While food poisoning is hardly ever severe, it’s incredibly unpleasant, and naturally, you’re looking for some relief. Weed has probably been by your side for various other ailments, so you’re naturally wondering: Does weed help with food poisoning? Here’s what we know.
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Is Weed Good for Food Poisoning?
We weren’t able to find any studies that specifically looked at weed’s ability to alleviate food poisoning. However, we can look at the various symptoms of food poisoning to determine if weed can provide any relief.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common symptoms are:
- Headache
- Weakness
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
Based on these common symptoms, we definitely see how weed may be able to help.
Firstly, weed is known to many as an analgesic (pain reliever). Therefore, technically, getting high could relieve headaches and stomach cramps.
However, some people who use weed say that their headache gets worse.
Weed could also make your stomach pain worse.
Healthline says, “Inhaling or ingesting cannabis activates cannabinoid receptors in the gastrointestinal system. This can cause a variety of effects, including stomach pain and inflammation.”
Well, what about your nausea and vomiting?
Weed could relieve your nausea and vomiting.
According to a 2009 research article, cannabinoids can reduce nausea and vomiting.
“Cannabinoids are used as anti-emetic, especially in chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.”
Weed can also help alleviate diarrhea and fever because they are caused by inflammation.
A 2022 study says, “Cannabis and its compounds were shown to have anti-inflammatory activity.”
At the same time, not everyone will benefit.
Some people report that weed gives them diarrhea because of the CBD content.
Finally, can weed help alleviate weakness?
Well, we weren’t able to find any studies concluding that weed helps with weakness. We know that weed may help with fatigue.
However, Healthline says if you’re already dizzy or weak, weed could worsen it.
Should You Use Weed to Alleviate Food Poisoning?
Since we examined some ways in which weed could alleviate some of the symptoms of food poisoning or potentially make them worse, what should you do?
We decided to analyze some anecdotal evidence to see if cannabis enthusiasts were actually getting relief from their food poisoning symptoms with weed.
One Reddit user said, “Ganja Reduced stomach pains completely. Stops my diarrhea for a couple hours. Idk if it was the weed or being outside in the cold to smoke.”
Another chimed in with, “I get high whenever I’m sick, and it always makes me feel better.”
In another post, another Reddit user said that weed was able to squash the vomiting they were suffering from food poisoning. Other people commented, saying consuming weed helped them too.
At the same time, some cannabis enthusiasts did not get the relief they were hoping for from using weed.
One Reddit user said they tried to use Sour Diesel to alleviate their food poisoning symptoms, but the smoke or the smell of the smoke made them nauseous.
As you can see, weed may not be for everyone, and we have no scientific evidence that it’s an effective treatment for food poisoning.
Alternative Treatments of Food Poisoning
Before we get into these remedies, it’s essential to know that throwing up and rushing to the bathroom isn’t necessarily bad.
The Cleveland Clinic says the unpleasant symptoms of food positioning may be helping you.
“When you eat something toxic, your body reacts to purge the toxins. You may purge through vomiting, diarrhea, fever or all of these. The uncomfortable symptoms of food poisoning are your body’s way of working to return to health. It usually works in a day or two.”
So, even though you feel terrible, you’ll probably feel better in a couple of days.
To provide some relief and help your recovery, keep hydrated.
Even though keeping hydrated may be tricky if you’re constantly vomiting or having diarrhea, it’s important because dehydration can be dangerous.
The Cleveland Clinic says Pedialyte and Peptobismal may be helpful.
In addition, Healthline says you should get plenty of rest. If weed helps you to sleep, then that may be another way weed helps with food poisoning symptoms.
While resting and hydration are essential, you’ll still need to eat.
Healthline says you should opt for bland food such as:
- Toast
- Saltine crackers
- Oatmeal
- Rice
- Chicken broth
Even though food poisoning usually isn’t serious, you may need medical intervention if you don’t feel better in a few days.
The Cleveland Clinic says, please seek medical attention if you experience:
- Confusion or delirium
- Blurred vision
- Bloody diarrhea
- Bloody vomit
- Dark urine
- No urine
- Long-lasting high fever
- DIzziness
- Lightheadedness
Takeaway
So, does weed help with food poisoning? There is no concrete scientific evidence that weed can help with food poisoning. However, there is some evidence that weed could alleviate some of the symptoms of food poisoning, such as vomiting and nausea. On the other hand, weed could also make your symptoms worse depending on how your body reacts to it. Remember, even though it’s unpleasant, vomiting and diarrhea are helping you heal. However, you do have to take care of yourself while the illness passes. Opt for bland foods, plenty of fluids such as Pedialyte, and rest.
