronabinol, which is a compound in marijuana, can help treat this condition by increasing the amount of calories that your body can absorb.
Dronabinol has been proven to reduce the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, which makes it an important option for patients. However, patients should not take dronabinol without medical supervision, as it can cause serious side effects.
Besides reducing your symptoms of nausea and vomiting, cannabis can help with other related problems, such as headaches, anxiety, and pain. This is because the cannabinoids in cannabis act to relax the body’s muscles, which can prevent spasms that can cause pain and discomfort.
Reduced inflammation
The brain-gut axis is a complex communication system that helps regulate gastrointestinal health, mood, emotions, pain, appetite, and responses to stress. It works through receptors in the brain, organs, glands, immune cells, and the gut. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the body’s main systems that regulates these functions. It’s made up of cannabinoids and enzymes that are naturally occurring in the body.
Cannabis affects the brain-gut axis in several ways, including by reducing inflammation. This is why people with inflammatory bowel disease who use medical cannabis to treat their symptoms often experience improvements in their quality of life and a decrease in the need for other medications.
It also strengthens the gut’s barrier to infection. This is important because it prevents the spread of harmful bacteria and toxins that can make you sick. It can even promote a healthy microbiome, which is the community of living organisms that lives in your gut.
Researchers believe that the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiota interact to influence the brain’s chemistry, physiology, and behavior. This may lead to reduced inflammation, as well as improved sleep and overall health.
This effect is particularly strong in those who are susceptible to the effects of inflammation, such as children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease. For example, research shows that the endocannabinoid receptor D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help reduce inflammation in the brain and gut.
Taking CBD, which is the most common type of cannabinoid found in cannabis, may also reduce inflammation. This is likely because CBD increases the activity of the endocannabinoid synthesis gene and other related genes. It also boosts levels of certain short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which can lower inflammation and support your immune system.
A 2018 study from the University of Arizona School of Medicine showed that CBD reduces inflammation in mice with the same types of inflammatory bowel diseases that are caused by leaky gut. It also increases the growth of bacteria that can help reduce inflammation.
In addition, CBD has been shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. However, it’s not safe for everyone to use because it can cause serious side effects such as anxiety, panic, and paranoia. You should always speak with your doctor before using marijuana to make sure it’s safe for you.
Improved sleep
The brain-gut axis is a complex network of pathways that links the gut and the brain. It has been linked to a number of disorders, including addiction, depression, and anxiety.
The effects of cannabis on the brain-gut axis depend on how you take it and how often you use it. Some people feel relaxed and euphoric, while others feel restless or anxious.
Using cannabis regularly can help you get better sleep. A study published in a 2021 issue of Sleep found that people who used a nightly sublingual cannabinoid extract for two weeks fell asleep more quickly and experienced a longer total sleep time.
This improvement is thought to be due to the endocannabinoid system, which produces the calming effect that you may experience when you smoke cannabis. It’s also thought that the plant compounds found in cannabis (such as cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) reduce inflammation in your body, which helps you fall asleep more easily and stay asleep throughout the night.
There are 120 active ingredients, or cannabinoids, in cannabis. The most common are cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which produce a range of euphoric or psychoactive effects.
While the effects of these compounds vary from person to person, there is a growing body of research that suggests they can help treat conditions like anxiety and insomnia. A number of different cannabinoids are able to improve sleep quality, but it’s important to know which ones are safe for you to use and what kind of effects they have.
The gut-brain axis is a complicated network of pathways that links the gut and the nervous system. Its influence on drug-taking behavior is thought to be mediated by neurotransmitters that trigger or inhibit the release of hormones in the brain, and by microbial metabolites that act to modify the behavior of neuronal cells in the gut (Cryan and Dinan 2012).
The gut-brain axis is an essential component of human health, but it can be altered in several ways by drug abuse. One of the most common is through increased inflammation and degradation of the gut lining, which affects the microbiome and can cause drug withdrawal symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation. Another way drugs interact with the gut-brain axis is through altered immune function. This is a mechanism that has been demonstrated for cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants such as ADHD medications.
