CBD oil and menstrual cramps: help for PMS?
Women of childbearing age may experience various difficulties during menstruation. One of the most annoying symptoms during this period is menstrual cramps. While some women experience mild to moderate pain, for others it is extremely debilitating. In extreme cases, especially in the first days of the period, menstrual cramps can prevent women from performing simple tasks. The good news is that there are several ways to relieve menstrual cramps. Many women are helped by natural remedies, such as CBD drops (CBD oil). People have been using cannabis for thousands of years to relieve a variety of ailments. History is full of examples of doctors prescribing this herb to both commoners and royal entities.
For example, Queen Victoria was prescribed cannabis by her doctor to relieve menstrual cramps. While we don't know if the cannabis in question was a variety high in THC or CBD, both compounds are considered "main cannabinoids". In other words, they are found in significant proportions in cannabis and are responsible for a whole range of health benefits. Modern science has since discovered the medicinal properties of cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. In this article, we will look specifically at the effects of CBD on menstrual cramps.
We look at whether women can use CBD oil to relieve menstrual pains and other difficulties.
CBD oil and the menstrual cycle
Women usually experience menstruation every 28-30 days. The menstrual cycle is a natural mechanism that prepares a woman's body for the birth of a child. Each month, a new thick layer of tissue grows in the uterus, preparing women for a potential pregnancy. The moment when an egg is released from one of the ovaries is called ovulation. It occurs in the middle of the cycle. When the egg meets the sperm, the process of conception begins. When there are no sperm around, it breaks down.
When the egg breaks down, it uses specific molecules to tell the uterus, "Hey, it's a non-pregnant month," so the organ sheds this excess tissue, resulting in bleeding.
Menstrual cramps and pain
Shedding of the tissue lining the inside of the uterus – known as the endometrium – causes menstrual cramps. As this lining is shed each month and a woman menstruates, the endometrial cells break down as a result of the shedding. Their remains are excreted through menstrual bleeding. In some cases, endometrial tissue develops outside the uterus. This is called endometriosis, which causes pain and scarring.
Local hormones known as prostaglandins and prostacyclins also act during menstruation. One particular prostaglandin – PGF2 – causes the uterus and surrounding muscles to contract. This subsequently leads to spasms and accompanying pain. The main reason women turn to CBD oil to combat menstrual cramps is because of CBD's effectiveness in reducing inflammation and reducing pain signals.
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a special group of symptoms that appear when a woman approaches her period. They usually begin to manifest six days before the start of menstruation and peak about two days before it .
PMS includes the following symptoms:
- mood swings
- irritability
- anxiety
- muscle tension
- outbursts of anger
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Common medications for PMS include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Common treatments for menstrual cramps
The most common treatment options for menstrual cramps are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These pain relievers suppress the release of enzymes that cause inflammation in the body. As a result, the release of chemicals that cause pain during menstruation is also blocked.
Some women use unconventional methods of pain relief, including heating pads and oral contraceptives. CBD oil and CBD products such as topical preparations, edibles and suppositories have attracted the attention of medical researchers . It was found that it could be a safe and effective therapy for menstrual cramps.
Does CBD help with menstrual cramps?
There is a good reason why CBD can help with menstrual cramps. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and inflammation by blocking the COX-2 enzyme. However, they also block the COX-1 enzyme, which is unrelated to inflammation and pain. COX-1 is responsible for maintaining a healthy lining of the stomach and intestines. Therefore, regular use of NSAIDs is associated with a higher risk of stomach ulcers.
According to studies , CBD is a COX-2 inhibitor, but has no affinity for the COX-1 enzyme. By targeting COX-2 exclusively, CBD can reduce inflammation without causing stomach irritation and other side effects associated with typical over-the-counter pain relievers.
One way to administer CBD for menstrual cramps is through the vaginal and rectal walls. These parts of the body absorb everything very quickly, because the active substance avoids the digestive tract and liver. CBD suppositories provide an almost immediate effect of the active substance. Using a CBD suppository to combat menstrual cramps can lead to quick relief from menstrual pain and inflammation.
The above phenomenon led to a new idea: CBD tampons. There are reports from women who use them for menstrual pain and they claim that they are more effective than previously used remedies
How to use CBD for menstrual cramps?
As mentioned in the previous section, CBD can be purchased in various forms. You can choose from products such as oils, capsules, edibles, topicals, suppositories, vaporization products, and more. Below we take a closer look at the most common CBD products for menstrual cramps and how to use them.
CBD oil
CBD oils and tinctures can be taken sublingually or mixed with beverages such as coffee or tea, or added to foods. In the first method, the user must place the desired dose under the tongue and hold it there for up to 60 seconds to allow the oil to be absorbed through the tiny blood vessels in the mouth. This method also ensures a quick onset of effects. These usually appear within 15-30 minutes after administration.
