Is your period more like mean-struation than menstruation?
Nagging cramps, bothersome bloating, and tension headaches are typically just the tip of the monthly spear for many women.
What’s shocking is how common the discomfort is for, well, basically all of us! According to researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USC, Beverly Hills, almost 90% of women who experience period cramps or other menstrual trouble each month seek therapeutic relief to cope.
Now, we’ve got a new tool to add to our wellness cachet of menstrual cycle self-care. Say hellooo to CBD for period cramps, and wave goodbye to the days of wrestling painful periods. With CBD, those days are over — officially!☝️
Does CBD help with period cramps?
You may already think you’ve tried it all — from traditional pain medication for painful periods to different types of alternative period pain management treatments — without much relief.
CBD products for menstrual cramps work differently from anything else you’ve ever tried through the power of cannabis plant medicine! A new research review from the Department of Urogynaecology at St. Mary’s Hospital in London shows CBD may alleviate cramps and other symptoms of menstrual discomfort. The doctor-led team performed a critical review of 84 clinical study papers to identify the potential health benefits of CBD for women.
Study authors found that CBD could help relieve common symptoms of an out-of-control menstrual cycle, like cramps, muscle aches and fatigue, tension headaches, and lower back pain.
You owe it to yourself to see exactly what you’ve been missing if you’ve never tried pure CBD for period cramps.
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How CBD relieves menstrual cramps
CBD extracts contain natural medicine compounds called cannabinoids, which are exclusive to the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids bind to and interact with special receptor sites in the body’s endocannabinoid system to promote therapeutic health benefits in women.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates some of our most vital bodily functions. Everything from the mood you’re in right now to your pain tolerance levels, whether you slept soundly or tossed and turned last night, and even how well you handle stress is controlled by the ECS.
When you take CBD oil for period cramps, the cannabinoids act like tiny chemical messengers to help change the way you feel. They use the ECS to send out waves of healing and relaxation, directing your mind and body back into a balanced state of well-being.
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Here are five women’s health benefits you may experience after taking CBD for menstrual cramps:
Improved pain tolerance
Cannabidiol (CBD) binds to TRPV-1 receptor sites, which results in a decrease in pain perception and pain sensitivity. Menstrual cramps are diminished because your pain tolerance goes up after taking CBD.
Reduced inflammation
When CBD binds to TRPV-1 receptor sites, it signals them to produce an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. According to one research study, CBD amplifies the body’s natural defense systems to promote faster healing and recovery time following intense physical stress stimulated through exercise exertion.
Support for healthy serotonin levels
CBD interacts with the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor to support positive mood balance and improved outlook. Feeling more emotionally resilient has a holistic effect that can change the way you feel about everything else in your life. Everyday aches, pains, and other problems may become less disruptive and easier to manage.
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Better everyday stress tolerance
Your body produces its own endocannabinoids that have similar effects to CBD. Anandamide — called the “bliss” molecule — is one of the body’s natural painkillers. It also calms nervous tension and anxiety, supports positive mood balance, and improves sleep quality. Taking CBD increases natural anandamide levels, and together, they work to amplify mind and body relaxation.
Balanced sleep/wake cycle
We all need our nightly beauty rest, especially when hormonal fluctuations and physical stress throw our regular sleep routine out of whack. Taking CBD can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Best of all, there is no fogginess or groggy feelings the next day.
What’s the best CBD for period cramps?
Minimally processed full spectrum hemp extracts make the best CBD for menstrual cramps because they’re loaded with the widest range of bioactive plant medicines.
You know about cannabinoids, but full spectrum CBD also contains aromatic terpenes, beneficial flavonoids, and anti-oxidant polyphenols. Together, they amplify the health benefits of CBD through a synergistic phenomenon called the entourage effect.
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“Full spectrum” means your over-the-counter CBD product contains a legal low dose of THC. That’s less than 0.3 percent, according to federal law. It’s enough THC to promote positive health effects but generally not enough to make you feel “high” or “stoned” after use. However, some THC-sensitive CBD users may experience mild psychoactive side effects when taking high doses of highly concentrated formulas, like 12,000 mg Full Spectrum CBD from Cannabiva® brand.
Many people trying to avoid psychoactive THC altogether opt for a broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate product instead.
Broad spectrum CBD is purified during the production process to remove any detectable THC levels from the extract. It still contains many of the same cannabinoids and terpenes as full spectrum varieties. However, some of the more fragile cannabis plant compounds may be destroyed in the process, and broad spectrum’s plant medicine profile is not fully complete.
Isolate is a radically purified form of the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD). Pure CBD isolate contains no other cannabinoids, terpenes, or other cannabis compounds — not even a hint of THC (0.00 percent).
KEY TAKEAWAY
Choosing the best CBD oil for period cramps comes down to one main consideration: Are you okay with CBD that has a little THC, or would you prefer yours without it?
How to use CBD for cramps
First things first: you’ll have to find out how much CBD you need to send those period cramps ‘a packin’ for the last time. Review the Cannabiva CBD dose chart to see at-a-glance dosage recommendations based on your body weight:
On average, people with menstrual cramps take between 25 mg to 50 mg CBD per day. Therapeutic CBD doses range from 350 mg to 750 mg CBD. Maximum doses range from 1200 mg to a limit of 1500 mg CBD taken within 24 hours.
Everyone is unique, and different people of the same weight may need more or less CBD than reported averages. How much CBD you take for cramps and menstrual discomfort may vary from that of others.
Talk to your doctor before adding a cannabis product to your wellness plan if this is your first time taking one.
USAGE TIP
Studies show you’ll get the best cannabinoid absorption and longest-lasting benefits when you take CBD with food.
When will I feel hemp oil for period cramps kick in?
Cannabinoids rapidly absorb into the blood steam through the tiny capillaries inside your mouth, so taking CBD oil sublingually (a.k.a. under the tongue) is one of the fastest ways to experience relief. Take CBD drops under the tongue, hold them there for up to one minute, then swallow with water or your favorite beverage. You’ll feel CBD begin to kick in 20 to 30 minutes later.
Just swallowing CBD oil — without holding it under the tongue — may increase the time it takes for CBD to kick in. Cannabinoid breakdown and absorption through the digestion process take about an hour to feel and up to three hours to reach peak effects.
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FAQs about CBD for period cramps
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about taking CBD oil for cramps.