Marijuana is now legal in many parts of the country, but it’s still a controversial topic. Some use it as a tool for medical marijuana patients, others call it dangerous, and still others don’t want to see it legalized at all. Regardless of personal opinion, many people are interested in learning more about the medical benefits of cannabis.
In one of my recent online searches after a few weeks of not having the opportunity to smoke cannabis, I stumbled upon this article: https://www.leafly.com/news/science/medical-marijuana-may-help-as-an-alternative-for-schizophrenia-prozac-and-other-psychotic-disorders
Marijuana, known as marijuana, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. In recent years, a number of studies have shown that it can be used to treat a variety of illnesses, including chronic pain and multiple sclerosis. Another surprising claim is that cannabis can help with weight loss.
Perimenopause (the period leading up to menopause) typically starts in women between the ages of 45 and 55. This phase may span anywhere from seven to fourteen years.
Many women suffer a variety of symptoms at this period, some minor, some severe, all of which have an effect on their quality of life.
Treatments that effectively alleviate menopausal symptoms are few and far between.
CBD is a potential substance to take throughout the menopausal transition.
This article will examine all of the facts, as well as how CBD may help with menopausal symptoms and which CBD products are ideal for menopause.
What is Menopause and How Does It Affect You?
The onset of menopause is defined as 12 months following a woman’s last menstruation. This is the moment at when a woman’s periods stop and she can no longer conceive naturally.
The menopausal transition is the time leading up to menopause. Menopause typically starts in women between the ages of 45 and 55 and lasts for around 7 years. However, the change may take up to 14 years in certain instances.
Menopause is a normal aspect of growing older. However, estrogen and progesterone (two hormones produced by the ovaries) vary dramatically throughout the menopausal transition.
Hormone fluctuations may result in a range of symptoms. Women in transition, for example, lose density in their bones, leaving them more susceptible to breaks and fractures. During the shift, the body utilizes energy differently, which may contribute to weight gain as fat cells alter.
There are a slew of additional signs and symptoms that come with the menopausal transition. Menopause is a normal part of aging, but the symptoms may have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life.
Menopause Signs and Symptoms
Menopausal symptoms differ from one individual to the next.
Menopausal symptoms will affect most women, although some may be more severe than others. Some symptoms are severe and have an impact on daily life; others are small annoyances that generate pain and irritation.
During the menopausal transition, the body undergoes many changes. These symptoms are caused by fluctuations in hormone levels.
The following are the most frequent menopausal symptoms:
- Flashes of heat
- Sweats at night
- Sleeping problems
- Libido decreases (sex drive)
- Dryness of the vaginal canal
- During sex, discomfort
- Enhanced emotional reactivity
- Depression & anxiety
- Issues with memory & concentration
- gaining weight
- Muscle pain
- Joint discomfort
- Osteoporosis
What Is CBD’s Role in Menopause?
CBD has an effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Several cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body make up the ECS. These receptors play a critical role in the regulation of a variety of physiological processes.
Because of CBD’s involvement with the endocannabinoid system, it’s a potential supplement for women going through menopause.
The endocannabinoid system’s CB1 and CB2 receptors are involved in:
- The immune system’s role in the body
- Reactions to pain
- Inflammatory reactions
- Sleep onset & duration
- The ability to remember
- Fertility
- Mood management
Cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with the ECS’s CB1 and CB2 receptors when ingested. As a result, it may have an impact on some of the functions listed above.
Controlling these physiological processes may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause.
CBD Could Help With Menopausal Symptoms
1. Depression, Anxiety, and Mood Shifts
Mood swings are a typical occurrence during menopause.
Hormone imbalances may alter serotonin and dopamine function, which can affect mood and emotional reactions.
This may result in depressive and anxious outbursts.
CBD has been shown in studies to be an effective therapy for anxiety disorders [1]. CBD has also been shown to have the ability to treat a variety of mental health problems, including depression [2].
CBD may be a useful therapy for the mood-related problems that come with menopause.
2. Muscle aches and pains in the joints
Menopause is characterized by muscle pains and joint discomfort. During the transition, many women report feeling more achy and stiff.
