‍Ladies, let’s talk cannabis!

Menstruation and menopause are inevitable. On top of that, diseases like endometriosis are incredibly common among women. The wide range of symptoms that women experience throughout life can be managed with the help of cannabis’s anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and relaxing effects. However, not all women are aware of this. And many of the women who use cannabis don’t feel free to share their story.

70% of women believe cannabis consumption carries a negative social stigma and 60% hide their use because they fear being judged.

—Van der Pop

According to a survey conducted by Van Der Pop, about 70-percent of women believe cannabis consumption carries a negative social stigma and 60-percent hide their use because they fear being judged.

Most women who use cannabis say it helps with pain and stress relief. But the stigma still persists.

Ladies, living your best life shouldn’t mean living in constant pain or discomfort. Cannabis can help you on your journey to wellness.

Menstruation

We all know how nasty and uncomfortable periods can be. And women have to ride the emotional-physical-pain roller-coaster every single month?! For many, the side effects can be unbearable.

Most women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) before or during periods. This means experiencing some combination of cramps, bloating, headaches, nausea/vomiting, volatile emotions or other ghastly symptoms. Sometimes the pain can be so severe, it’s completely debilitating. The surge of hormones throughout the body causes inflammation and alters the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Studies show that the cannabinoids from cannabis can help aid both emotional and physical side-effects, with reports from women who benefit from using cannabis for relief. It works by relieving pain, reducing inflammation and stabilizing the ECS.

A lot of women take Motrin or other common pain medications for relief and are still in a lot of pain. You can’t up the dose very much and it’s not safe to pile on strong narcotics like Vicodin or morphine. Long term use of all these synthetic medications can lead to serious health defects, making them an impossible solution for women who get their periods every month (aka, most women). Thankfully, cannabis offers relief without the threat of severe negative side effects with ongoing use.

Menopause

Menopause is one of the most major physical changes all middle-aged women experience. Ovulation stops and estrogen production plummets. Most women experience hot flashes, low libido, insomnia, fatigue and weight change. Some may even experience anxiety or depression. The symptoms come from an imbalance in the body that causes temperature fluctuations, cramping and mood swings. Some studies suggest that some of menopause’s negative symptoms may be caused by a reduction of activity in the ECS. Using cannabis to activate the ECS can help rebalance the body and regulate symptoms.

Bone loss is another common side-effect of menopause. Doctors often prescribe estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). However, some studies suggest that cannabis may be able to subdue osteoporosis. Several ovariectomy scans showed evidence that cannabinoid treatment helps reduce bone loss. Other studies suggest that cannabis could be used as a replacement for ERT.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects hundreds of millions of women worldwide, particularly those of child-bearing age. Growths or cysts form in the fallopian tubes, ovaries or elsewhere in the body. Abnormal immune responses increase the inflammation and spread of growths. Untreated endometriosis can cause infertility, painful sexual intercourse and can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

Treatment options include surgery, narcotic pain medication and hormonal therapy—all with many adverse side effects. Studies and anecdotal evidence show the potential of cannabinoids to treat and alleviate symptoms of this chronic disease, primarily thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

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