5 articles featuring Humulene
Nausea is a physiological defense mechanism coordinated by the central nervous system. When managing it, the goal is to interact with the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) in the brainstem, specifically the area postrema. This region functions as a control center for the emetic reflex and contains high concentrations of CB1 receptors. Using cannabis may provide an exogenous method to modulate these receptors and influence the brain's 'purge' signal.
Nausea in older adults is rarely a standalone issue. It is often a byproduct of polypharmacy, slowed gastric motility, or recovery from surgery. When dealing with chronic queasiness, the consequences go far beyond simple discomfort; they may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and a loss of daily independence.
Even with the use of 5-HT3 and NK1 receptor antagonists, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains a hurdle in oncology. When patients experience symptoms that are refractory to standard anti-emetics, we may look at the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and how it regulates the body’s emetic pathways. The clinical potential of cannabinoids in this context involves their interaction with specific receptors in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
'The munchies'—or clinically, hyperphagia—is a physiological response triggered when exogenous cannabinoids interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). By binding to CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus and the olfactory bulb, specific cannabis compounds may influence how your brain perceives hunger, sensory pleasure, and metabolic homeostasis.
The Area Postrema sits in the medulla oblongata, functioning as the body’s primary chemoreceptor trigger zone. Because this structure lacks a standard blood-brain barrier, it is uniquely vulnerable—and responsive—to bloodborne toxins. When cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs like Cisplatin or Doxorubicin enter the bloodstream, they trigger this sensor, which may trip the body’s emetic (vomiting) reflex.