Over time, women may experience a whole variety of unique physical health conditions and concerns. Although many of them including PMS, hormonal imbalances, pregnancy, and menopause may come with their challenges and cause discomfort, most of them are inevitable parts of the female life cycle.
As one of the most popular natural wellness trends, studies have suggested that CBD may benefit female health and improve the overall quality of life. Read on to discover how women may benefit from using CBD…
WHAT IS CBD
CBD is a core ingredient in the cannabis plant, which is available in different strengths and forms. Often seen as CBD oil, but it is also available in personal care products, pills, powders, and MEDAHUMAN’s delicious drinks. CBD can be absorbed through the skin, ingested, or inhaled.
Potential Benefits of CBD for women:
HORMONAL IMBALANCE
CBD may have the ability to provide relief for women who suffer from hormonal imbalances. A small-scale study has indicated that CBD may help to regulate the secretion of one of our stress-activating hormones cortisol(1). High levels of cortisol can impact other hormone levels including thyroid-stimulating hormones and sex hormones. Any cortisol-reducing activities can therefore help to support overall hormone balance. In addition, when choosing hemp-based CBD products, you get a boost of omega fatty acids and gamma-linolenic acid, both of which can contribute to hormone health.
Hormonal imbalance occurs when your hormones are not at their optimal levels. As a result, even the smallest imbalance can cause an array of unwanted and unexpected effects. The symptoms of hormone imbalance can vary depending on the glands and hormones that have been affected. Here are some symptoms that may indicate an imbalance:
- Heavy or Irregular periods
- Excessive sweating
- Weight loss or gain
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Blurred vision
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Hair loss or hair change
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal atrophy
- Pain during sex
- Dry skin
- Acne on the face, chest, or upper back
- Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
Can CBD Help With Hormonal Balance?
Short answer, yes! CBD can help with the balancing of hormones. This wonderfully beneficial cannabinoid can be used to influence hormones like cortisol (the stress hormone), melatonin (the sleep hormone) and lastly but not limited to estogren (your sex hormone). Because of this, CBD makes for a great, natural treatment of hormonal imbalances.
To understand how CBD can positively interact with the endocrine system to help balance hormones, let’s take a look at how it works.
Hormones and CBD
Our bodies are made up of an interconnected network of receptors called theendocannabinoid system (ECS). This system works synergistically with our immune, nervous and endocrine systems and helps regulate key functions in our body such as: stress, mood, sleep, inflammation, pain, metabolism, digestive health, memory, reproduction and last but not least hormones.
Two important kinds of cannabinoid receptors in the ECS are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are found on major glands located throughout the body, and are activated by endocannabinoids. CB1 receptors are located in the central nervous system, primarily in the brain and spinal cord, as well as some organs and tissues.
This includes endocrine glands, and parts of the reproductive, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts. CB2 receptors involve the peripheral nervous system and play an important role in fighting inflammation. They are mostly found in white blood cells, the tonsils, and in the spleen. When phytocannabinoids such as CBD are introduced into our body they supercharge our ECS creating an optimal balance, or homeostasis in all aspects of functional wellness.
BEAUTY
One of the biggest beauty trends of 2020/2021 has been the rise of CBD skincare. It is believed that CBD may provide beauty benefits such as improving the look and health of skin, minimizing the appearance of dark spots, and helping to strengthen hair follicles. Studies have also indicated that CBD may help to prevent acne by regulating oil production and lowering inflammation, with the use of topical CBD also being used for skin rashes, eczema, and psoriasis. (2)
MENOPAUSE
CBD may have the ability to help balance out mood changes, reduce sleep disturbances and lower the rate of bone density loss that can happen during menopause. The endocannabinoid system is a group of cell receptors, called cannabinoid receptors, found in the brain, organs, and tissues throughout the body. This system plays a crucial role in menopause.
There are cannabinoid receptors throughout the female reproductive system too, with menopause disrupting the endocannabinoid system. This can explain some of the effects of premenopause such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and lower libido.
It has been suggested that CBD may help to reduce symptoms of menopause (3), with a recent small-scale study finding CBD could help to relieve chronic pain, lower inflammation and improve sleep – all concerns that can occur during menopause. (4)
PAIN RELIEF
Women have to face all sorts of pains throughout their life, from PMS to childbirth, with studies showing that CBD may help to decrease pain by interacting with the endocannabinoid system to reduce inflammation and interact with neurotransmitters.
(5)
Women suffering from chronic pain such as headaches, cramps, arthritis, fibromyalgia and more, have shown improvement in their pain levels by using CBD.(6)
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Studies have indicated that CBD may reduce stress and anxiety. CBD oil is often used by alternative medicine practitioners for patients with OCD and social anxiety. Since CBD activates receptors in the brain that produce high levels of dopamine, it may be effective for relaxing the mind and body, potentially reducing anxiety levels. (7)
GUT HEALTH
Studies have shown that almost 72% of women have suffered from digestive problems, such as IBS within the past year (8). It has been suggested that CBD may help to regulate digestion and modulate bowel movements, with a study finding that CBD can alleviate the symptoms linked with digestive issues such as cramps, bloating, and nausea. (9)
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8257923/ (1)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/ (2)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J175v02n03_02 (3)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204604/ (4)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5922297/ (5)
9%3Fshowall%3Dtrue#secsectitle0030 (6)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/ (7)
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-reveals-women-may-suffer-
from-digestive-health-issues-in-silence-300373970.html (8)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22815234/ (9)