Painful periods: could CBD be the solution?
The menstrual cycle in women
Pain, fatigue, nausea, uneasiness, depression (the list is not exhaustive) are the different symptoms that women can feel during their period. A subject defined as taboo, the pain felt during menstruation can sometimes slow down their lifestyle or even stop it completely. While menstruation affects almost all women, painful periods affect 48% and 60% of younger women, i.e. those aged 15-19, of whom 20% experience very painful periods. Menstrual cramps can be embarrassing for these women, sometimes preventing them from going to school or work.
Several studies have shown that CBD may have positive effects on women's bodies during their periods. Cakespace looks into this by showing you how to use CBD during your period pains.
What does a period look like?
What is "menstruation" anyway? To begin with, menstruation is the flow of blood in a menstruating person. It comes from the removal of a membrane in the uterus called the endometrium.
Each month, the endometrium in the body thickens to form a kind of nest that will be ready to receive the embryo. In the course of the cycle, an ovary releases a mature egg, which is then called ovulation. If the egg is not fertilised by a spermatozoon, it dies and the endometrium disintegrates, creating the phenomenon of menstruation.
What about painful periods? This is called dysmenorrhoea.
Dysmenorrhoea involves the contraction of the uterus in order to evacuate the nest created by the endometrium. It usually lasts for 2 to 3 days. Women may experience severe pain during their periods. Although the intensity of the cramps may vary from woman to woman, studies show that it is not normal to suffer during your period.
Furthermore, it is well known that a few days before the start of the period, different symptoms can be felt by some women. This is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is defined as a combination of symptoms that appear a few days or even 1-2 weeks before the onset of menstruation and affect the behaviour of the person concerned. They can affect your body and your brain, but it varies from woman to woman.
Some symptoms
- Tension or anxiety
- Cravings
- Insomnia
- Low libido
- Joint or muscle pain
- Bloating
- Chest pain...
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is a molecule present in the hemp plant. It is one of the many cannabinoids present in the plant, just like its sulphurous cousin, THC. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychotropic effects and does not make its consumer addictive. To be legally consumed in France, CBD-based products must not exceed a content of 0.03% THC.
Cannabinoids are molecules that interact with your body's endocannabinoid system. These are receptors that have a direct impact on stress and pain management. CBD will therefore be able to stop incoming pain information by binding to endocannabinoid receptors, allowing it to reduce pain.
It is known for its therapeutic benefits. It has been scientifically proven that CBD has analgesic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, allowing you to calm your anxiety, your pain or to find sleep thanks to its numerous virtues. Nowadays, CBD is synonymous with well-being and relaxation.
If you want to know more about the benefits of CBD, we advise you to read our article on the subject.
CBD and menstruation: does it work?
Recent research by Dr John Thiel has shown that the female uterus has endocannabinoid receptors, which means that CBD could indeed have a positive impact on the female reproductive system. But these studies still need to be further investigated.
From PMS to dysmenorrhoea, CBD could play a role in the pain and discomfort experienced by some women, such as cramps, nausea and vomiting.
And because every woman is different, CBD will have a different way of affecting you and the symptoms you may experience each month. Let's take a look at the different ways CBD can affect PMS.
CBD can relieve your physical pain. You probably know this (we're just repeating it here) but one of the things CBD is known for is being a great natural anti-inflammatory to help you with pain. So, if you are experiencing PMS symptoms such as cramps, back pain, chest pain, and others, you can take full advantage of the therapeutic properties of CBD, allowing you to better experience your cycle and pre-cycle.
Did you know that CBD is one of your allies in the regulation of emotions? CBD has proven to be a very effective anti-inflammatory and a natural antidepressant. It will interact with the body's endocannabinoid system and allow you to balance your hormones.
Very few studies have been conducted on the impact of CBD on menstrual pain, however many women have been seduced by this natural method and are very happy with it.
Dosing CBD: how to do it?
Just like the syndromes experienced, the use of CBD for the various problems linked to menstruation varies from one person to another depending on the method of administration, the dosage and especially the composition of the product. The results and effectiveness may therefore be different for you.
As far as the dosage of CBD is concerned, we advise you to vary the dosages and the dosage to find out what suits you best. As we like to repeat ourselves (yes, it is redundant but it is to better assimilate it) the doses can vary depending on your weight, your own sensitivity to cannabinoids and body chemistry and your physiological condition.
Currently, the most common form of CBD consumption during your cycle is CBD oil. Presented in a bottle with a graduated pipette, it is the most effective way to overcome the problems you may encounter during your period. A few drops under the tongue are enough to act effectively on your body, several times a day if that's what suits you best.
Because you need to know how to use the best products, we have prepared a short article for you, if you are lost, where we explain how to recognize a quality CBD oil. Depending on its concentration, the oil will have a relaxing and soothing effect after about 30 minutes.
If you have never used CBD oil before, we recommend that you start with a concentration of 10% before testing the others.
Otherwise, you have the option of CBD infusions. The CBD flower infusion, which is brewed like a normal tea, will give you mild and relaxing effects.
If, despite all the treatments, the pain and cramps persist, then think about consulting your doctor as sometimes it is a much more serious problem such as endometriosis. The scientific studies are not extensive enough, but CBD could also help you to relieve endometriosis.
For too long, the problem of menstruation has never really been solved. Doctors are not willing to answer all the questions asked.
We want to remind you that period pain is not normal and that women have often internalised that they are in pain when they shouldn't be. If the pain persists, we strongly advise you to consult your doctor.
If you enjoyed our little update on the female cycle, then be sure to check out the others on our blog to stay informed and on our social networks for some cool content!
Cake it easy,
The Cakespace Team