Can CBD Help with the devastating Menopause?

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz about CBD oil and how effective it is for different ailments. In June of this year, The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of CBD to treat two different kinds of epilepsy.

As more research continues, we have found that CBD has other benefits which include treating pain, depression, anxiety, and even helping to reduce the symptoms of menopause.

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the point in every woman’s life that marks the end of her menstrual cycle. Menopause is specifically marked by 12 full consecutive months of having no menstrual cycle. Although it may sound fabulous to get rid of that monthly time, there are many devastating symptoms that can cause problems before, during, and after menopause.

Before Menopause Symptoms

Before menopause actually happens, a woman will go through a stage called perimenopause. This stage can take as little as a few months or up to 10 years. This means you may be experiencing the following signs and symptoms for many years before you actually hit menopause.

• Irregular periods
• Vaginal dryness or pain during sex
• Hot flashes
• Night Sweats
• Insomnia or other sleep problems
• Irritability and mood changes
• Weight gain and metabolism issues
• Loss of hair or thinning hair
• Dry skin
• Irregular menstrual cycles or missed cycles
• Brain fog

During perimenopause, it is common to have periods that will skip a month and then return, or skip 2-3 months and then start up again.

During Menopause Symptoms

Once you have gotten through the perimenopause, the worst is not over. In fact, you may have new or different symptoms, or the symptoms may continue. According to medical analysis, you have only reached menopause if you have 12 consecutive months without a period. Here are some of the symptoms you can expect:

• Continued hot flashes
• Continued night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Weight gain
• Urinary Incontinence
• Osteoporosis
• Brain fog

As you can see, the symptoms leading up to menopause can be devastating which is why research is looking into CBD to help alleviate some, if not all, of these symptoms. But, does it really work?

Does CBD Help with Menopause?

Although CBD oil can’t make your body stop going through menopause, it can work in various ways to alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause. It does this through interacting with your endocannabinoid system and its receptors.

The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is a system throughout your body. This system is a collection of cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors. The cannabinoid receptors are found in the brain, organs, and other tissues throughout the body. Because they are found throughout the body, they can control many functions in the body.

Our endocannabinoid system works by connecting chemical messengers such as CBD to the cannabinoid receptors. In fact, research has shown that as CBD fits in its receptors, it plays an essential role in many bodily functions and your overall health. This system works with the following:

• mood regulation
• immune functions
• pain
• sleep
• memory
• fertility and reproduction
• temperature regulation

Therefore, when your endocannabinoid system is not functioning properly, it can lead to various health conditions. By manipulating the chemicals in the system through cannabinoids like CBD, research has found that we can help treat these conditions.

Because menopause disrupts the endocannabinoid system, it is possible that CBD can help reduce the symptoms related to menopause. In fact, cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the entire female reproductive system.

What Symptoms Can it Treat?

Research has not made it clear if CBD can treat ALL menopause symptoms, but there is evidence that it could benefit several symptoms to make it an easier transition. CBD has been proven to help treat the following symptoms:

Mood Changes: One of the worst symptoms of menopause is the mood swings. One minute, you are feeling fine and the next, you want to crawl into a closet and cry. CBD works much like antidepressant medications. Because it works in this way, it helps the brain to reduce symptoms of depression thus regulating your moods.

Related: 7 Shocking Ways CBD can Help with Depression

Sleep and Insomnia: Many women struggle with sleep disturbances including insomnia when going through menopause. This is because women are experiencing night sweats and hot flashes during the night affecting their sleep. CBD plays a big part in helping regulate sleep patterns thus alleviating the sleeping problems in those going through menopause.

Related: Fight Insomnia with CBD Oil

Weight gain: When you go through menopause, your hormones are changing. This change in hormones affects your metabolism. CBD has been proven to increase metabolism while stimulating proteins and fat genes to break down the oxidation of fat. Thus, you may be able to combat some of the weight gain associated with menopause.

Related: Drop Pounds with CBD Oil for weight loss

Hot Flashes: The natural cannabinoid, anandamide, is chemically similar to CBD. Both work to regulate body temperature. This means that CBD can essentially help control those embarrassing hot flashes that make you have to walk out of a room.

Pain and Vaginal Dryness: If you have experienced pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, it can be embarrassing as well as depressing. However, CBD increases blood flow as well as lubrication. Not only does it help make it less painful, but it actually helps with pain, in general, making CBD a great option for those suffering from symptoms of menopause.

Menopause can be a devastating part of life, but CBD can help make it a little easier. If you believe you are going through menopause, it is important to talk to your doctor. CBD oil may be the right option for you along with other supplements.