Adding CBD oil to food and drinks improves its taste, but sacrifices the speed of onset of effects. Because the oil must be processed in the digestive system, results may take 40-90 minutes to show. This also applies to CBD capsules and gummies. Oral products are less bioavailable because they lose some of their effectiveness in the liver, but on the other hand, the effects last longer than traditional oil – up to 8-10 hours. You can also try CBD in the form of vaping. Using a vaporizer pen, CBD enters the lungs and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This method delivers the most CBD into the body, provides the fastest onset of effects (5-10 minutes after inhalation), but offers the shortest duration. The effects of CBD taken via a vape pen last for approximately 3-4 hours.
The above forms of CBD can help you relieve not only menstrual pain, but also PMS symptoms such as irritability or poor stress management.
CBD for external use
Products such as creams or gels are formulated to help with local problems. When you suffer from muscle cramps, you can rub the product into the skin on the affected area. CBD interacts with the skin's endocannabinoid system to produce its anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects.
CBD suppositories for spasms
CBD can also be contained in suppositories. This form of cannabidiol can be introduced in a similar way to using a tampon – vaginally or rectally. CBD suppositories are usually made from coconut oil, coconut butter, or hemp oil. Their consistency is soft and they dissolve immediately in the body. Dosages can vary from brand to brand, although most CBD suppositories come in 100 mg of broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD .
Although suppositories work similarly to tampons, the application of CBD oil on tampons can be risky according to some sources. It can lead to a vaginal infection, which is a result of an acidity imbalance. But back to the suppositories. These products can cause vaginal irritation because the female reproductive area is delicate and sensitive. Note that the results of using CBD may vary from person to person. CBD can also interact with medications such as antibiotics and anti-anxiety medications, so it's a good idea to check with your doctor before trying CBD.
How much CBD to take for menstrual cramps?
The optimal dose of CBD may vary from person to person. When it comes to using CBD for menstrual cramps, there are no official dosage recommendations yet. To determine the correct dosage for your individual situation, start with low doses and gradually increase them until you achieve the desired effects. You can keep a journal to track signs of relief from pain and PMS symptoms. Tracking results will help you determine the right dose without too much trial and error.
Again, we encourage you to talk about your plans to include CBD oil they consulted a doctor with experience in the use of cannabis into their daily regimen.
CBD or THC: which is better for menstrual cramps?
Cannabis plants produce two main molecules: CBD and THC. CBD is the main non-psychoactive compound, while THC is the component that causes the characteristic intoxicating effects of marijuana. Although CBD and THC share several health benefits, they work differently and bind to different receptors in the body. Specific receptors interact with our cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2).
THC has a strong affinity for CB1 receptors , which are mostly found in the brain and central nervous system. CBD, in turn, mostly binds to CB2 receptors, which are found in the immune system. These two receptors control inflammation and stress, and when CBD interacts with them, it does not alter neuronal activity the way THC does with the CB1 receptor. It's hard to say which cannabinoid works better for menstrual cramps, as both compounds are powerful analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents. However, if you're looking for a product that you won't crave and that's legal, CBD hemp oil is the way to go.
Summary: CBD and menstrual cramps
Although there are few studies on CBD and its use in menstrual cramps, CBD has been shown several times in the scientific literature to help with symptoms such as inflammation and pain. Although there is no guarantee that CBD oil will work for you, many women have given up pharmaceutical painkillers in favor of CBD oil . CBD has a balancing effect on your body's internal homeostasis. It can also act on the same receptors as NSAIDs, but without disrupting the receptor responsible for maintaining a healthy gut and intestinal lining. Therefore, it does not have the side effects associated with the mentioned drugs.
In the Czech Republic, from the beginning of 2022, it is legal to sell and use products with a THC content of up to 1%. However, official authorities do not yet regulate products derived from hemp plants, so it is important that you do your research before purchasing CBD oil for menstrual cramps. Always look for reputable brands that use organic hemp and test their products for potency and purity in a third-party lab.
Photo: Shutterstock
Statement of responsibility
Every brand has a responsibility to its customers. Hemnia deals with natural remedies and a harmonious lifestyle. We like to write about these things and share our good experiences. In addition to verified quality and correct, understandable descriptions of our products, we have an obligation to familiarize you with what we can and cannot be responsible for. The goal is your safety and we fully respect that.
Short and simple: 1. Hemnia does not want or cannot replace the professional care of your doctor.
2. Hemnia products are not medicines (or medical preparations), so please do not approach them as such.
3. Hemnia offers cannabis products, but don't look for any narcotic or psychotropic substances here. We do not offer or recommend them.
Read the full text of the disclaimer here .