The Gut-Brain Axis with Dr. Rick Pescatore

In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley

Kirk sits down with Dr. Rick Pescatore, board-certified emergency

physician, Editor-in-Chief of Emergency Medicine News, and founder of

BellyMD, for a fascinating deep dive into the gut-brain connection and

what it means for cannabis users and patients dealing with unexplained

digestive symptoms.

Dr. Pescatore explains how the gut and brain communicate

through the vagus nerve, why the gut has been called the “second brain,”

and how genetics, diet, gut bacteria, inflammation, and cannabis can all

influence this complex system. The conversation also explores cannabinoid

hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and why understanding CHS requires looking

beyond cannabis alone and considering the broader gut-brain system.