As the popularity of CBD continues to rise, it manages to find its way into an increasing number of consumer goods. From CBD infused pillows to CBD enriched wine, this exciting cannabinoid is very much in vogue.
One of the big sectors that have taken a determined interest in CBD and cannabis products is the health and beauty industry, with many researchers constantly discovering new ways in which CBD can be used to treat and manage certain illnesses and conditions, including several women’s health conditions.
CBD oil and other products containing CBD are being advertised as a natural remedy for a wide range of women’s health concerns. CBD producers claim that CBD can help with sleep, mood, anxiety, help with the nasty hormonal changes of menopause and help cure PMS symptoms like pains and mood swings. CBD is even being touted as a way to improve sex! So what women’s health issues can CBD help with and is there evidence to support the claims?
Period pains
Many women face monthly struggles with their periods, symptoms can include mood swings, cramps and bloating. In fact, up to 20% of women suffer from painful cramping, also known as dysmenorrhea, severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
Scientists have shown that humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in their body which is constantly working to regulate biological actions like the immune system, sleep, digestion and energy levels. It is CBD’s relationship to our ECS that has researchers excited; it has been discovered that CBD increases levels of one of the key endocannabinoids in the body. Experts believe cannabis may be effective at relieving menstrual pain because of the high concentration of endocannabinoid receptors found in the female reproductive tract. Advocates claim that CBD causes the uterine muscle where cramps occur to relax, consequently alleviating many PMS symptoms.
Although there have yet to be large medical studies to prove the benefits of cannabis as a curative medicine in menstrual discomfort, a selection of small studies have taken place on humans which have shown beneficial results and many women online have voiced their support of CBD online as a cure to period pains. One such woman is Valentina Milanova, the founder of Daye, a brand ‘focusing on raising the standards in female health’ with its flagship product, clinically tested tampons infused with 100mg of CBD.
Menopause
As many women will testify, the pharmaceutical system is often deplorably unprepared to deal with the symptoms of menopause, even though it is a natural process that every woman will experience. During the transition into menopause, many women suffer from unpleasant side effects, from depression and anxiety to a low libido which has caused many to turn to traditional herbal medicines, including CBD oil, for support.
A soaring number of studies are showing the positive effects that CBD can have on women going through menopause. Just last year, a study in Colorado confirmed the success rate of CBD of over 78% in alleviating anxiety-related problems, with evidence pointing toward a calming effect for CBD in the central nervous system.
Hormonal imbalance
Hormones are produced in the endocrine system and act as chemical messengers, sending messages to various parts of the body. They play an essential role in regulating your body’s growth, metabolism, reproduction, mood and sexual function. In a perfect world, hormones should be produced at a regular rate; however, if the body is producing too much or too little of a hormone, this can have significant effects on the body, from fatigue to weight gain.
CBD may provide support for women suffering from hormonal imbalance. A study back in 1993 that explored the effect of cannabidiol on plasma prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol in human volunteers, found that CBD actually helped regulate the secretion of the stress-activating hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a primary hormone produced by the adrenal gland that manages your response to stress. The more stressed you are, the more cortisol your body will be producing. It has been shown that CBD oil may be able to help alleviate this reaction.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with about 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. CBD and medicinal cannabis have been shown to help alleviate side-effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy but have not yet been scientifically proven to treat cancer itself.
Studies have shown that cannabinoids provide relief for tumour-associated symptoms such as nausea and neuropathic pain and there is some evidence that they may decelerate tumour progression in breast cancer patients: cannabinoids have reduced angiogenesis and tumour metastasis in animal breast cancer models.
It is important to remember that results of studies testing cannabis products on cancer have shown promising signs when tested on animals and in lab dishes, but still need to be tested on humans to be conclusive.
CBD certainly has benefits on women’s health and overall wellbeing. There is strong evidence to show that CBD can help with stress, anxiety and depression, all of which millions of women suffer from every day and are a result of various women’s health problems. There are a number of ways to utilize CBD oil that can better your physical and emotional health.
It is important to remember that CBD isn’t a miracle cure, but can help ease side effects of various women’s health issues. There is still a way to go with approved research and studies but new information is continuously emerging that suggests the various ways CBD can be useful, revolutionising aspects of women’s health. Incorporating it into your lifestyle can boost moods, relieve pain and reduce anxiety, so it looks like the women’s wellness industry will continue to embrace CBD.
