Discover how CBD oil could help to balance your hormones and relieve symptoms of menopause, endometriosis, and PMS, with this expert advice from Ruby Deevoy…
Like just about every aspect of women’s health, the menopause and other intrinsically female hormone conditions, are wildly understudied and underfunded for research. Unfortunately, the same goes for cannabis research.
However, there are many discoveries about the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, which we know to be linked to healthy hormonal function. Not to mention particular conditions, such as menopause, endometriosis and PMS.
Does CBD help with hormonal health?
Understanding the endocannabinoid system
The first thing to understand about cannabis is that it interacts with something called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a complex network of receptors in the body that acts as your homeostatic regulator.
This can be found absolutely everywhere, from every skin cell, in your bones, muscles, organs and throughout all other major physiological systems – like the endocrine system. In short, its job is to relay what’s going on outside cells, into cells. This is so that the appropriate response can be triggered (or not) to achieve balance in the body. This is essential for overall health and well-being.
What causes endocannabinoid deficiency?
Many people are likely to have what is known as an ‘endocannabinoid deficiency’ or even ‘endocannabinoid dysfunction’. World-renowned cannabis experts believe these issues can be a result of a wide variety of lifestyle factors. This includes chronic stress, poor diet, lack of sleep. But what happens when this occurs? In a word, disease.
Ensuring you have a fully functioning endocannabinoid system contributes to good health (perhaps more than anything else!). And this, of course, includes hormonal health.
Using CBD for hormonal health
Other than correcting lifestyle factors that might be causing problems, and doing things to support the natural release of your internally produced endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG, which activate the ECS, you can also support its function with cannabis products, such as CBD oil.
Taking a daily dose of a CBD supplement can assist your body in the synthesis and release of endocannabinoids. Some cannabinoids found in full or broad-spectrum products, such as CBG and low levels of THC, can even stand in for a lack of endocannabinoids by directly activating the ECS receptors.
As a result, the ECS will be able to start working properly again, overseeing all bodily functions and helping everything – hormones included – return to and maintain a state of equilibrium
Can CBD oil help with endometriosis?
Can CBD oil help with PMS?
It’s fairly common knowledge that cramps, mood swings, a drop in energy, bloating, nausea, brain fog, skin problems and many other PMS symptoms come as a result of hormonal changes. As oestrogen drops during the second half of the menstrual cycle, so does serotonin. It’s women with the lowest levels of serotonin in the run up to their period that tend to have the most severe PMS symptoms.
We need more research to fully understand how CBD oil and other cannabis products may help with PMS. However, one obvious route is the way that the CBD molecule directly activates serotonin receptors, therefore elevating levels of this essential neurotransmitter.
Some people experience an abnormal reaction to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. These people may end up with a more serious serotonin deficiency. This can lead to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Usually, people treat PMDD with lifestyle changes that naturally elevate serotonin levels. This includes exercise, dietary changes and stress management. Some people also choose to take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
However, side effects from this sort of medication can be unpleasant. Plus, they certainly don’t help your body to naturally regain balance. Taking CBD for hormonal health, on the other hand, has no harmful side effects. It also works far more harmoniously with the body.
Can CBD oil help with menopause symptoms?
Lower levels of serotonin also play ahuge role in menopausal symptoms– so this is one way CBD oil may help with some unwanted symptoms during this transformational time.
In addition to this, it’s well worth noting that there are many endocannabinoid receptors in the female reproductive system. A fluctuation of endocannabinoids appears to play a significant role in the fertility cycle – including the end of that cycle, which we call the menopause.
During this time in a woman’s life, we see naturally lower levels of oestrogen. This can cause symptoms such as mood swings, vaginal dryness, hot flushes and night sweats. HRT is essentially an oestrogen supplement, taken to help lift levels.
Reseach has also shown that CBD may have some binding potential for oestrogen receptors. This is also true for apigenin, a flavonoid phytoestrogen found in cannabis and other plants. This means they may activate these receptors and support oestrogen release. However, we need to carry out further research to determine these effects more fully.
5 products to try: CBD for hormonal health
Camilla Organics Women’s Relief Oil (£75, camillaorganics.com) is a 15 per cent broad-spectrum CBD oil, blended with dong quai andterpenes. One tester found this oil reduced night sweats!
WholyMe Soothe Relief Drops (£33, wholyme.com) has unusually high levels of CBDA, making it a great choice for tackling endometriosis.
The Hempton CBD Topical Patches (from £25, thehempton.com) are a lovely large size to cover a good abdominal area. Plus, the patched contain 40mg CBD, to provice targeted relief when cramps get you down.
Alphaverde CBG Nano Mist (£59.99, alphaverde.co.uk) isa water-soluble formulation, making absorption and bioavailability second to none. PureCBG activates CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Monthly Calm Gel Capsules (from £16.99, createbetterdayscbd.co.uk) combine CBD with chamomile, cramp bark and fennel. Start taking them a week or so before your period.
Click here to discover how CBD oil can help you get a better night’s sleep!