Are you struggling with heavy and painful periods? CBD might be the solution.
Author: Lucie Garabasova
Many women struggle with painful menstruation each month, which can impact their quality of life. Traditional treatments often fail to provide sufficient relief and may come with unwanted side effects. Recently, however, interest has grown in alternative approaches to alleviate menstrual pain, with CBD standing out among them. Discover how CBD can help relieve painful menstruation and ways to incorporate it into your lifestyle in the following paragraphs.
Official studies suggest that CBD may be an effective remedy for alleviating menstrual pain, especially for women with endometriosis and dysmenorrhea. CBD may also help with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
What are the symptoms of menstrual pain and what are common treatment methods?
Symptoms of menstrual pain vary and can differ in intensity and duration among different women.
Some of the most common symptoms of menstrual pain include:
- Cramps in the lower abdomen: A feeling of intense pressure or cramp-like pain in the abdominal or pelvic area.
- Lower back pain: This can manifest as a feeling of pressure or sharp pain in the lower back.
- Fatigue and irritability: Menstrual pain can lead to feelings of fatigue, irritability, emotional instability, and anxiety.
- Weight gain and bloating: Some women may experience a feeling of bloating, distension, and increased appetite.
Why does menstruation cause pain?
Menstruation is a physiological process during which the lining of the uterus sheds and bleeding occurs. Menstrual pain is caused by contractions of the uterus, triggered by the release of prostaglandins, substances produced in the uterus during menstruation. These substances cause the muscles in the uterus to contract and the blood vessels to constrict and dilate, which can lead to feelings of pain.
Common treatments for menstrual pain include:
- Prescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, which can be effective in relieving pain and cramps but are not natural and may have side effects.
- Hormonal contraception: Hormonal birth control methods, such as pills, patches, or intrauterine devices, can help reduce the intensity of menstrual cramps and pain, but of course, they come with a range of side effects.
- Topical treatments: Creams, ointments, and warm compresses can help relieve pain and cramps.
- Natural remedies: For example, consuming foods rich in vitamin E, increasing magnesium and calcium intake, practicing yoga, acupuncture, herbal supplements (CBD oil), and essential oils can help reduce pain and cramps.
If menstrual pain significantly impacts quality of life, it is important to seek medical advice to consider additional treatment options.
Breast pain before menstruation
Breast pain before menstruation, also known as mastalgia, is a common and often benign symptom that many women experience in the premenstrual period. This breast pain can vary in intensity and character and may present as tenderness, swelling, or dull pain.
It is usually associated with hormonal changes that precede menstruation. The main actor is the hormone progesterone, which begins to rise in the second half of the menstrual cycle. This hormone can cause water retention and increased breast sensitivity, leading to discomfort and pain.
Breast pain after menstruation
Breast pain after menstruation can have several possible causes, and although it is mostly related to normal hormonal fluctuations, other factors may also be at play. Here are some possible causes of breast pain after menstruation:
- Hormonal changes: Although hormonal changes are typically associated with the premenstrual period, they may continue to affect the breasts after menstruation. Fluctuations in hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, can cause breast sensitivity.
- Ill-fitting bras: An improperly fitting or unsuitable bra can cause discomfort and pain in the breast area. It is important for a bra to provide adequate support.
- Inflammation: Infections or inflammations in the breasts can cause pain. This may include mastitis, which is inflammation of breast tissue, usually associated with breastfeeding.
- Fibrocystic breast disease: This condition can cause the formation of cysts and dense areas in the breasts, which can be painful.
- Hormonal therapy or contraception: The use of hormonal therapy or contraception can affect breast sensitivity.
If breast pain persists or worsens, you should consult a doctor or gynecologist. A doctor can help determine the cause of the pain and suggest an appropriate treatment plan.
How can CBD help with severe menstruation?
- Anti-inflammatory properties and harmonizing the body
- Alleviates pain
- Improves the quality of daily life
CBD has anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects. It helps with anxiety and stress, as well as irritability, which can arise during menstruation.
Menstrual pain and cramps are often caused by inflammation and spasms in the uterine muscle, so CBD may help relieve pain by reducing inflammation and relaxing the muscles. CBD patches have proven to be very effective for menstrual pain, starting to take effect in about 20 minutes and lasting up to 10 hours.
