Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two most prominent plant compounds found in the cannabis plant. The other most prominent compound is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the chemical compound that causes a euphoric high in users of cannabis. CBD does affect the mind and body, but in a health sense, not a euphoric sense. Therefore, CBD can be used for its medicinal and therapeutic properties without the negative consequences of addiction and misuse.
Menopause is a natural transition all women experience in life. Usually, menopause happens between the ages of 45-55 in women. However, it can start earlier than that in some women. Either way, menopause is a natural part of ageing but does come with uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flushes, disrupted sleep, and mood shifts.
CBD has gained a lot more attention in recent years due to its health benefits – you can learn more about these at CFAH. More recently, there has been interested in its ability to relieve the symptoms of menopause in women.
How Could CBD Help with the Menopause?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is our own body’s production of molecules called endogenous cannabinoids. It plays a crucial role in our body’s state of homeostasis, which is essential for the digestive, immune and neurological systems to operate effectively. It also plays a role during menopause. Cannabinoid receptors are involved in mood regulation, immunity, pain, sleep, memory, fertility, and temperature. There are CBD receptors throughout the female reproductive system, hence why menopause can disrupt our ECS system.
The health benefits derived from CBD are thought to result from how CBD interacts with our ECS system and regulates it. CBD can activate, antagonise, or inhibit our cannabinoid receptors. Specifically, our CB1 and CB2 receptors. Therefore, in that sense, CBD is thought to treat the symptoms of menopause.
Which menopause symptoms can CBD treat?
Due to the way CBD can interact and help regulate our ECS system, there are a few examples of how CBD could help relieve symptoms of menopause.
Mood disorders
Due to the hormonal changes that occur in women during menopause, the risk of depression and anxiety is higher. There has been promising research into CBD that confirms its ability to regulate the effects of depression and anxiety. This is due to how it can help regulate serotonin – one of the brain’s happy chemicals. However, the research is limited, and the optimal dosage of CBD is yet to be confirmed.
Sleep disturbances
Another common side effect of menopause is difficulty getting quality sleep, which can significantly impact one’s day-to-day life and overall wellbeing. Sleep is essential to maintaining our physical and mental wellbeing. Some research suggests CBD can have a sedating effect on users due to how it interacts with our ECS system. CBD oils for sleep can come in morning or evening doses, and some are crafted with other botanicals for additional calming properties.
Inflammation of the joints
During menopause, it’s also common for women to experience physical pain associated with sore joints and muscle pain. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties and pain-relieving effect, CBD can help with pain and joint symptoms of menopause. However, research suggests that the topical application of CBD is most beneficial for this. It’s important to note that some CBD can interact with other medications, so it’s always best to speak with your doctor before taking CBD.
In conclusion, plenty of research suggests that CBD could potentially relieve women of the symptoms associated with menopause. It is legal and has been incorporated into many different kinds of products. Therefore, you can find a method of taking CBD to suit you.
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