Cannabis is world-famous for its ability to cure nausea. It is prescribed to cancer patients specifically to help them eat during chemotherapy.

Because of this, a relatively new medical condition is baffling both doctors and consumers. People are rushing to emergency rooms with uncontrollable vomiting, leading to the question: what is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?

The Paradox of Nausea and Cannabis

Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a rare, paradoxical condition that affects a small percentage of chronic, heavy, long-term cannabis consumers.

Instead of relieving nausea, the endocannabinoid system becomes so overloaded with daily, high-potency THC that the digestive tract goes completely haywire, triggering violent, cyclical vomiting.

The Three Phases of CHS

• The Prodromal Phase: This phase can last for months or years. The user feels mild morning nausea. Ironically, because cannabis is known to cure nausea, the user usually smokes more weed to feel better, making the condition worse.
• The Hyperemetic Phase: The crisis phase. The user experiences intense, uncontrollable vomiting. They cannot keep food or water down, leading to severe, life-threatening dehydration.
• The Recovery Phase: This only begins when the user completely stops consuming cannabis. Symptoms eventually fade.

Why Does Hot Water Help?

There is one bizarre hallmark of CHS. During an episode, patients develop a strange compulsion to take scalding hot showers or baths.

Science suggests that the hot water activates the TRPV1 receptors in the skin (the receptors that detect the heat of chili peppers). Activating these receptors redirects blood flow away from the digestive tract, temporarily calming the vomiting center in the brain.

The Only Known Cure

Anti-nausea medications (like Zofran) do absolutely nothing for CHS. The only known, permanent cure is the complete cessation of all cannabis use.

Reliable Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center provides an extensive clinical overview of CHS, noting that it is often underdiagnosed because patients are hesitant to disclose their heavy daily cannabis use.

Fun Fact: Because standard anti-nausea meds don’t work, ER doctors have found that rubbing capsaicin cream (made from hot chili peppers) directly onto the patient’s abdomen can actually stop the vomiting by mimicking the effect of a hot shower!