Pain-related to women’s periods is often ignored by medicine and even less treated. Many women are looking for methods to accompany the menstrual period or alternative solutions to soothe the pain that is often significant.
The use of CBD can be a solution to soothe this painful monthly episode for many women. Indeed, the soothing and relaxing properties of cannabidiol are all designed to relieve and limit the impact of vaginal or uterine cramps. This is in any case the observation made by many women who have chosen CBD as an alternative to certain anti-inflammatory drugs that are not very effective in the long term.
The relaxing and antidepressant action of cannabinoids naturally leads to the question of their use in psychological disorders. This is the case of depression which affects a growing number of people in today’s society at different levels of severity. Discover how and CBD can act against depression and especially what are the benefits that can be expected.
Menstruation: a pain often ignored
Since the dawn of time, women who suffer from painful periods have been faced with a kind of denial or fatality. Many doctors pay little attention to this type of problem. Moreover, very often, the severity of these pains is largely underestimated.
However, a study conducted in 2016 in Canada showed that these pains are very widespread in the population and that for some women it was very disabling. More than 15% of women who suffer from it report being unable to do anything and endure pain classified as “as painful as a heart attack.”
These pains are the result of dysmenorrhea, which refers to menstrual cramps. It is a contraction of the uterus and vagina that is felt by more than one in two women and can last two to three days. It is often accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, or even in the upper thighs.
These pains can be severe and are often disabling for some women, preventing many activities and reducing mobility. In some cases, the pain can be accompanied by vomiting, intestinal problems with loose stools, headaches, and also dizziness.
For many women, this episode of total discomfort is to be endured without any real medical help. There are no spếcific medications for this phenomenon and most are reduced to swallowing a few headache pills or a general anti-inflammatory drug to try and reduce the discomfort or pain.
How does CBD work in painful periods?
Cannabidiol can help women experiencing painful periods through two types of actions:
An anti-inflammatory action: a study that was published in the Journal of Women’s Health highlighted that a protein in the body was the cause of acute inflammatory episodes in 80% of women who suffer from painful periods. The medical reflex was to prescribe classical anti-inflammatory drugs but their action fades over time and has quite marked side effects. CBD has proven anti-inflammatory properties and can have a very soothing effect on women who suffer every month.
Action on the endocannabinoid system: this internal network of receptors and chemical messengers has the function of helping the body to maintain homeostasis in the face of, among other things, environmental stressors. When a person’s hormones are out of balance, there is a significant impact on the natural levels of endocannabinoid molecules. This is where CBD has a decisive action as it acts directly on the different receptors of the endocannabinoid system of the human body.
What effects does CBD have during menstruation?
It is obvious that CBD will not totally stop the vaginal or uterine contractions of some women during their period. But the soothing effect of cannabidiol oil will :
- decrease the intensity and thus the pains which are associated with it
- limit the impact on nearby organs and thus reduce pain in the legs, lower abdomen, or kidneys.
- limit the stress associated with this episode
- avoid having to take anti-inflammatory drugs
- reduce the effects of nausea, headaches, and general fatigue associated with the menstrual state.
Taking CBD to soothe painful periods can be done in different ways. Some people may prefer to choose a cannabidiol oil to be placed under the tongue while other women may prefer to take a CBD tea as an infusion during the day or evening.
Anyway, for women who are affected by the most serious and painful forms of menstruation (endometriosis,… etc), it will always be necessary to consult a specialized doctor for a specific treatment.
How can CBD work on depression?
The system called endocannabinoid is the set of neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors that are present in the human nervous system. It has an important role in the regulation of many essential functions such as appetite, sleep, mood or pain management.
When a person ingests CBD, cannabidiol activates these receptors which are connected to the central nervous system. Numerous clinical studies have shown that this activation has a consequence sought by antidepressant drug treatments: the inhibition of serotonin reuptake.
Serotonin is often described as the hormone of happiness: it regulates morale. Indeed, the level of serotonin has a direct impact on the general well-being and the feeling of happiness as well as on the regulation of sleep, sexual desire, the level of appetite or the management of pain. By blocking the reuptake of serotonin, CBD, like an antidepressant, increases the level of serotonin in the brain.