In the last part of this article, we looked at how cannabis can help in the treatment and recovery of anorexia and bulimia. Both of these illnesses come from deep-seated mental places and are laced with a need for control as well as a shame or hatred towards food. Of course, most eating disorders have some aspect of a poor relationship with eating, but not always in the same way. So in this article, we will have a look at some other likely lesser-known disorders and whether or not cannabis can be used in their treatment.
Binge Eating Disorder
This illness is very much what you would expect in some ways. It hinges on the sufferer uncontrollably binge eating and having an unhealthy relationship with food, often as a coping mechanism. It is thought that this is likely one of the most common disorders. Some may mistake binge eating for a love of food and a lack of self-control. Binge eating is not an enjoyable experience, most sufferers find it extremely distressing when it happens as they have no control. Many people with BED say that they feel totally disconnected from their bodies during a binge and often actually struggle to remember what they’ve eaten.
During binge eating the sufferer will eat a lot faster, eat until they are uncomfortably or even painfully full, will eat alone due to the intense feeling of shame, and will likely experience powerful feelings of disgust and self-hatred even during the binge. Interestingly some sufferers will eat normally or diet around their binges which can actually increase binge eating due to hunger and become a harmful cycle. Binge eating can also come from a variety of other mental health issues such as depression, stress, anxiety, or even intense boredom.
Much like with the treatment of bulimia cannabis can return the joy of eating to someone with a binge eating disorder. This can reconnect them with eating and make them less likely to binge uncontrollably. It can also reduce the anxiety, depression, and so on that might be causing the binges in the first place. I read an account of a woman who has BED and initially she talked about how weed would give her the munchies and potentially worsened her condition. But once she sought outside help, went to a therapist, and changed some aspects of her life she realised that in the right environment cannabis could help her slow down and enjoy food. So on its own, cannabis cannot cure BED, but if used correctly with other recovery methods it can help to break down the horrible relationship with food that causes binges.
ARFID
This is also known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This is definitely a similar line to anorexia but comes from a very different place. Rather than an attempt to lose weight or be as thin as possible, this disorder relies on trauma and sensory issues. The sufferer might avoid food because in the past they have choked on something or been made to vomit by food, or it can be to do with the scent, texture, or appearance of the food. It can also come from the person simply having a mental block with appetite meaning they don’t get hungry as other people do. Often people with ARFID can have safe foods but they may not be enough to keep their nutrition and health at a normal level.
This is one of the most mentally intricate disorders as many of the reasons that the person is avoiding food are so deeply programmed they don’t realise it is an issue. Not being able to eat or restricting certain foods can result in a caloric deficit and a variety of health issues.
This is where weed can be used while the person is receiving mental health treatments. Much like with anorexia cannabis can increase the appetite to a healthy level, can increase the enjoyment of food and can allow the patient to get over some of their mental blocks. I don’t know about you but when I have the munchies I tend to really enjoy textures and flavours that I might not normally be fond of. If a person can break their aversion to a certain food it might help them eat more normally in the future.
Advancement of Weed Treating Eating Disorders
Let’s have a look now at what is happening in the world of medicinal cannabis and eating disorders. As cannabis becomes legal in more and more parts of the world we can actually more accurately look into the medicinal side of the drug. We are now beginning to explore in-depth the effect of medicinal cannabis on eating disorders. There is a lot of research happening on the connection between eating disorders and the endocannabinoid system. As we know cannabis has enzymes in it that mimic enzymes in the human brain. They can replace these enzymes to alter the way that we feel or how hungry we are. For those who struggle with a massive lack of appetite, cannabis can work to bring it back up to a healthy level.
Researchers are also looking into how weed can treat the OCD aspect of eating disorders. OCD affects almost half of people who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder. There was research done in 2019 that suggests OCD is connected to the EDC. Some patients have shown improvement with the use of cannabis and have reduced their compulsive behaviors.
Going forward there are quite a few researchers who are looking further into how cannabis can be used to effectively aid in the recovery of eating disorder sufferers. It is thought especially that cannabis can really help those with restrictive disorders and can help them eat foods they would normally consider unsafe. This is a huge step towards recovery. Though researchers agree that it is not a miracle cure, they believe cannabis will be able to assist in some of the most difficult parts of eating disorder recovery.
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