It goes without saying that menopause is a normal part of ageing, but the period of transitions during this phase can be dramatic and upsetting. Although CBD isn’t a cure-all for menopause, you might be wondering if CBD can help ease some of the unpleasant symptoms.
Read on to learn more about cannabidiol (CBD) and a few ways to harness its natural well-being benefits.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is a phase in a woman’s lifetime when her menstrual period stops, marking the end of her reproductive years. All women tend to experience ‘natural’ menopause, typically between their late 40s and early 50s, as an essential part of ageing. However, those who undergo some ovarian surgeries at an earlier age may likely experience ‘sudden’ menopause, while others who regularly use some hormonal birth controls may be faced with ‘artificial’ menopause in which menstruation unnaturally ceases.
In a word, menopause occurs when the ovaries discontinue producing eggs and high levels of female hormones, including estrogen and progesterone – both of which are responsible for governing menstruation and blood cholesterol levels.
The scope of natural menopause is much wider than it may seem. To give you more of an idea, this natural process usually involves three major stages, such as:
Perimenopause
Perimenopause often starts at least 10 years before the complete menopausal stage – much like preparing your body for a natural transition towards menopause. At this period, some women may begin noticing some common menopause symptoms (which we’ll discuss in greater detail in the next section). Nevertheless, some women may still have their monthly periods during this time and may even achieve pregnancy due to certain factors – many of which may vary from one woman to another.
Menopause
Menopause is the stage when you completely say goodbye to your menstrual periods. Once your menstrual flow has ceased for 12 consecutive months, this simply indicates that you might be in menopause.
Postmenopause
As the term implies, postmenopause is the stage that occurs right after you have gone through menopause. In other words, this phase represents the rest of your life after one full year without a period. At this point, some menopausal symptoms may lessen in many women. However, some of them may also continue to encounter certain menopausal issues for a longer period of time – depending on a person’s genetics, lifestyle, and reaction to some hormonal fluctuations due to menopause.
How CBD Might Help
We all have our own endocannabinoid system (ECS) – a regulatory network of cell receptors, endocannabinoids and enzymes whose primary role is to send messages around the body to help maintain homeostasis. These receptors can also be influenced by phytocannabinoids – the cannabinoids (chemical compounds) that naturally occur in plants, namely cannabis.
The hormone estrogen plays an essential role when it comes to maintaining the communication between endocannabinoids and cell receptors. This hormone helps regulate levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is mainly responsible for breaking down our endocannabinoids as well as external cannabinoids like CBD.
As a potential result of having lower (or fluctuating) estrogen levels due to menopause, the ECS may find it hard to maintain balance within the hormones. This could partly explain the onset of some common side effects of menopause, such as mood swings, hair loss, changes in libido and difficulty sleeping.
Embracing The Menopausal Journey With CBD
Keeping your estrogen at a healthy level may be possible with traditional treatments and therapies as well as some lifestyle changes like limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption, having a proper diet and nutrition, obtaining adequate sleep and more.
If you’re looking to keep yourself in good shape even after menopause, the incorporation of our first-class CBD oils into your everyday life might be an intriguing option. As the CBD indirectly interacts with the cell receptors surrounding your ECS, it may assist the body with internal balance.
How To Take CBD For Menopause
Edibles
Edibles can be a convenient and delicious way to consume CBD. They come in all different forms, but you’ll mainly find CBD-infused gummies, drinks, cookies, brownies and chocolate bars. While they’re tasty, CBD edibles can take a longer time to be absorbed into the bloodstream compared to other methods. That’s because they have to make the long journey through the digestive tract, where some CBD is metabolised and destroyed before it reaches the ECS.
Sublingual Oils And Tinctures
Sublingual oils and tinctures are probably the most popular way of taking CBD, largely because they solve the problem of edible products by being absorbed directly under the tongue. CBD drops are typically held under the tongue for around 30-90 seconds before swallowing, where it is absorbed by the thin capillaries into the bloodstream. This makes the bioavailability higher but some people find it less convenient than other methods.
Pouches
A lesser-known but highly effective oral method is cannabis oral chew. Like CBD oils, pouches bypass the digestive system by dissolving into the gums rather than under the tongue. A pouch is placed between the lip and gum where the CBD dissolves, sometimes along with another flavour, like mint.
Capsules
CBD capsules are the holy grail of convenience. Capsules can be added to your normal supplement routine and swallowed with a glass of water (although be aware of potential drug interactions). Some people can’t swallow capsules, so consider taking gummies instead. Both edibles and capsules are a little slower to reach the bloodstream and bioavailability can be lower.
Vape
Vaping is referred to as the fastest way to get CBD into your system, as when you inhale CBD through your lungs, it allows the active compounds to reach the bloodstream quickly, providing one of the highest bioavailability, up to 56%. There are plenty of natural and safe CBD vape products now on the market that don’t contain PG, VG and nicotine, so make sure you buy from a reputable retailer.
Closing Thoughts
While menopause is a natural process that can have a significant impact on your life as a woman, you don’t have to go through it all alone. Education around menopause is finally starting to come into the mainstream and we’re beginning to understand the potential roles that CBD might play in many aspects of health, including menopause. We hope that as we learn more about menopause and natural supplements, millions of women around the world can enter the next phase of their life with grace and ease.
