Answered: Does Weed Help a Hangover? Cannabis Strains and Products for Relief
Note: This article is intended for education only, it is not meant to serve as medical advice. Consult a doctor with any medical questions.
There are thousands of hangover “cures” out there. We all know someone who swears by things like pickle juice, raw eggs, or even the “hair of the dog” to cure the dreaded hangover.
But one increasingly popular hangover remedy might actually work — cannabis!
As Anthony Bourdain once said his cure to hangovers is, “Aspirin, cold Coca-Cola, smoke a joint, eat some spicy Sichuan food — works every time.”
This post explains whether cannabis actually helps a hangover and what kind of products to grab when you’re planning a night of drinking.
What causes hangovers?
Hangovers are caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration, inflammation, and the buildup of toxins in the body.
- Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose fluids very quickly (by making you pee more), which leads to dehydration.
- Inflammation: Alcohol triggers an inflammatory immune response in the body. This may cause the immune system to bring on physical symptoms like memory problems or decreased appetite.
- Stomach lining irritation: Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, causing abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
- Expanding blood vessels: Alcohol makes your blood vessels expand, which leads to headaches.
Clearly, alcohol can take a toll on the body. Some additional alcohol hangover symptoms include:
- Intense thirst
- Weakness
- Poor sleep
- Sensitivity to light/sound
- Shakes
- Depression, anxiety, or irritability
The question is, are these downsides avoidable? Does weed help a hangover?
Does weed help a hangover actually?
To understand whether cannabis is a real solution when you feel hungover, let’s look at how the plant treats common hangover symptoms.
Nausea and loss of appetite
One of the most prevalent (and miserable) symptoms of a hangover is nausea.
Cannabis use is considered one of the most effective treatments for nausea, with everyone from cancer patients to pre-meal stoners using the plant to boost appetite. In fact, The University of New Mexico found cannabis offers immediate relief from symptoms of nausea in a recent study.
Inflammation-caused physical symptoms
Consuming alcohol can trigger inflammation across the entire body, including in the gut, liver, face, joints, and brain which leads to symptoms like headaches, nausea, face puffiness and swollen feet.
Cannabinoids have been linked to naturally decrease inflammation levels. THC attacks inflammation by reducing immune signaling proteins created by cells called cytokines of the immune system. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties in cannabis consumption, the plant is a natural pain reliever.
Anxiety, depression, and irritability
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it can alter the brain’s natural levels of happiness-inducing chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.
According to the University of Washington, “THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses while CBD appears to decrease anxiety at all doses that have been tested.” These findings are similar to many other studies and the personal testimony of many cannabis users.
Cannabis also improves your overall mood. While waking up with hangxiety can feel debilitation, cannabis contains compounds that can help boost your mood and lift your spirits.
Sleeplessness
The Sleep Foundation found moderate alcohol consumption decreased sleep quality by 24%. Because drinking alcohol disrupts our sleep patterns, many people will wake up after a long night feeling tired and sluggish.
Cannabis has been linked to better sleep, though there have been conflicting studies on its effectiveness. Consuming cannabis is believed to cause cannabinoids to bind to receptors in the brain. These receptors tell your body to increase sleep-promoting adenosine while suppressing the brain’s arousal system. The combination of this can help consumers feel sleepier.
What are the best weed products for a hangover?
Based on the limited number of studies related to the effects of cannabis and the common symptoms of a hangover, there are a few types of weed that could help a hangover.
High CBD/Low THC
We noted that CBD products can help hangover symptoms such as aches and pains. It’s also beneficial to keep your THC amounts low to avoid any additional anxiety.
You can try various product types with these cannabinoid breakdowns. Here’s a list of 5 cannabis strains with high CBD and low THC you can find at your dispensary.
CBG
Cannabigerol (CBG) is considered the “mother of all cannabinoids” because it’s what gives cannabis it’s “high”. CBG binds to the body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors without any intoxicating effects. Products high in CBG, like Sour G, are ideal for those suffering from hangovers.
Edibles
Edibles are great for long-lasting relief from hangovers. While they take a bit longer to kick in, edibles tend to last for much longer than traditional inhalable cannabis products.
If you’re looking for this type of product, check out something like Wana Brands’ 20:1 gummies.
Vapes
If you’re in need of immediate relief, a cannabis vape pen is the perfect solution. Because vapes require little to no work to dispense cannabis into your body, you can take a puff right when you wake up if you’re feeling groggy, nauseous, achey, or generally unwell after drinking.
Check out some of the most popular vapes here.
Flower
When it comes to battling out a hangover, sometimes the classics work best. A traditional joint, bowl, or bong rip of high-quality, terpene-rich cannabis flower can do wonders for hangover symptoms.
How else to help your hangover
It’s not just cannabis that helps with hangovers. Make sure you’re also drinking water (remember that cannabis is thought to cause dehydration, but this is actually not true), replenishing your electrolytes, taking anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil (if needed), and getting plenty of sleep.
While smoking cannabis can help relieve the symptoms of a hangover, time is the best cure to get completely back to normal. But when you’re not feeling great after drinking, using weed can certainly help you feel better!
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