Should You Take a Sativa or Indica for Nausea?

Choosing indica or sativa for nausea relief is partly a question of cannabinoids and terpenes and partly a matter of time of day. When treating nausea, you want a strain that will relieve severe nausea quickly, allow you to eat, and allow you to sleep (when taken at night). 

If you are struggling with nausea due to chemotherapy treatments, emotional distress, HIV/AIDS medications, or motion sickness, knowing which cannabis strains to try will set you on the right path.

Indica or Sativa for Nausea: Which Is Best?

While there are pure sativa and indica landrace strains that are said to help to relieve nausea, medical marijuana consumers often recommend indica strains and hybrids over sativa strains for nausea.

There are two main reasons that indicas and indica-dominant strains are preferred by people who are treating nausea:

1. Indicas are more likely than sativas to have higher levels of CBD. The best weed strains for nausea tend to combine CBD with high levels of THC.

2. Indicas are more mellow and relaxing than sativas, which is perfect when you're looking for nighttime relief. The relaxing effects of indicas can also be helpful if your nausea is a result of anxiety or emotional distress.

Aside from the indica/sativa designation of the strain, look for cannabis strains that are high in:

• Limonene - This lemon-tasting terpene may reduce nausea and vomiting.

• Caryophyllene - This spicy-tasting terpene may help with nausea, epigastric pain, and inflammation.

• Myrcene - This spicy, musky, earthy terpene may reduce inflammation, anxiety, and pain.

• Pinene - This pine-smelling terpene may help with anxiety and inflammation.

The Best Cannabis Strains for Nausea

Having explained the question of indica or sativa for nausea, let's look at some of the best strains for nausea relief and appetite. Some strains, like Blueberry Kush, are also consumed for chronic pain. Northern Lights is also popular as a cannabis strain for arthritis. The variety of uses for each strain reflects the holistic nature of cannabis flower as a remedy for all kinds of health issues as well as attesting to the plant’s wellness-boosting potential.

Pure Indica Strains for Nausea

• Afghani Kush

• Blueberry Kush

• Hindu Kush

• Pakistani Kush

Pure Sativa Strains for Nausea

• Acapulco Gold

• Durban Poison

• Colombian Gold

• Thai or Chocolate Thai

Indica-Dominant Hybrid Strains for Nausea

• Blueberry Diesel

• Cookies and Cream

• Girl Scout Cookies

• Granddaddy Purple

• Grape Ape

• Lavender

• OG Kush

• Purple Urkle

• Northern Lights

• White Fire OG

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid Strains for Nausea

• Jack Herer

• Mimosa

• Super Haze

• Super Lemon Haze

High-CBD Strains for Nausea

• Cannatonic

• Harlequin

• Harle-Tsu

• Sour Tsunami

Balanced Hybrid Strains for Nausea

• Sunset Cookies

For long-lasting relief, some cannabis consumers start with a fast-acting cannabis tincture or smoke and have an edible for effects that come on once the initial nausea relief has passed. Others microdose to combat nausea throughout the day. Whichever form of cannabis consumption you choose to try, start with small doses and see how each affects you before raising your dose or combining products.

How Does Marijuana Help with Nausea?

Cannabis has been used to treat nausea for a long time, and diseases that cause chronic nausea are listed as qualifying conditions under medical cannabis laws in many places in the United States, including Seattle, WA. While its nausea-relieving mechanisms aren't entirely understood, researchers know that: 

• CBD acts on the serotonin receptors—neurotransmitters that are involved in the nausea response.

• CBD also appears to help balance appetite through modulation of the endocannabinoid system.

• THC attaches to the Vagus nerve, which, when stimulated, causes symptoms like nausea, dizziness, ringing ears, and sweating. 

• THC also acts on the CB1 receptors, which are found in the greatest abundance in the brain stem and play a role in stimulating appetite. 

How Effective is Cannabis for Nausea?

There are several studies that explore the relationship between cannabis consumption and nausea relief. In a study published in the Annals of Oncology in 2020, an oral cannabis extract was effective for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea in one-quarter of subjects compared to 14% for placebo. In another study, published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology in 2021, cannabis use reduced nausea within one hour for 96% of subjects. When high-THC, low-CBD strains were used, significant relief was often felt in five minutes. Further studies might test more specific products and dosages for nausea, but the evidence so far is very promising.

Your Local Budtender Can Help

Whether you decide to try indica or sativa for nausea, a budtender at your local dispensary can help you sort through the options based on the effects you're looking for, the time of day you plan to consume cannabis, and the aromas and terpenes you want to try. 

After experimenting with a few different strains, you should find one that provides the effects you need.