If just saying “no” isn’t on your to-do list this holiday season, cannabis might make a welcome addition to your revelry recovery agenda.
The holiday season is famous for Yuletide cheer, peppermint lattes, heated family discussions around a high-calorie spread, and trolling slushy streets and the internet for the gift that says “I see you and I care” more loudly than “This was on clearance.”
But let’s face it, the holidays are also famous for the booze: huge vats of foamy eggnog potent enough to pin your Aunt Nancy to the couch, spiked hot chocolate to ward off the winter chill, and round after round of craft cocktail creations to keep all of those Zoom parties merry and bright when the video keeps freezing and half of the crew can’t figure out how to unmute. For those who imbibe, holiday drinking can take a toll and when that holiday hangover comes calling, more than a few revelers will be reaching for a cannabis cure.
Dehydration, headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of concentration are all hallmarks of the garden variety hangover. According to a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, cannabis might be the ideal treatment for two of these ailments in particular. “Considerable evidence demonstrates that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals”. This manipulation, in the context of this study, refers to the consumption of cannabinoids in order to inhibit nausea and vomiting that occurs “in response to a toxic challenge.”
A study from Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado speaks to cannabis’s efficacy in treating pain related to headaches and migraines, with inhaled forms proving more effective in treating acute symptoms. According to the study, the active ingredients in cannabis are able to target pain receptors at the base of the spinal cord, which results in an enhancement of “the natural system for pain management in the body.” What’s more, marijuana can also stimulate appetite by turning off hormone pathways that make us feel full, which can help hangover sufferers get some food back into their stomachs and reduce acidity.
If a smoke or vape is your speed, CBD:THC strains like Harlequin, Dancehall, and Sour Tsunami are known hangover helpers. Don’t feel like lighting up to beat off those boozy blahs? Relief can still be yours, with some forward-thinking brands offering up alternative forms of hangover relief for the holidays and beyond.
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Rhythm, an infused CBD company focused on drinks that feature adaptogens and superfoods as well as CBD, has developed Rhythm Recover, a Lemon Ginger seltzer infused with 15mg of hemp extract and highly bioavailable turmeric extract for an anti-inflammatory boost.
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For headache-healing hydration without the fizz, a CBD-infused coconut water such as that offered by Vita Coco might be just the thing. The coffee cure is a traditional favorite but can leave you feeling twice as exhausted by the end of the day.  Crappy’s Feel Better Hangover Helper chewable tablets with CBD, CBG, and CBN plus recovery-focused terpenes keep the caffeine crash at bay.
So happy holidays to all, and if just saying “no” isn’t on your to-do list this holiday season, cannabis might make a welcome addition to your revelry recovery agenda.
This article originally appeared on Green Market Report and has been reposted with permission.
