Medical cannabis has been shown to offer a plethora of therapeutic benefits. In many ways, cannabis can help women specifically by offering relief from PMS, cramps, and the various symptoms associated with menopause. In every woman’s life, typically between the ages of 40 and 60, they go through changes known as menopause. Many of the symptoms and side effects that come along with menopause are debilitating and quite severe for many women. The most common symptoms and side effects of menopause include but are not limited to the following.
- Brain Fog
- Depression/Anxiety
- Discomfort During Intercourse
- Dry Skin
- Fatigue
- Hair Loss
- Hot Flashes
- Insomnia
- Low Libido
- Mood Swings
- Night Sweats
- Pain
- Weight Gain
The Connection Between Cannabis and Menopause
Throughout the body’s endogenous cannabinoid system, sometimes known as the endocannabinoid system or simply as the ECS, there are receptors that work with cannabinoids produced naturally by the body as well as those produced by medical cannabis. These receptors are also located in abundance throughout the female reproductive system. Substantial scientific research has proven the process of menopause causes significant disruption to the endocannabinoid system.
According to Dr. Felice Gersh, a globally recognized expert on women’s health and hormones,
“There’s an incredible relationship between our natural endocannabinoid system and estrogen and progesterone. A lot of people don’t know the endocannabinoid receptors are in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and in fact, the endocannabinoid system is critical for fertilization and embryo implantation.”
How Cannabis Can Help You Survive Menopause
There are many ways in which the common side effects and symptoms of menopause can be treated. When it comes to holistic and homeopathic medicine such as medical cannabis, the focus is on bringing homeostasis back to the body’s endocannabinoid system, thus better balancing a woman’s reproductive system and hormones, something that is essential during menopause. This can be done through the consumption of cannabinoids. Research today has shown that cannabis offers substantial benefits for many of the common side effects and symptoms of menopause.
Terpenes in Cannabis May Fight Fatigue and Brain Fog During Menopause
Terpenes within cannabis such as pinene and limonene have been shown to offer stimulating effects that may help with things such as brain fog and fatigue. Brain fog encapsulates various aspects such as lack of clarity and focus, reduced attention span, poor memory retention, and others. Additionally, the terpenes terpinolene, as well as caryophyllene, have been shown to offer stimulating effects, which may also help to reduce exhaustion and increase energy. All four of these terpenes are found in abundance within many chemovars of cannabis. Additionally, cannabis has been shown to reduce fatigue. In one study, over 90% of participants reported a decrease in fatigue after smoking cannabis.
Getting a Good Nights Rest During Menopause – How Cannabis May Help
Thousands of anecdotal stories, as well as many scientific research studies, have shown that various strains of cannabis offer euphoric and relaxing effects. Those that are suffering from insomnia which is quite common during menopause may find relief by consuming specific chemotypes of cannabis before going to bed. According to a 2017 review of cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep, it was concluded that research has shown that THC may help to decrease sleep latency. This review also showed that CBD held great promise for excessive daytime sleepiness and REM sleep behavior disorders.
Cannabis May Help Keep Your Sexuality Spicy During Menopause
Lack of libido is also a very prevalent issue for women going through menopause. With hormones all over the board, in addition to many women experiencing pain during intercourse during menopause, their desire for sexual intercourse is drastically affected. A research study from 2012 titled “Circulating Endocannabinoid Concentration and Sexual Arousal in Women” suggested that by microdosing cannabinoids, women may experience an increase in libido. The study stated the following.
“The results of this experiment revealed significant associations between endocannabinoid concentrations and female sexual arousal. In fact, this study provides the first evidence to date of alterations and circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in direct relation to changes in not only physiological but also subjective sexual arousal in women.”
Pain during intercourse, also known as dyspareunia, is a real issue and one that many women experience during menopause. Studies have shown that cannabis, when utilized prior to intercourse, is efficient in relieving dyspareunia as well as increasing overall pleasure.
Increasing the Peace – Elevating Your Mood with Cannabis During Menopause
During menopause, hormone changes result in severe mood swings for many women. Luckily, consuming cannabis can also help with that! Cannabis is a medicine, this is undeniable, but aside from medical purposes, this plant is also embraced by many simply because it makes them happy. It helps to keep a smile on their face. The research also supports cannabis’ efficacy in helping to stabilize and uplift the mood of consumers.
Cannabis has been shown to lower anxiety and is a potent antidepressant offering euphoric effects for many. THC is the most prevalent cannabinoid known for producing euphoric effects as it produces a rush of dopamine throughout the body when it binds with cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
As you can see, there are many reasons why women would choose to utilize cannabis to help find relief during menopause. According to some studies, it appears that many women are doing just that. In fact, it seems that more women are turning to cannabis than they are hormone therapy when it comes to menopause relief. Let’s take a closer look.
Women are Embracing Cannabis During Menopause More Than Hormone Therapy Replacement
In 2020 at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society, also known as NAMS there was a study presented that found that 27% of women in Northern California that took part in a health survey were currently using or had utilized cannabis in the past to manage menopause symptoms including insomnia, hot flashes, and night sweats.
Additionally, this study showed that an additional 10% of women were interested in utilizing cannabis in the future to manage their menopause symptoms when the time came. With only 19% of women reporting utilizing traditional menopause treatment methods such as hormone therapy, it shows that there is a growing trend in women embracing natural alternatives such as medical cannabis for menopause.
Have you experienced the benefits of cannabis for menopause? If so, share this article with others so that they can learn more about how they may also be able to find relief from menopause symptoms through medical cannabis.
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