Several studies are examining the effects of CBD on menstrual pain and cramps. In one study published in the journal Foria Awaken (this study was not published in any scientific journal but was conducted as an online survey among women using CBD to treat menstrual pain) in 2020, it was found that CBD may be an effective remedy for alleviating menstrual pain and cramps. In this study, 93% of women using CBD for menstrual pain reported significant reductions in pain and cramps.
Another study from 2019 (conducted in Germany at the University of Bonn) focused on the effects of CBD on neuropathic pain, which may be present during menstruation. This study showed that CBD may be an effective remedy for treating neuropathic pain.
Another topic that may particularly interest women is the impact of menstrual pain on quality of life and daily activities. Many women suffer from severe pain during menstruation that prevents them from carrying out normal activities, leading them to seek ways to cope with this issue. CBD could be one option to help alleviate pain and allow women to maintain a normal life even during menstruation.
Can CBD also help with unbearable menstrual pain?
CBD helps alleviate pain, regardless of its intensity. We definitely recommend trying CBD if you are suffering from unbearable menstrual pain. However, it’s best to start with a stronger product (ideally a 10% or 20% CBD oil), preferably in combination with CBD patches that can be applied directly to the lower abdomen.
Lower back pain during menstruation
CBD is widely used for back pain, so we definitely recommend incorporating it for lower back pain, which can occur at any time during menstruation.
How to take CBD for menstrual pain?
There are several ways to administer CBD to the body; it’s up to your preferences what you choose:
- CBD oil: CBD oil is taken by dropping it under the tongue, allowing for quick absorption into the bloodstream. If you have menstrual cramps, you can apply a drop of oil directly to your lower abdomen and massage gently.
- CBD patches: As mentioned above, CBD patches have proven very effective for lower abdominal pain. They are discreet and act directly at the site of pain.
- Hemp teas: These offer body harmonization and relaxation, which are important for alleviating unpleasant menstrual symptoms. The hemp tea from Zelená Země, "Women's Secret," additionally contains the herb lady's mantle, which also has positive effects on menstrual discomfort.
- CBD gels: The advantage of gels is that they can be applied directly to the affected area—most commonly for back pain (sacrum or lower back)—providing almost instant relief because they are absorbed through the skin receptors directly at the affected site.
- Capsules: Capsules can be effective for menstrual issues (pain, anxiety) that trouble you especially at night—they last the longest of all CBD products, which is desirable for nighttime issues. For daytime use, they can have a sedative effect for some people, so it’s advisable to combine them with hemp tea or possibly CBD oil.
- Vaporization: CBD is inhaled directly into the lungs and is absorbed very quickly. Vaporizing CBD is suitable for those who want the fastest relief from unpleasant menstrual symptoms. However, of all the methods of administration, CBD vaporization has the shortest duration of effects in the body, so it’s best to combine it with regular use of other cannabis products (CBD oils, teas, capsules).
How to dose CBD for alleviating menstrual issues?
It is definitely important to start dosing ideally at least a week before menstruation; if you can manage to apply CBD throughout the month, that would be ideal, but starting a week before menstruation is really desirable for the body to adjust well to the CBD and for it to be effective.
In the following table, you can find inspiration on how to start dosing:
Dosing CBD for alleviating menstrual issues can vary depending on the specific needs of each woman and the method of application. It is recommended to start with a lower dose and gradually increase it until the desired effect is achieved.
Can products be combined?
Yes, products can definitely be combined.
Ideally, CBD can be used as follows: CBD oil for daytime issues (taken in the morning), hemp tea anytime during the day, CBD capsules for night. You can also complement this with the use of CBD gels or have CBD vaporization on standby for SOS help during the day, as this provides the quickest onset of effects :-).
How long does it take for CBD to work on menstrual issues?
Again, like everything with cannabis, this is very individual :-). Some people may feel relief from pain and cramps within minutes after taking it, while others may feel the effects only after several hours or after a few days of regular use. It is important to realize that CBD is not an instant solution for menstrual problems and it may take some experimentation with dosing and methods of administration before achieving maximum effect.