The Whole View, Episode 448: Marijuana and Gut Health
Welcome back to episode 448! (0:28)

Sarah and Stacy have done shows on the topic of marijuana and wellness, including CBD, CBD for pets, and pain management. 

This show is sponsored by One Farm, both Sarah and Stacy's favorite CBD brands.

One Farm's goal is to create the highest quality hemp extract on the market.

Their products are made with the best hemp, grown organically in the perfect climate, extracted without toxic solvents, and mixed with quality ingredients.

One Farm and their handling/processing facility are USDA Organic, which very few companies have.

By controlling everything from seed to shelf, One Farm gives you the assurance that everything they make is from our USDA Certified Organic hemp, lovingly raised, cultivated, and processed 100% by One Farm in Colorado.

Stacy notes that they also 3rd party test every batch that comes out of their USDA Certified lab.

Use the code WHOLEVIEW at checkout to receive 15% off your order!

Listener Question on Marijuana and Gut Health:
Today's question about Marijuana and gut health comes from Dana (6:15):


"I love focusing on gut health. I've read your books plus Dr. Terry Wahls books. I rely on cannabis to help me manage some of the residual MS symptoms I have while I work on healing my body. I am greatly aware of the risk of developing CHS as it has been on the rise in the Medical marijuana community here in Portland. It's terrifying to know that something that helps us so much, can harm us too.

My question: How does THC affect the gut and gut motility? How can we prevent CHS medical users who use regularly and sometimes heavily to help manage our diseases? There isn't a lot of research I've found surrounding the effects of thc on the gut. I know it can slow down gut motility, but how much is too much and is there a way to counteract this effect? Does CBD have the same effect as thc on the gut or is it different? Can they work together in the gut to create a safer gut effect versus using a higher thc ratio?

Ratios are big in the medical world. We rely heavily on the science we are presented in regards to the best ratios for our specific disease. There needs to be more talk on the potential risks of cannabis and how to lower our chances of developing something like CHS since so many of us meet the criteria of being at high risk of developing it. Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Seriously. Thank you."


 

CHS: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
As Sarah explains, CHS is a very rare syndrome that occurs in long-term, heavy users of THC-rich cannabis. (7:50)

It was only first reported in medical literature in 2004.

The reported symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Also, they are episodic, lasting for 24 to 48 hours, and not returning for several weeks or months.  

More than 90% of cannabis users who experience these symptoms also have a compulsion to bathe in hot water during the episode. 

This is often what helps doctors and patients determine CHS as the cause.

Sarah adds that vomiting can be severe and can leave CHS patients extremely dehydrated, acidosis, decreased serum bicarbonate, acute renal failure, and damage to the esophagus. 

Because cannabis is usually known to help keep nausea and vomiting at bay, these users may end up using cannabis to keep the CHS symptoms at bay.

Hyperemesis symptoms are very resistant, and typical antiemetics, such as ondansetron and promethazine, don't work. The treatment of choice is abstinence for a prolonged period.

The only other effective treatment currently is IM injection with Haloperidol (normally used to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and Tourette syndrome) or Olanzapine (normally used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder).

Because of the use of antipsychotics, this suggests it's not working through the "normal" ways that induce vomiting.

That it's something more related to the central nervous system and not the