CBD and Menopause
People are using CBD for all kinds of ailments and reasons. After all, studies being conducted are showing the promise CBD holds in helping us with some of the most challenging aspects of our daily lives. It’s no wonder women around the world are turning to cannabidiol to help ease symptoms of menopause.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. You may be more familiar with the more well know cousin THC. Unlike THC however, CBD does not get you high. It has no psychoactive abilities.
Why is CBD becoming so popular then?
Ever since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, the CBD online market has exploded. There are now hundreds of CBD brands available online.
That’s because the popularity of this natural hemp extract can be explained by the reasons some people are using it.
To be clear, for CBD products to be legal, they need to be extracted from the hemp plant. Hemp plant is defined as a cannabis plant with THC content of 0.3% or below by dry weight.
You can still get CBD from a marijuana plant. The THC content will be a lot higher, therefore it will need to be purchased from a legal dispensary, depending on the laws in your state.
Every product sold at The CBD Haven, is hemp derived.
Most benefits of CBD are user reported. While studies are currently being conducted, the FDA approved use of cannabidiol only in EPIDIOLEX.
Epidiolex is a prescription medication that is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex.
User reported benefits of CBD include:
- Angst and Worry
- Acne
- Chronic Discomfort and Inflammation
- Despair
- Substance Abuse Withdrawal
- Slumber Disorders
There are more. These are just the most user reported ailments people use CBD for.
Studies are currently being done on these benefits, but the potential is huge.
Currently there are three types of CBD variations, or spectrums available in the market.
They are:
Full spectrum CBD typically contains all of the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids of the hemp plant. That means THC is included as well. Full spectrum hemp extracted CBD products can contain up to 0.3% THC.
That amount is too small for you to get high or feel any psychoactive symptoms, however with prolonged use it can build up in your body and cause a failed drug test.
Full spectrum CBD is also the least processed spectrum
Similarly to full spectrum, broad spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids of the hemp plant, but it has been processed one step further to remove any detectable traces of THC.
You get the full benefits of CBD, without the THC.
Finally, there’s CBD isolate. This is the purest form of CBD out there. That’s because the hemp extract is processed in a way that removes everything except for cannabidiol. There are no additional cannabinoids, or terpenes.
The decision as to which CBD is right for you is a personal one. While some users prefer the full spectrum CBD due to the fact is has the full list of cannabinoids, including THC, others are turned away by it.
There are also users that have THC induced panic, in which case any trace of THC is not a good thing.
Our recommendation is to start with broad spectrum CBD and see how you react. Start with a low dose of 10mg to 20mg a day. Take half in the morning, and half in the evening. We suggest you keep a journal of how you react and feel.
After five days review your notes and adjust your dosage accordingly, either up or down.
Recently, more and more women have started using CBD to help manage their menopause symptoms.
To be clear, CBD will not prevent menopause, nor is there any specific studies that have been done to show it as being effective in easing all of the symptoms. However, some women use it to help with some of the symptoms knows to occur during menopause.
The most common of those symptoms are:
- Mood Changes, which can cause someone to feel sad, angry, depressed at a moments notice and without any warning. CBD has shown promise in treating despair, angst, and PTSD symptoms, giving the individual a calmer presence.
- Despair may be triggered due to hormonal imbalances in the female body during menopause. Poor slumberand increased stress can make things even worse.
CBD is currently being studied as a natural anti-depressant along with a healthy diet and exercise.
- Fatigue is a common symptom of menopause. While CBD has not been proven to increase your energy, some users report a much better rest cycle, which can lead to feeling refreshed and energetic in the morning.
- Joint discomfort is a side effect of reduced estrogen levels and increased inflammation in the female body. CBD can help alleviate those symptoms as some studies show promise in CBD being anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
It may take a couple of weeks on a regular CBD routine in order to feel the full benefits, as the cannabinoid needs time to build up in the system and work with your ECS system to bring the inflammation down.
- Muscle tension and aches can occur based on the same factors as menopausal joint discomfort. On top of digesting CBD oil sublingually, there are CBD Topical products that have been proven as effective in reducing these aches. Apply directly to the sore areas.
- Slumber disturbances are very common and can occur due to all the changes that are going on in the body. Some women may experience night sweats, wake frequently, or have difficulties falling asleep.
There are specially formulated CBD products that may potentially help you get a better night’s rest.
Bottom line is that CBD is not a fix all for all the menopause symptoms, but it may help with some.
Be patient as it may take time for the cannabidiol to build up in your system. It may also take some trial and error to find the right spectrum and dosage.
These are not FDA approved uses and more studies need to be done.
As CBD is generally well tolerated by the human body, and some women have reported improvements you should give it a try.
Since every one of us responds differently, start low and see how you react.