Using CBD to Help Relieve Period Cramps
It’s that time of the month again
Visit from Aunt Flo. Moon Time. Mother Nature’s Gift. Cramps. No matter what you call your monthly period, it’s something most women endure- about every 28 days or so. Time to call in sick, cancel all plans, and queue up Netflix, because you’re in for the long haul.
If this sounds like your monthly ritual, welcome to the club! Recent studies have shown that up to 90% of reproductive-age women suffer from horribly painful periods. This can not only be annoying; painful menstrual cramps can completely derail your life.
Women are often too embarrassed to openly talking about their bodies, especially when it comes to periods and bodily functions. It can be challenging to find natural remedies that support your menstrual cycle, and even more difficult to find something to help you feel better when period symptoms have you down-for-the-count.
“During my periods I would have horrific headaches and, like everyone else, I was using ineffective over-the-counter pain relief, that would barely scratch the surface.”
-Ashley M, 24
If you’re looking for a natural remedy to alleviate pain during your menstrual cycle, CBD is the answer! In addition to a myriad of other health benefits that CBD provides- such as improving your sleep or enhancing your sex life- CBD will help you say “goodbye” to those horrible period symptoms you’ve come to know so well.
How Can CBD Help with Period Cramps?
Extracted from Cannabis Sativa (hemp), CBD is one of the cannabinoids that give the cannabis plant its medicinal properties, without giving you the high of THC.
Our body is full of cannabinoid receptors, and cannabinoids like CBD bind to these receptors- unlocking them and altering how our cells function. This helps regulate everything from appetite and sleep, to inflammation and pain.
One of the best-known properties of CBD is that it produces strong anti-inflammatory effects. CBD also has relaxant and analgesic effects, meaning it encourages muscles in the abdomen to relax so they don’t contract as aggressively and painfully.
“CBD has been scientifically shown to increase levels of anandamide, a neurotransmitter and the main cannabinoid that is produced by the human body, which can reduce pain and inflammation and can also boost levels of adenosine, another neurotransmitter which plays a key role in inflammation,” says MedMen.
Which Method of Taking CBD is Best?
In general, vaping CBD is more beneficial than ingesting it. Not all of the CBD you consume will directly affect your body: only a certain percentage will be able to enter your systemic circulation and produce its active effects.
When you vape, the CBD enters your lungs and diffuses directly into your bloodstream, rather than passing through your gut and liver. This avoids the first-pass effect altogether, allowing nearly four times as much CBD to enter your circulation for a maximum bioavailability of roughly 50 to 60 percent. Essentially, this means you can achieve the same beneficial effects with a much smaller amount of CBD.
Vaping CBD will greatly decrease the amount of time it takes for it to become active, since you don’t have to wait for the compound to travel through your gut. By vaping CBD for period cramps, you could potentially start to feel the effects up to 30-60 minutes faster… Hello fast relief!
Amanda, a model in New York, says she repeatedly begged her GP for help finding a natural solution to her period problems, but none seemed to help. She began using the Stanley Brothers CBD vape pen over a year ago, on her heaviest days, and says she now has regular, shorter, pain-free periods.
Amanda says: “Vaping CBD oil has made such a difference in my cycles, and has regulated my period like clockwork. I sleep better, and if I feel I’m getting pain or a headache I use my CBD vape, and it stops the pain extremely quickly without the effects of smoking THC.”
Additional Ways Vaping CBD Can Help During Your Period
Manage Stress and Anxiety
CBD helps the body manage and deal with stress. With its anti-anxiety properties, CBD not only inhibits the release of the stress hormone, Cortisol, but also slows the breakdown of endocannabinoid, Anandamide (more commonly known as the “bliss molecule”). Consequently, you will find yourself unbothered by even the most the painful and annoying of PMS symptoms.
Prevent Mood Swings
Hormonal imbalance is very common during PMS, and unfortunately, plays a large role in causing mood swings. CBD can help you recalibrate your emotional responses; CBD interacts with our body’s Endocannabinoid system (a network of cell receptors throughout the body that cannabinoids like CBD activate).
In Conclusion
While there have been studies that show CBD can inhibit certain types of pain, there have not been enough involving human subjects to be able to say what an effective dose might be, and if it does affect menstrual cycles.
It is recommended that anyone who is struggling with their periods speak with their doctor for advice on how to manage their symptoms. And as always, make sure to consult your doctor before adding something new to your routine.
By incorporating CBD into your daily routine, you can save yourself from the monthly headache of having to endure another painful period. Your body, and mind, will thank you for it in the long run!