The body generates an overabundance of inflammatory chemicals when estrogen levels decrease. As a result, a rapid decrease in estrogen may cause joint inflammation. In women going through menopause, this may cause arthritis-like symptoms.
CBD contains anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
CBD transdermally administered to the skin decreased joint swelling and pain responses in rats with osteoarthritis, according to one research [3].
Other research has looked at the effectiveness of cannabinoids (including CBD) in the treatment of difficult-to-treat pain [4]. Both CBD and THC were shown to substantially decrease pain associated with some chronic pain disorders in the study.
CBD may be useful for alleviating aches and pains associated with menopause. CBD, whether eaten or administered topically, has been shown to decrease pain and inflammation in studies.
3. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashes and nocturnal sweats are two additional menopausal symptoms to be aware of. It’s the most often discussed symptom among women going through menopause.
The hypothalamus is in charge of controlling body temperature fluctuations. Hormone imbalances, on the other hand, may alter the chemistry in the hypothalamus, causing the body to deactivate its cooling powers at any time.
Sweating and vascular dilatation are the most common reactions, resulting in sweats and hot flushes.
CBD may help regulate hypothalamic responses and decrease hot flashes during menopause.
There isn’t much study on CBD’s impact on hot flashes in particular. The impact of cannabidiol on serotonin, on the other hand, may aid in the regulation of body temperature during the menopausal transition.
4. Increased body weight
Menopause may cause weight gain in certain women. This is related to the body’s decreased estrogen levels.
Weight gain may occur in women with low estrogen levels and males with low testosterone levels.
The body does not burn as many calories when estrogen is absent. As a consequence, when estrogen levels are low, less fat is burnt during physical activity, and more fat may be acquired.
CBD may aid weight loss in menopausal women by increasing metabolism and decreasing blood sugar levels.
According to one research, the body can convert white fat to brown fat [5].
Brown adipose tissue (brown fat) is more easily converted to energy by the body. The fat type linked with fast weight gain is white fat (bad fat).
The body can burn fat as fuel more efficiently when white fat is transformed to brown fat. As a result, weight loss occurs.
Despite the fact that research into CBD’s effects on weight reduction, weight gain, and obesity is still in its early stages, the existing evidence is encouraging. CBD may be useful in regulating body weight in women going through menopause.
5. Sleep Issues
Sleep problems are common among women going through menopause. This may manifest as trouble sleeping, waking up in the middle of the night, or daytime drowsiness.
During menopause, sleep issues may develop for a variety of causes.
The primary reasons women have trouble sleeping during menopause are increased anxiety, nocturnal perspiration, and hot flashes.
CBD may assist regulate the body’s temperature response and has anti-anxiety properties. This may be sufficient to promote and regulate sleep.
CBD may also promote deep sleep by decreasing the amount of time the body and mind spend in the REM sleep state [6].
What’s the Difference Between THC and CBD for Menopause?
There are few scientific research on the impact of THC and CBD on menopausal symptoms. The usage of CBD for women going through menopause, on the other hand, has much more data to back it up.
Many women use cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. THC in cannabis products has psychotropic effects that may help with sleep, relaxation, and pain relief.
There’s little question that THC aids certain women throughout the menopausal transition, based on anecdotal data. However, some individuals may be turned off by the cannabinoid’s sedative effects.
CBD may be beneficial to one’s health and may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause. Furthermore, unlike THC, it does not impair the user (i.e., it does not make you high), and everyday life may continue as usual while the cannabinoid is being taken.
CBD has been shown to be more beneficial in the treatment of menopause in studies. It has been shown to have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, sleep-promoting, and anti-anxiety properties, which may be beneficial to women going through menopause.
THC and cannabis as a whole, on the other hand, may give some women with relief from symptoms while also providing a therapeutic “high” that may assist with relaxation, stress reduction, and sleep.
How Can CBD Oil Help With Menopause?
1. Selecting the Right CBD for Menopause
When it comes to purchasing CBD, you have three choices.
You’ve probably heard of phrases like full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. CBD extracts come in a variety of forms. Although all CBD extracts include cannabidiol, the amount of other active cannabinoids varies.
