Menopause - Can CBD provide relief from symptoms?

Menopause. Although for the women concerned mostly a vexed topic, it shows nevertheless once more, with what a miracle machine we are nevertheless equipped. During menopause, the female body begins to say goodbye to its reproductive phase. The ovaries stop producing estrogen and menstruation becomes irregular and eventually stops altogether. 

Occurring symptoms during menopause

For most women, menopause begins between 45 and 55, so π times thumb, the physical transition takes twelve years. During this time, not all women experience the same symptoms, nor do they experience them to the same degree. The most common complaints include:

• irregular and heavy menstrual periods

• Tension pain

• Hot flashes

• sleep disturbances

• Mood swings

• skin and hair changes

• increased risk of osteoporosis

A long-standing team: cannabis and female health

For over 3000 years, cannabis has been known as an aid to female health. Whether in Mesopotamia, British royalty, or medieval Europe, evidence of the plant's appreciation by its female consumers can be found again and again. In 1889, for example, Boston physician J. W. Farlow described the effects of cannabis on menopausal symptoms as follows: "Irritability, the pain in the neck of the bladder, hot flushes, and feelings of coldness can often be greatly relieved in my experience." What can cannabis do in its modern presentation CBD? We explore this question by looking at three hotspots for menopausal symptoms.

Mood swings during menopause

CBD increases anandamide levels by blocking the reuptake receptor CB1. At the same time, it binds to the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor. What sounds like a crumbled chemistry assignment is the explanation of how CBD may have a regulatory effect on mood swings. Mood swings are sometimes one of the most common symptoms of menopause and can have a wide variety of causes:

• Hormonal changes

• New body sensation

• Sudden onset of pain

• Abrupt confrontation with aging

• Transition into infertility

CBD is increasingly becoming the focus of many researchers when it comes to exploring its potential uses for emotional fluctuations. However, the studies to date are not yet conclusive enough, and especially in cases of persistent psychological problems, one should seek advice outside of the herbal kitchen.

Pain as a result of menopause

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can trigger a range of painful symptoms, including migraines, breast tenderness, joint pain, or increased menstrual cramps. Pain is a complex sensation and involves a number of cells, neurotransmitters and sensors. The processing of pain takes place in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), among other systems. The endogenous ECS can be supported by the addition of additional cannabinoids such as CBD.

Pain regulation is probably the most promising use of CBD, but here we also see that the results are very individual. If you would like to have a look at the experience of one of our female consumers on this topic, please take a quick detour to the article "Karin has headaches - Can CBD help her?".

Menopausal complaint bone loss

Part of the natural aging process of humans is a decrease in bone density. In menopausal women, this process is further driven by the decline in estrogen levels. Women are therefore more at risk of osteoporosis, in which bones become increasingly thin and porous. Conclusive scientific evidence for an effect of CBD is still pending. However, it is assumed that cannabinoids are responsible for bone remodeling and degradation and CBD could thus have a regulating effect.

Does CBD do what it promises for menopausal symptoms?

Menopause and its symptoms are as individual as the women who go through it. Cannabis has a long history of alleviating these symptoms. We pondered the potential of the natural product in its modern variant CBD for three symptomatic complaints. As is often the case: the potential is there, but it still needs to be thought through in science. So it is best to try it out for yourself.