CBD Oil for Menopause

There comes a time in a woman’s life when her body runs out its limited supply of eggs. This brings about many changes that are extremely uncomfortable and difficult to manage. During this time hormone levels fluctuate, which can cause a myriad of unexpected symptoms such as mood swings, sleep disturbance, hot flashes, and even loss of bone density.

Treatment options are limited and often include prescriptions for antidepressants and seizures which aren’t designed for treating menopause. It’s very frustrating to experience these symptoms without sound treatment options. Women are beginning to rely on CBD oil as an all-natural remedy to regain their preferred quality of life.

CBD Oil and Menopausal Hormones

When studying CBD oil for menopause it’s important to understand how hormones work with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is primarily composed of the CB1 & CB2 receptors. The female sex hormone estradiol interacts with the ECS in a very unique way.

We know that the CB1 receptor, which is primarily found in the brain, plays a role in regulating sex hormone production. You may already know that female hormone levels vary throughout the month in accordance with the menstrual cycle. This study states that not only do endocannabinoid levels fluctuate across the female hormonal cycle, but CB1 receptor densities also fluctuate.

Regulation goes both ways, estradiol down-regulates FAAH, a key component of the endocannabinoid system. As we mentioned in our post, How to Nurture Your Endocannabinoid System, FAAH is the compound that breaks down cannabinoids. So, with less FAAH, there will be more active cannabinoids.

Estradiol also increased anandamide in rats. Anandamide is a messenger that carries cannabinoid molecules, with more anandamide, more cannabinoids can be transported. With lowered FAAH and increased anandamide, CBD can be utilized to a greater extent. This phenomenon can only occur when estradiol levels are high.

After menopause estradiol levels can drop below 35 pg/ml, which is much lower than the average 90 pg/ml that an ovulating person experiences. Many who experience menopause consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of this.

Due to this drop in estradiol, experienced CBD oil users may notice a slight change in its effectivity as they enter menopause. During this time, it’s okay to try increasing your dosage, try a brief tolerance break, and follow some tips from our article, How to Nurture Your Endocannabinoid System. This doesn’t mean that CBD will no longer work for women entering menopause, the ECS simply no longer receives the benefits of increased estradiol on a monthly basis.

Menopausal Mood Swings and Insomnia

A study from 2006 states, “[E]strogen may elicit changes in emotional behavior through an endocannabinoid mechanism, and suggest that inhibition of FAAH represents a therapeutic target for anxiety and depression in women.” You can learn about some natural food sources that can help inhibit FAAH production here.

Fortunately, CBD oil can help with both mood regulation and sleep for individuals with and without menopause.

This abstract describes cannabidiol as having effects similar to antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. It states most studies showed that CBD interacted well with the 5-HT1A neuro-receptor. The 5-HT1A neuro-receptor is activated by serotonin, which makes it the target of contemporary antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

Another study suggests that CBD may even work better than THC for deep sleep. Drowsiness is a common symptom associated with high doses of CBD oil. This can be helpful for those with a restless mind in the evening. Night sweats, a form of hot flashes, can also disrupt sleep, CBD may be able to help treat these as well.

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes occur without warning and cause blood vessels near the skin’s surface to dilate in order to cool off. The onset is sudden, which can cause irritability and stress. There are few prescription treatments available for hot flashes. According to WebMD, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications are options.

As we mentioned above, cannabidiol has been described as having an antidepressant-like effect. We also know that Epidiolex is a form of cannabidiol that has been FDA approved to treat certain types of seizures. Therefore, it’s possible that CBD oil could be an all-natural alternative to prescriptions that weren’t designed for treating hot flashes.

Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

CBD oil has the potential to help treat serious symptoms such as loss of bone density. This study states “…in humans, polymorphisms in CNR2, the gene encoding CB2, are strongly associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis.” The same study also states, “…a synthetic CB2-specific agonist rescues ovariectomy-induced bone loss”

So, what does all this scientific jargon mean in layman’s terms? The study is basically stating that the CB2 receptor plays a role in postmenopausal osteoporosis, and they found that activating this receptor with a synthetic CB2 agonist can help recover the bone loss.

Luckily for us, the same cannabidiol found in hemp CBD oil is an all-natural CB2 agonist. An agonist is a compound that binds to a receptor to activate it. In studies, scientists often prefer to use synthetic compounds to eliminate variables.

This doesn’t mean that synthetic compounds are better or worse than natural compounds for practical use. In fact, whole plant, or full spectrum, CBD is well known to be more effective than isolated CBD in the treatment of inflammation. See here for a more user-friendly article on the topic by the non-profit Project CBD.

CBD Oil for Menopausal Physical Changes

Unfortunately, menopause can bring about unwanted physical changes. Skin can become drier than usual, weight gain may occur, joints can also begin to feel stiff and your breasts may become sore. Topical application of CBD oil is very popular and may help relieve dry skin and aches in the breasts. Try an aromatic CBD oil salve, or make a custom blend to suit your needs.  

For achy joints, and a boost of energy for exercise, you may benefit from our CBD oil capsules. Our capsule formula includes turmeric, black pepper, decaffeinated green tea and 15mgs of CBD oil.

How to take CBD Oil

Try a low dose of CBD oil to see how you like it. Pharma Hemp Complex CBD oil tinctures start at just under $20. Simply squirt a pump under your tongue, and let it sit for about a minute. This method allows the CBD to enter the bloodstream through the sensitive veins under your tongue. Allow 15-20 minutes for the CBD to do its thing before taking another dose.

Everyone’s experience with CBD oil is a little different. We recommend starting with a low dosage and working your way up to discover what works best for your unique needs. CBD oil may make you drowsy if you take a little too much so we recommend trying it for the first time at bedtime.

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