So, how do these extracts vary from one another?
A) CBD for Menopause (Full-Spectrum CBD)
Full-spectrum CBD includes cannabidiol as well as all of the other active cannabinoids and terpenes found in hemp. THC is present in these extracts at amounts less than 0.3 percent. THC at this concentration will not make the person intoxicated, but it may show up on drug tests.
Full-spectrum CBD is the CBD extract that is thought to be the most beneficial. This is because CBD combines with the other naturally existing cannabinoids in hemp, making it much more effective at treating a broader variety of ailments.
The entourage effect [7] is a term used to describe this phenomena.
Because you will benefit from the complete entourage effect, full-spectrum CBD is the ideal kind of CBD for menopause. Broad-spectrum or CBD isolation may be preferable if you have a negative reaction to THC or other cannabinoids in hemp, or if you are subjected to frequent drug testing at work.
B) CBD for Menopause with a Broad Spectrum
Because it includes the other active cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp plant, broad-spectrum CBD is comparable to full-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, has no evidence of THC.
Because this kind of CBD does not include THC, it will not show up on a drug test after usage. Because broad-spectrum CBD includes a whole cannabinoid profile, you also benefit from the entourage effect.
If you’re searching for relief from menopausal symptoms, want to benefit from the entourage effect, and don’t want to ingest any THC, broad-spectrum CBD is the way to go.
CBD Isolate for Menopause (CBD Isolate)
CBD isolate is a CBD extract that is 100% pure. There are no other cannabinoids or terpenes in it save for cannabidiol.
You won’t get the entourage effect as you would with full-spectrum or broad-spectrum products. CBD isolates, on the other hand, are still a beneficial supplement for women going through menopause.
CBD isolation is ideal for women who wish to treat menopausal symptoms with CBD but don’t want to use THC or other cannabinoids.
2. Choosing the Best CBD Menopause Product
Now that we’ve gone through the three kinds of CBD extract, let’s have a look at the many CBD products that may help with menopausal symptoms.
These products come in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum varieties, as well as CBD isolates.
Your ideal product will be determined by your particular tastes and what functions best for you. As a result, determining which CBD product is best for you may take some time.
When using CBD for the first time to treat menopause, it’s a good idea to experiment with different products.
CBD Oil for Menopause (A) CBD Oil for Menopause (B) CBD Oil for Meno
One of the most common and simple forms of CBD is CBD oil. It’s absorbed sublingually with the help of a dropper placed beneath the tongue.
This kind of CBD is very bioavailable, giving you complete control over doses. Simply put more or fewer drops under the tongue to alter the dosage.
If you’re new to CBD, CBD oil is a wonderful place to start. It’s simple to keep track of your consumption and find out what your ideal dosage is.
B) CBD Menopause Edibles
CBD edibles exist in a variety of forms, the most popular and well-known of which are gummies.
If you don’t like the taste of CBD and want a tasty method to supplement with it, edibles are a great option. Edibles come in a range of strengths, with each treat having a precise amount of CBD.
Because certain cannabinoids are lost during digestion, CBD edibles are less bioavailable than CBD oil. They do, however, provide a precise and simple method to supplement CBD for menopause without having to take a pill, apply oil sublingually, or inhale the vapor.
CBD Capsules for Menopause (CBD Capsules for Menopause)
CBD capsules are available in two forms: dry capsules and soft gels. They’re eaten like foods, therefore they’re not as bioavailable as oil. They do, however, provide a flavorless and precise method to ingest CBD.
Capsules take longer to act than edibles, CBD oil, or vaporized CBD, but the benefits stay far longer.
If you want a convenient method to take CBD to help with menopausal symptoms, capsules are a wonderful choice. Menopause symptoms are typically relieved by taking one capsule in the morning and one in the evening.
D) Menopause CBD Vape Pens
A heating element vaporizes a combination of vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and CBD extract in CBD vape pens.
The vapor is breathed, and the CBD is rapidly absorbed into the circulation thanks to oxygen exchange in the alveoli of the lungs.
