Four ways women could benefit from CBD

Women living with debilitating symptoms and often complex conditions, are finding relief in CBD.

It is now widely acknowledged that the current medical model can be guilty of taking women less seriously, with female-specific conditions often being misunderstood and therefore, going undiagnosed. 

Feeling frustrated, abandoned and living with debilitating pain and other symptoms, women are more likely to look for another option in medical cannabis.

But it’s not just cannabis medicines which patients find helpful for many of these conditions, CBD also has an important role to play in women’s health, as Cannabis Health explains.

PMS

As many as three in four women suffer from mild premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms in the weeks leading up to their period, with the most common cycle-related issues being two-fold – both mental, including anxiety and mood swings, and physical, such as cramps.

According to psychopharmacology expert Dr Julie Holland, CBD can help with both elements. As well as reducing anxiety, irritability and improving sleep, the remedy can help relax the uterine muscle where cramps occur.

Endometriosis

One in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis, a condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body, causing symptoms such as painful or heavy periods, infertility, fatigue and bladder problems. 

But despite around 1.5 million women in the UK living with the condition, it can take years for them to be diagnosed, and even longer to find an effective treatment. 

While research is still limited, CBD is emerging as a popular choice for women searching for a remedy to ease their endometriosis symptoms, with one Australian survey finding that cannabis and CBD oil were the most effective of all the self-care techniques used for endometriosis pain. 

As well as offering much-needed pain relief, it has also been suggested that CBD could limit the spread of endometrial cells around the body, though more research is needed to explain exactly how this happens. 

Menopause 

Between the ages of 45 and 55, a woman’s oestrogen levels begin to decline and the menopause kicks in – bringing a whole load of symptoms, from hot flushes and difficulty sleeping to anxiety and mood swings. 

While CBD can’t stop the process of menopause, it may provide relief to the debilitating symptoms many women experience.

For example, according to a study in Brazil, the remedy can have a positive effect on the amount and quality of sleep by regulating cortisol – the stress hormone – in the body and alleviating menopausal stress.  

Hormone imbalance 

The balance of hormones plays a key role in the health and wellbeing of women – the problem is, hormone imbalance is all too common.

From mood swings and insomnia to problem skin and irregular periods, hormone imbalance can present itself in many different ways. So, could CBD restore the balance? 

Research has shown that the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in maintaining balance in the body, is closely linked to the endocrine system – the collection of glands that produce hormones. As CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system, it’s likely it could be used to influence major hormones. 

Cannabis Health will be hosting a webinar on the role of CBD and cannabis medicines in women’s health on Wednesday 12 May at 7pm.

Expert speakers Dr Sally Ghazaleh, Sarah Higgins CNS, women’s health lead for Cannabis Patients Advocacy and Support Services (CPASS) and endometriosis patient’s Abby Hughes and Jessica* of The Endomonologues will candidly discuss this new field of medicine.

Find out more and sign up here.

The event is hosted in association with Integro Medical Clinics and CPASS.