Well, menopause is a natural process but a significant life transition for women. With a lot of challenging symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, joint pain, and mood swings, women experience a lot of changes during menopause. Usually, women take traditional medicine to relieve these symptoms. Guess what? Cannabis is an alternative to menopause symptoms medicine with fewer side effects. Many women are now exploring cannabis treatment as it becomes popular around the world for different medical purposes. So, let’s discuss the menopause symptoms, examining scientific evidence, benefits, risks, and practical tips for those considering cannabis as an alternative option.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a natural process in a woman’s life indicates that the woman’s reproductive cycle is going to end. It means the ovaries stop producing eggs, leading to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone. And the menopause cycle can be determined when the date of the last period happened 12 months ago. Menopause usually occurs in women (and anyone who has periods) between the ages of 40 and 60. Although menopause is a common and natural process in every woman’s life, sometimes menopause symptoms are often unpleasant, causing physical and psychological suffering for the woman.
What are the Symptoms of Menopause?
You know, according to a survey, 77% of women experience one or more menopausal symptoms they describe as ‘very difficult’. So, let’s discuss some of them:
- Hot Flashes: Sudden feelings of intense heat, often accompanied by sweating and flushing.
- Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Mood Swings: Irritability, anxiety, and depression are common.
- Brain fog: Nearly 73% of menopausal women report experiencing brain fog, including memory and concentration issues.
- Joint Pain: Aches and stiffness in the joints and muscles.
- Bone Density Loss: Increased risk of osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels.
- Weight gain: Weight gain is a common challenge during menopause due to hormonal changes.
- Loss of Libido: Menopause often leads to reduced vaginal lubrication and a decrease in libido. As you see, the symptoms are a lot and yet painful. That’s why some women manage symptoms with lifestyle changes or medications, others seek natural remedies like cannabis for relief.
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is an ancient plant that has been used for thousands of years for medical, recreational, and industrial purposes. It contains compounds like THC and CBD, which can affect the body and mind. These compounds help with pain relief, relaxation, and other health benefits.
Why is Cannabis used for Therapeutic Purposes?
We already told that cannabis has properties, also known as cannabinoids, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). ECS is a complex network of receptors that helps regulate mood, sleep, pain, and inflammation. So, cannabis affects the ECS and helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation, ease anxiety, improve sleep, and treat conditions like epilepsy and chronic illnesses including menopause symptoms.
Benefits of Cannabis for Menopause Symptoms
Hot flashes, mood swings, sleepless nights—menopause can be a wild ride! But guess what? Cannabis might just be the chill companion you need to navigate these changes. Let’s dive into how this plant is helping women take back control and feel like themselves again!
Relieves Hot Flashes
Hot flashes during menopause mean sudden feelings of intense heat in the upper body that cause discomfort. Cannabis may help regulate body temperature and reduce the frequency of hot flashes.
Alleviating Anxiety, Mood Swings, and Depression
These are the common symptoms that almost every woman experiences during the menopause phase, and its found in research & studies that CBD compounds in cannabis may reduce anxiety, stress, and mood swings, and improve overall emotional well-being.
Improves Sleep
Maximum menopausal women experience sleep issues, including difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, waking up earlier than desired, and lack of quality sleep. As a solution to this, CBD (cannabis compound) has been shown to have positive effects in improving sleep quality by addressing insomnia and restlessness.
Supports Bone Health
Cannabis may help prevent bone density loss by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Emerging studies indicate that cannabinoids may play a role in promoting bone density, and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Relieve Pain and Inflammation
Cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help alleviate joint and muscle pain, as well as headaches commonly experienced during menopause. Both CBD and THC have anti-inflammatory and muscle-relaxing properties but we recommended you to have a consultation with an expert before taking THC or CBD.
Support Women Sexual Health
Over 75% of women experience issues with sexual health during menopause, including loss of libido and difficulty in orgasm. It’s caused due to a decline in estrogen levels. A study was occurred in 2023 claims that some women find cannabis helps with low libido and improves intimacy by reducing discomfort.
Potential Side Effects of Cannabis Use
Honestly, cannabis has also some common side effects. And you have to keep in mind these while taking cannabis to reduce menopause symptoms:
- Common Side Effects: Drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and changes in appetite.
- Dependency Risks: Long-term use of THC may lead to dependency. So, always take small doses with a cannabis doctor’s prescription.
- Cognitive Impairments: THC may temporarily affect memory and concentration.
- Legal Concerns: Cannabis laws vary by location, so ensure compliance with local regulations.
To minimize risks, consult a healthcare professional and start with low doses, especially if you’re new to cannabis.
Case Studies and Research on Cannabis Use in Menopause Symptoms
While anecdotal evidence and user testimonials are plentiful, scientific research on cannabis for menopause relief is still in its early stages. However, some studies that we share below have shed light on its potential:
- A study published in PMC found that most women using cannabis for menopause reported relief from symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia.
- According to Harvard Health, many women are turning to cannabis for its ability to manage menopause-related discomfort.
- The research highlighted by the University of Alberta suggests a growing trend of women using cannabis for menopause symptom relief, citing its potential benefits for mood and sleep.
- A BMJ Open study explores how cannabis is being utilized by women to address various symptoms associated with menopause.
- Another PMC article discusses the effectiveness of medical cannabis in managing menopausal symptoms like anxiety and chronic pain.
- Insights from Curaleaf Clinic underline how cannabis is increasingly considered a viable option for menopause-related discomfort.
- These findings indicate promising potential, but more research is going on to reveal benefits and prove on behalf of cannabis use.
Tips for Women About Cannabis
Well, if you’re interested in exploring cannabis for menopause relief, here are some tips to get started:
- Choose the Right Product: Decide between oils, edibles, vapes, or topicals based on your needs.
- Start Low and Go Slow: Begin with a low dose and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired effect.
- Prioritize Quality: Purchase products from reputable brands that provide third-party lab testing.
- Always Consult a Professional First: Speak with a healthcare provider to ensure cannabis is safe and appropriate for your situation.
Conclusion Well, after a long and quite interesting discussion, it is promising that cannabis or medical marijuana offers a lot of benefits, relieving menopausal symptoms in women. Also, cannabis has other advantages for patients suffering from back pain, inflammation, rare disorders, skin diseases, etc. If you’re considering cannabis as an option to relieve menopause symptoms, it’s essential to consult a cannabis expert first. For professional advice, you can rely on Medcardnow to get a doctor’s recommendation, cannabis license, or card.
Reach out to us anytime.
