Terpenes for Nausea: Traditional medicine has long been using terpene-rich flowers for many different purposes. From inflammation to treating other chronic illnesses, these flowers have proven their potency to address several health concerns. One of the most renowned being nausea or vomiting.
For decades, many have used terpene-rich flowers to help combat nausea in the medical space. However, ancient civilizations have known about the seemingly magical effects of these compounds for much longer.
But how exactly do terpenes help? Read below to know more about their abilities and what terpenes are good for nausea.
How Terpenes Work to Combat Nausea
Before knowing the best terpenes for nausea and vomiting, it’s essential to understand how they work to prevent these bodily responses. Firstly, the body has an extensive network of chemical signals and cellular receptors. This network is the “endocannabinoid system,” which controls and regulates the activities and levels of several neurotransmitters.
The substances that affect this system include those you can find in many flowers, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. Consequently, terpenes can bind with cannabinoid receptors to relieve nausea. These receptors help mediate and enhance many of the cannabinoids’ psychoactive effects.
As such, taking them together with psychoactive substances allows terpenes to improve their efficacy and boost their physiologic effects. In other words, terpenes have an “entourage effect” that enhances the body’s absorption of these psychoactive substances, making them more effective.
5 Best Terpenes for Nausea
So, how else can terpenes help reduce nausea and vomiting? People can become nauseous due to pregnancies, diseases, chronic illnesses, treatment side effects, and ingesting unagreeable substances. However, using terpenes can help reduce nausea by addressing these causes.
Here’s an explanation of terpenes and how they can address nausea through their pain management properties.
1. Humulene
Gastritis is an illness where your stomach’s linings become inflamed. This illness can result in symptoms that make you nauseous and vomit. However, studies have shown that humulene can prevent these symptoms by addressing certain effects of gastritis.
Researchers have found that humulene blocks histamine production, which can worsen the stomach’s pain. It also increases protective factors that stabilize the stomach’s mucus lining and prevents pro-inflammatory responses.
Additionally, humulene has pain management properties that can decrease the activation of related inflammation mediators and factors. This terpene is a potent analgesic comparable to dexamethasone, making it good for treating nausea.
2. Pinene
Pinene is well-known for being an excellent anti-inflammatory substance with analgesic properties. Like humulene, pinene has shown that it can help protect the stomach’s lining from damage when you drink alcohol. It promotes mucus lining while decreasing the amount of acid in your stomach.
Furthermore, pinene has anti-inflammatory effects as it directly prevents signaling pathways in inflammation-inducing immune cells. These analgesic effects can help people suffering from chronic conditions like migraines. Consequently, it can prevent nausea and vomiting since these are symptoms of the mentioned condition.
3. Myrcene
Myrcene is another terpene good for nausea due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Research results have shown that this terpene is exceptionally good at inhibiting nitric oxide production, a pro-inflammatory mediator that can cause inflammation at high levels. It can also inhibit cytokines (another inflammatory signaling molecule) through interactions with related signal pathways.
Another study has found that myrcene works well with cannabidiol (CBD). These substances work against chronic joint inflammation and pain. The results also show that directly applying myrcene to the affected joint reduces pain and inflammation with the help of cannabinoid receptors. It suggests that myrcene can help address inflammatory-caused nausea and vomiting.
4. Caryophyllene
Another one on the list of the best terpenes for nausea is caryophyllene.
Also known as beta-caryophyllene, this terpene has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can treat chronic inflammation. It can inhibit related inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines. These cytokines are proteins that play a significant role in inducing inflammatory reactions. Additionally, this terpene can prevent edema production, another substance that can cause swelling.
On top of this, another study exhibits terpene caryophyllene’s entourage effect. According to the results, this terpene can activate CB2 receptors, another mediator regulating inflammation. Apart from that, another research study also suggested that caryophyllene can eliminate neuropathic pain from HIV treatments.
5. Limonene
Aside from myrcene, limonene is also a good terpene for nausea due to its ability to block the production of nitric oxide. This ability allows limonene to prevent inflammatory responses, which can help address inflammation-induced nausea and vomiting.
Researchers have also found that limonene can help alleviate ulcerative colitis, a chronic illness that causes colon inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory effects can reduce disease activity and damage to the colonic mucosa. Since some experience nausea and vomiting symptoms, the results suggest that limonene can help fight against these bodily responses.
Lastly, expecting mothers have used lemon inhalation aromatherapy to address pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. The essential oils from lemons include limonene, suggesting this terpene’s potency as an antiemetic substance.
Harnessing the Power of Terpenes to Soothe Nausea
Nausea and vomiting are bodily reactions that can stem from numerous factors, including medication side effects, pregnancy, ingestion of certain substances, chronic illnesses, and other diseases. As such, addressing these underlying causes is the best way to alleviate nausea. And terpenes are an excellent option for alternative treatment.
Terpene-rich flowers have been prevalent in the medical field. Many ancient civilizations have realized the health benefits of terpenes, not just those for nausea alleviation.
