The menstrual cycle is a natural process that a woman’s body undergoes throughout her entire reproductive period.
Painful symptoms often accompany menstruation. At least one in four women experiences excessive menstrual pain described by the need to be absent from social activities and seek instant medication.
While home remedies help alleviate painful menstrual periods, many women are still searching for a better solution that will work for them.
There is a long list of natural and gentle remedies that are being studied to relieve menstrual pain. Aside from traditional painkillers, birth control, acupuncture, and supplements, one medicine that has performed incredibly well is CBD for pain relief.
A CBD medicine expert observed that patients who use CBD oil report less severe chronic pain and PMS symptoms. With all the positive notes regarding CBD for menstrual cramps, let us delve deeper and see how it works.
The Role of CBD For Menstrual Cramp Relief
Aside from lower abdominal cramps, women often experience the following symptoms at the onset or during their menstrual periods:
- Physical weakness
- Fainting
- Headache and nausea
- Dizziness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
Many practices relieve painful menstrual periods from heating pads, massages, relaxation, and exercises to pain relief medications.
In addition to these techniques, CBD for pain relief is another beneficial method that alleviates cramps and menstrual pain in the lower abdomen.
Benefits of CBD for Menstrual Pain Relief
One question circling the internet is, “does weed help with cramps?” Weed, particularly cannabis, is believed to be therapeutic for pain, including menstrual discomfort.
The active ingredient extracted from the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) is CBD or Cannabidiol. CBD’s effect on menstrual cramps is related to its well-studied anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties across many chronic pain conditions.
A study conducted by the University of British Columbia showed that 90 percent of women surveyed use CBD for pain relief effectively.
Significant benefits of CBD include:
- Reduction of stress and tension
- Relief from premenstrual syndrome
- Keeping the body balanced
- Positive effect on mood
How CBD regulates the endocannabinoid system also answers the question: “does weed help with cramps?” By binding to the cannabinoid receptors of the body, CBD alters cell function and regulates women’s appetite, sleep, and pain sensitivity.
Ways To Use CDB for Menstrual Cramps
There is no one-size-fits-all in using CBD for pain relief. If you are considering using CBD, remember that what works for someone might not work for you.
Here are some of the methods of using CBD for period pain relief. We recommend that anyone struggling with their period should first consult with their doctor before trying them out.
1. Add it to your drinks.
Seed oil extracted from hemp contains a high amount of omega 3 fatty acids. Adding a few drops to your water bottles helps reduce inflammation, the root cause of period pains.
When you add CBD to drinks as an emulsion, it forms into tiny balls of oil, which makes it easier to absorb and get to work faster.
Studies found that adding prescribed amounts of CBD into your drinks has several therapeutic benefits, including reduced anxiety symptoms and seizures. There are also no side effects observed from taking CBD oil.
2. Apply it directly.
If you do not like drinking CBD because of its taste, you can try using pure CBD oils as a topical cream or balm and massage directly into your skin. Applying CBD directly to affected areas, such as the abdomen, groin, or lower back, can help dull menstrual pain with an added soothing sensation.
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can also reduce the amount and severity of acne. Adding a few drops of CBD oil into your moisturizer can help reduce the sebum production that can cause acne.
3. Add it to a warm bath.
Research suggests that CBD also has moisturizing and healing benefits for the skin. It’s perfect for a relaxing bath at the end of the week.
CBD-infused baths can also help in reducing inflammation and improving blood circulation in your womb. Adding CBD, along with soothing essentials and fragrances, can elevate your home-spa experience.
4. Add it to your snacks
If you are not a fan of CBD’s taste, try adding it as an ingredient to your dessert recipes. In this way, you can ease your period pain and satisfy your cravings at the same time.
A study suggests that one way to increase the effectiveness of CBD for menstrual pain is by ingesting it with fatty foods. Delight yourself with many CBD-infused snacks like:
- Gummies
- Breakfast Cereal
- Chocolate Bars
- Nuts
If you are looking for a natural remedy for your menstrual pain, you can look for more information about using CBD for menstrual cramps.
Whether you plan to drink, eat or apply it to your skin, make sure to use certified products that have undergone quality testing before being released to the market.
Important Note:
Applying CBD oil on tampons is different from actual CBD tampons that have undergone testing for contamination and solvents that can be harmful when absorbed by our system.
Doctors do not recommend applying CBD oil or any formulations on regular tampons, especially those not tested for use in delicate areas.
Doctors also warn that these methods can cause an imbalance in the natural acidity of the vagina leading to diseases such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection.
Always consult your doctor before trying these methods for pain relief, especially if your menstrual symptoms are so severe that it hinders you from doing anything. It’s best to rule out any underlying causes of your pain.
