How does Marijuana work for Menopause?
Why Are So Many Women Choosing Cannabis For Menopause? from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
Any women close to her 50’s could tell you about the dreadful symptoms of perimenopause. The only benefit is not having the monthly menstrual cycle anymore, but that is where it stops. Not everyone struggles with hot flushes or mood changes. Some has a few symptoms, those are the lucky ones. Most have a combination of changes to deal with like: mood changes, Irregular periods, insomnia, hot flushes, decreased sex drive, dryness of vagina that leads to uncomfortable sex, weight gain, muscle tone loss, slower metabolism and urinary incontinence.
The Endocannabinoid system has a big role to play in Menopause. It has many functions but its primary function is to maintain perfect balance in the body. One of the functions is to regulate body temperature. It also helps to regulate mood, pain, sleep, metabolism and appetite and the reproductive system.
Before hormone replacement therapy was the first thing a doctor would use, but lately it is less desirable as it is found to increase risks such as cancer, strokes, heart disease and blood clots.
What role does the Endocannabinoid System play in Menopause? A reduction in endocannabinoid signaling might be indicative in the overall symptoms of menopause, because the estrogen levels are actually linked to the endocannabinoid levels. Both levels peak at ovulation, but when a woman is in the menopausal stage, no ovulation is happening. The female ovary reflects all parts of the endocannabinoid system, including the endocannabinoid anandamide and its receptors CB1 and CB2. When there is no ovulation, the anandamide levels are too low.
Lower levels of estrogen during and after menopause also indicates less activation of the endocannabinoid system and influences the way stress and mood is regulated. The endocannabinoid system also helps to regulate bone loss seen after menopause. The CB2 cannabinoid receptor is found in bone cells and when there are fewer coded CB2 receptors after menopause, it leads to osteoporosis.
But enough of the entire technicality; how can marijuana help relieve the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause?
Insomnia- Because of hot flushes and night sweats, sleeping is not such a pleasant experience and many women struggle with insomnia. Marijuana, for instance in a tea, helps a person to sleep better and deeper.
Hot Flushes- The THC in Marijuana helps to lower body temperature and it replaces the endocannabinoid anandamide where one of its functions it to regulate body temperature.
Mood swings- A very typical problem families all of a sudden have to deal with is the sudden change of moods in their normally level headed moms. Low estrogen levels during and after menopause most likely have an effect on mood as estrogen normally gathers endocannabinoids to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Weight gain- every woman has nightmares over weight gain. Changes in estrogen levels play a huge role in weight gain, but it leads to other health risks like heart disease, diabetes and depression. Recent studies show that both THC and CBD help to regulate metabolism and protect against type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the buildup of liver fat and helps with weight loss.
Bone density- As previously mentioned, marijuana help to prevent or even reverse osteoporosis and it is a great factor in older women, especially to help prevent fractures.
How much Marijuana is necessary for treatment?
As clinical studies are still a little slow on specifically the dosage of medicinal marijuana for women suffering with perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause symptoms, how and how much marijuana is needed is pretty much still part of self-experimentation.
It also very much depends on if you mind being stoned or rather prefer non-psychoactive treatment. Edibles or teas containing THC will help you sleep and control hot flushes. For controlling symptoms during the day, micro dosing would work.
Vaporizing is also a good idea to control symptoms during the day. It is better that smoking marijuana in a pipe, joint or bong as it doesn’t destroy the cannabinoids. Vaporizing heats the air around the marijuana and releases the cannabinoids each with their specific health benefits.
Other products such as a transdermal patch used on the body releasing the cannabinoids over 10 hours, and CBD oils are also very good to use. Not just will this not make you high, but it will have all the positive effects marijuana can offer.
Getting older and having and older body also brings more pain related issues. Here, marijuana is also a very effective way to treat pain, without the side-effects of over-the-counter medication.
In understanding the endocannabinoid system, it is almost a natural choice to choose marijuana as an alternative treatment for all the dreaded menopause symptoms.
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