Cannabis is gaining popularity among women in their 40’s and beyond, particularly for its benefits in managing symptoms of menopause. Menopause and perimenopause, which is the period leading up to menopause, have become trending topics due to increased awareness and a desire to find better solutions than our mothers and grandmothers had.
Menopause is a natural part of the aging process; unavoidable for women of a certain age. During perimenopause, which can start around age 40, women’s bodies gradually produce less estrogen, leading to various unwanted symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, increased anxiety, and inflammation.
Perimenopause is aptly described as “puberty in reverse,” with symptoms including mood swings, irregular periods, changes in hair, skin, body fat, muscle mass, joint pain, and insomnia. Cannabis offers a natural treatment option for these uncomfortable symptoms. Many women are thrilled to discover a natural solution that can provide relief, especially when combined with estrogen creating an entourage effect. Personally, I’ve learned more about symptoms and solutions of perimenopause from researching cannabis than I have from my health providers.
Good news for cannabis enthusiasts and holistic health warriors: Cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and minor cannabinoids such as CBN can significantly help manage symptoms as the endocannabinoid system, which is influenced by cannabis, plays a role in regulating physiological responses such as body temperature, anxiety, depression, hunger, and sleep.
Let’s look at how cannabis can relieve some of the significant menopausal symptoms:
HOT FLASHES
Hot flashes and night sweats are a common disturbance of women’s sleep in mid life! And if hot flashes and night sweats are keeping you awake, you’re more susceptible to stress, mood swings, and increased hunger. This is a primary reason why weight gain in midlife is common for women!
Cannabis can mitigate hot flashes and night sweats by relaxing and expanding blood vessels to help regulate temperature. Both CBD and THC interact with the receptors in the brain to regulate temperature, mood and sleep.
I recommend including some THC for hot flashes because anandamide is in the pathway of temperature regulation and THC stimulates anandamide. I suggest starting with a low dose of a full spectrum CBD or a balanced ratio of CBD and THC through your preferred delivery method (inhalation, edible, tincture). This will minimize the “high” feeling but provide relief.
SLEEP
In addition to hot flashes, symptoms like muscle aches and joint pains can often disrupt our sleep, causing a cascade of negative effects on our hormones, energy levels, mood, and appetite, among other things.
In perimenopause, many women experience difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. THC, known for its sedative properties, can help with falling asleep, while CBD can aid in staying asleep. Combining THC and CBD ensures a restful night’s sleep.
The sleep-promoting effects of cannabinoids are believed to be due to their interactions with cannabinoid receptors in the brain. When cannabinoids bind to these receptors, they increase levels of the neurotransmitter adenosine, which promotes sleep. They also suppress the brain’s natural wakefulness, inducing a feeling of sleepiness or sedation.
When looking for a THC strain that promotes sleep, I recommend searching for terpenes like myrcene, linalool, and terpinolene as terpenes are known to have sedative properties.
CBD, on the other hand, tends to promote alertness. It may reduce symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness. Indica strains of CBD are generally more sedating, while sativas promote awakeness, focus, and mental sharpness.
CBN, or cannabinol, is another cannabinoid known for its powerful sedative properties. It promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality by influencing sleep-wake cycles through the endocannabinoid system. CBN also has mild analgesic effects, relieving discomfort and pain that could interfere with sleep.
Improving sleep can have various positive effects on our health. It can reduce weight gain by regulating hunger and fullness hormones, increase energy and vitality during the day, and contribute to better mental health.
MOOD SWINGS
CBD is an effective mood regulator that can help balance our emotional state. Taking a daily CBD supplement has been found to even out moods, minimizing the dramatic highs and lows that can make us feel like we’re back in our teenage years. This is particularly beneficial for women experiencing irritability commonly known as “menopause rage.”
By regulating mood, CBD helps reduce emotional fluctuations that can interfere with our daily functioning. It enables us to approach situations with a calmer mindset, allowing for a more rational perspective. For instance, CBD can help us rationalize the benefits of exercise even when we may be overwhelmed by negative emotions.
STRESS & ANXIETY
CBD reduces the underlying stress that causes feelings of burnout, exhaustion and mental overload while improving focus and concentration. This, in turn, helps us to implement more effective time management strategies in order to feel less overwhelmed and create space for our own needs.
I personally find that consuming CBD or low doses of THC cannabis before a task or chore allows my mind to focus more on the task at hand by quieting down the “background noise” in my mind. This allows for more productivity, creativity and fun, while relieving the overload, exhaustion and burnout.
CBD and THC both prove beneficial when it comes to stress and anxiety. Both CBD & THC have been shown to interact with serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that assists in regulating mood, anxiety and appetite. CBD and THC increase serotonin levels, leading to feelings of relaxation, euphoria and mood elevation. The effects vary by strain and may take some time to find the right one for you. Look for sativa strains with the terpenes limonene to be uplifting and energizing, and linalool to be relaxing and calming.
JOINT PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
CBD reduces inflammation, which will help relieve joint pain. It will also make exercise more comfortable, which in turn, allows you to move more. Movement allows your joints to produce more synovial fluid which eases pain and makes exercise feel better.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to reduce inflammation by suppressing the formation of pro-inflammatory compounds and triggers inflammation resolving compounds in our cells. A daily CBD regime will reduce inflammation in the body and daily THC use will mitigate any pain – whether it’s chronic or a result of inflammation.
Additionally, topical CBD products offer localized pain relief through its anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant properties.
Furthermore, I recommend incorporating types of movement that feel good for your body. This can include activities such as walking, yoga, dancing, resistance training or any intentional movement that you enjoy. These activities should promote blood flow throughout the body, provide resistance to strengthen muscles and challenge the heart.
All of this is why you’ll find women flocking to dispensaries and seeking solutions online to ease symptoms. Have you been hearing about this? I would love to hear from you!
If you’re interested in more personalized information or want to explore this topic further, feel free to reach out to me directly at Beth@Cannafitnessnutrition.com.
You can discover more about my comprehensive 12 week program, CannaFit, which helps you integrate cannabis as a tool into your fitness and nutrition to overcome obstacles such as stress or emotional eating at www.cannafitnessnutrition.com.