Treatment of Bulimia with CBD and Cannabis
Bulimia is a type of eating disorder characterized by binges in which people eat a large amount of food and then induce vomiting or use laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to lose weight. Bulimia is also a life-threatening eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, unlike Anorexia Nervosa, which involves restricting calories for lengthy periods to lose weight
According to Eating Disorder Hope, a counseling organization founded in 2005, there is no conclusive evidence that medical cannabis can help people dealing with bulimia. However, some studies suggest that medical cannabis may offer short-term benefits to patients.
Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
There are numerous emotional, behavioral, and physical signs and symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa. It is important to note that some of the most prominent emotional and behavioral symptoms include mood swings, isolation from family and friends, fear of dining in public, hoarding food in unexpected places, the development of food rituals, and diets that last for weeks or months at a time.
According to the American Addiction Center, there are approximately 4.7 million to 6.6 million American females and 1.5 million males who suffer from Bulimia at one point in their lives. “Among people who struggle with Bulimia, suicide is the number one leading cause of death.”
Is CBD and THC Effective in Treating Bulimia?
It’s been known for many years that cannabis is associated with a problem eating, according to research as far back as 2012. “Scientists were able to demonstrate that the marijuana-like neurotransmitters in the brain are significantly reduced in women with anorexia or bulimia, as well as in the region of the brain that links food taste with our emotional response to eating,” said the researcher.
In a Healthline article, published in the journal Scientific Reports, two studies describe how cannabis, which is a cannabinoid receptor, may help with negative food behaviors like binge eating. Cannabis receptor 1, also known as CB1, is “essential for the central regulation of feeding,” according to a 2015 study. By enhancing odor detection in fasted mice, CB1 receptors “promote interest in eating,” according to the study.
The Medical Cannabis Association of America notes the positive effects of medical cannabis in treating eating disorders, particularly binge eating which is a symptom of Bulimia. According to the Medical Cannabis Association of America, there is a small difference between “binge eating disorder” and “overeating caused by marijuana.”
A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that medical cannabis may damage binge eating habits, which may lead to bulimia. More research to support the connection between medical marijuana and bulimia may be helpful in alleviating the illness.