Does your menstrual cycle feel more like a mean-strual cycle every month?
For many women around the world, the secret to beating those nagging cramps, belly bloat, and lower back pain is inside a tiny little bottle of CBD. Menstrual cramps don’t stand a chance against the power of all-natural cannabis plant medicine.
Catch today’s CBD 101 blog post if you’re ready to take back your life from the clutches of Mother Nature’s monthly curse. We’ll discover how using CBD oil for menstrual cramps helps you feel better, find out how much CBD you need for menstrual pain relief, and explore CBD usage tips to help you get the best results!
What is CBD for menstrual cramps?
Cannabidiol (a.k.a. CBD) is the active ingredient in over-the-counter CBD oil products. CBD is called a cannabinoid because it’s derived from the leaves and flowers of cannabis plants. It is non-toxic, not addictive, and rarely causes adverse effects when used as directed.
Cannabis plants mainly produce CBD, so researchers classify it as a “major” cannabinoid compound. Other “minor” cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and even psychoactive THC are also produced in trace amounts.
DID YOU KNOW
OTC CBD products have enough THC to promote health benefits but not enough to make you feel high or stoned. Pure CBD has no psychoactive side effects.
How CBD relieves painful menstruation
When you take CBD for menstrual cramps, the cannabinoids in it act like tiny chemical messengers in your body.
Cannabinoids can target special receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help change the way you feel safely and naturally. The ECS regulates stress response, hormonal changes, mood balance, pain sensitivity, and inflammation — all common wellness concerns women experience during a difficult luteal phase.
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Here are five ways taking CBD can help if your period is really being on one this month:
Fast-acting menstrual pain relief
CBD binds to a receptor site called TRPV-1, which senses heat and pain. Following prolonged exposure to the active ingredient cannabidiol, research shows TRPV-1 receptor sites become desensitized. As a result, pain perception changes, and pain tolerance may increase.
Powerful anti-inflammatory effects
When activated by pain and injury, TRPV-1 receptor sites release pro-inflammatory neuropeptides that cause burning, redness, swelling, and pain. Taking CBD flips the switch. It inhibits inflammation and causes TRPV-1 receptors to release tissue-repairing anti-inflammatory compounds instead.
Boosts the body’s own “feel good” chemicals
Anandamide — nicknamed the “bliss molecule” — is one of the body’s natural painkillers. It also relieves anxiety, supports positive mood balance, and improves sleep quality. CBD inhibits anandamide breakdown and boosts natural levels of this feel-good chemical.
Improves tolerance to stress triggers
CBD molecules interact with the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor site, which is crucial in neurotransmitter signaling affecting stress response, mood balance, and outlook. Aches, pain, and other physical discomfort from painful cramps feel less disruptive and easier to manage.
RELATED READING: CBD for calming the nerves
Helps you sleep better and heal faster
Getting a good night’s sleep is non-negotiable when you have a painful menstrual cycle because your body needs to heal and repair itself. With CBD, you can fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up rested and refreshed — not groggy. Research shows CBD may also curb excessive daytime fatigue to help you stay alert and focused.
CBD oil for menstrual cramps dosage
How much CBD you need to relieve menstrual pain and cramping depends on your weight. Use the Cannabiva dosage chart to get the correct CBD dosages for best results:
Current CBD users may continue with their preferred dose or switch to the dosage suggestions in the chart. If this is your first time using CBD oil for painful cramps, begin with the starting dose to see how it affects you. Increase how much you take if needed.
Actual daily dosages range from 25 mg to 1500 mg CBD. Since everybody is unique, how much you need to promote menstrual pain relief may differ from other users of the same weight. Individual benefits vary. For complete usage and safety details, visit the Cannabiva CBD dosing guide.
Talk to your doctor before adding nonprescription CBD products to your wellness if you’ve never taken a hemp-derived product before.
DID YOU KNOW
Starting with a low dose of CBD and increasing it slowly reduces potential side effect risk to virtually zero (<0.5%) in first-time users.
How to take CBD oil for menstrual cramps
Take CBD oils under the tongue (a.k.a. sublingually) for fast-acting benefits you feel in as little as 20 minutes. Sublingual CBD use works so rapidly because cannabinoids readily absorb through your mouth’s tiny blood vessels and capillaries.
Follow the step-by-step infographic below to get the best results from taking CBD oil under the tongue:
Other ways to take CBD for menstrual cramping and painful periods are softgels, capsules, raw concentrated CBD extracts, gummies, and honey.
Note that edibles and oral products you take by mouth and swallow (like CBD softgels and capsules) do not offer the rapid-acting effect of sublingual use. So they will take longer to kick in. CBD begins to work about an hour after swallowing it and reaches peak benefit two to three hours later.
DID YOU KNOW
Clinical studies have shown that taking CBD with food increases absorption and extends the duration of its action, up to eight hours per dose.
How do I choose the right type of CBD for menstrual cramping?
Choosing the best CBD product for menstrual cramps is easy when you know what to look for.
Research shows the most effective CBD is made from a type of hemp extract called full spectrum. These extracts are minimally processed, so they contain the broadest range of cannabis plant medicines for menstrual cramp relief.
You are already familiar with the beneficial cannabinoids in CBD products. Full spectrum extracts, which contain aromatic terpenes, antioxidant flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds, offer even more. When combined, they work together to amplify each other’s individual benefits, a natural synergistic phenomenon that scientists call the entourage effect.
LEARN MORE: Discover the magic behind the medicine
People looking for CBD oil tinctures without THC can opt for broad spectrum products. These blends contain many of the same natural medicine compounds as full spectrum CBD varieties with no THC (0.0%).
FAQs about CBD oil and menstrual cramps
Do you still have questions about CBD and menstrual cramps? Check out our FAQ for answers, or live chat a Cannabiva Sales Associate if you need help with something we haven’t covered in today’s blog post.