CBD has a high bioavailability when breathed as a vapor. As a consequence, it may alleviate symptoms in as little as 15 minutes, although the benefits last for 2 to 4 hours on average.
If you’re seeking for quick relief from menopausal symptoms, CBD vape pens are a wonderful choice. They are not, however, advised for individuals who have respiratory problems.
E) CBD Menopause Topicals
CBD topicals are available in a variety of formats. CBD-infused lotions, balms, gels, and bath products are available.
Topicals containing CBD are applied to the skin and absorbed via the dermal and subdermal layers.
They offer pain and inflammatory alleviation on a localized basis. This makes them ideal for women going through the menopausal transition who are experiencing aches, pains, and joint inflammation.
Dosage of CBD for Menopause
There is no recommended CBD dosage for menopause.
Everyone responds to cannabidiol and the other cannabinoids found in hemp in a somewhat different way. As a result, prescribing a precise dosage is challenging.
The quantity of CBD required to treat menopausal symptoms is influenced by a number of factors:
- Bodyweight
- Age
- Metabolism
- Symptoms’ severity
- CBD extract potency and type
The easiest method to discover your ideal CBD dosage is to gradually increase your intake over time while watching your body’s reactions.
CBD oil is the most straightforward method to begin taking CBD for menopause.
To guarantee that your body responds properly to the new supplement, start with a modest dosage of CBD administered under the tongue. You may gradually raise the dosage by one to two drops every two days after you’re confident your body isn’t reacting negatively.
You’ve discovered your optimal dosage when you see a decrease in symptoms. You may continue to supplement with the same dosage from here.
It’s easy to figure out your dose if you want to attempt edibles or pills after you’ve tried oil. Simply calculate the potency of the dosage you’ve been taking and use the same milligrams of CBD in pill or edible form.
Increase your consumption if the edibles or pills don’t appear to be functioning at the same dosage as the CBD oil. Gummies make this simpler since they may be cut into half or quarters.
Final Thoughts: Is CBD Effective in Relieving Menopause Symptoms?
CBD is a potential supplement for women going through menopause.
Aches and joint discomfort, hot flushes and night sweats, and weight gain are some of the physical symptoms that CBD may assist with. It may also assist with sleep, mood regulation, anxiety reduction, and depression treatment.
Women all around the world are successfully using cannabis and/or CBD to alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Although there aren’t many research on CBD and menopause, there is enough of evidence that it may help alleviate symptoms and make the transition time more pleasant.
When choosing a CBD product, keep the following in mind:
- Consider which type of CBD is best for you (full- & broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate)
- Do a lot of research about the business.
- Examine the findings of a third-party laboratory.
- To find out what works best for you, try a variety of items.
- Begin with a little amount of CBD.
- Gradually increase the dosage until you see a difference in your symptoms.
In this article, there are a number of references that were used.
- Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.
- Khan, R., Naveed, S., Mian, N., Fida, A., Raafey, M. A., & Aedma, K. K. (2020). The therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health: a systematic review. Journal of Cannabis Research, 2(1), 1-21.
- Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain‐related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European Journal of Pain, 20(6), 936-948.
- E. B. Russo, E. B. Russo, E. B. Russ (2008). Cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic pain that is difficult to cure. 4(1), 245. Therapeutics and clinical risk management.
- Rossi, F., Punzo, F., Umano, G. R., Argenziano, M., & Miraglia Del Giudice, E. (2018). Role of cannabinoids in obesity. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(9), 2690.
- Babson, K. A., Sottile, J., & Morabito, D. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep: a review of the literature. Current psychiatry reports, 19(4), 1-12.
- E. B. Russo, E. B. Russo, E. B. Russ (2019). The argument for the entourage effect and traditional therapeutic cannabis breeding: without “strain,” there is no benefit. The ninth issue of Frontiers in Plant Science was published in 1969.
I am on a quest to find the perfect pill to ease my symptoms and help me live my life to my full potential, and so far, I have felt more relief from marijuana than all the other drugs I have tried. My body has become accustomed to the pain, and the quality of my life has improved.. Read more about coronavirus symptoms day by day and let us know what you think.
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