PMS is something that a lot of women experience every single month, where they deal with it before they get their period, and right after ovulation. This is typically something that begins with the symptoms, and the period marks the end of this. The symptoms do vary, and some barely notice them, but others, almost 30% of women get some form of them, and it can be so bad that it totally messes with the lives they’re trying to live. Some of the symptoms include:
Anxiety
Appetite issues
Irritability
Feeling sad
Major mood changes
Lower libido
Pain in the abdomen
Issues with concentration
Constipation along with diarrhea
Cramps
Pain in muscles
Headaches
The symptoms are numerous, diverse, and they targe the mind and the body, and these hormonal and neurochemical changes drastically impact a woman’s happiness and general energy and mood levels during this time.
Cannabis and PMS
While there are some other ways to treat this, including medication for hormones, different therapy, antidepressants, and dietary changes along with supplements, exercise, enough sleep, you also may want to use cannabis for this. In one survey, it was discovered that 85% of women that were there said they tried the herb, and about 90% of that group also mentioned that it was helpful for these effects. They usually used it either through smoking, or through edibles.
The relationship between PMS and cannabis isn’t a modern-day miracle though. Instead, more and more previous cultures in the past utilized this, in order to offer more concentrated, and natural menstruation, and it was even mentioned that Queen Victoria would use cannabis tinctures to help with her PMS. Now, there are some women who ask if weed really does help with cramps. Well, traditional and historical accounts are one side of it, but our best decisions are further created through evidence, based on trials which are human-controlled.
These trials do have women trying this, along with other natural items to see if cannabis would actually work. However, because of cannabis controversy, the science has stunted the further research within this area.
So what does the research say? Well, there isn’t some exact, concrete research, but there ae some people who have found that period cramps do benefit from this. Period cramps are benefitted by cannabis due to the vasodilation that happens with this, and it can help to reduce pain.
Plus, there is a fact that the ECS also can be impacted by this, dulling pain perception, and also reducing inflammation. In one study which was done by the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, it was found that cannabinoids, the ECS, and pain, along with the authors of this found that the analgesic developments do possibly happen, and to be able to use tis is worthwhile. However, the development of this into medicines that are useful is still a major challenge for a lot of companies.
As for mood swings, the endo cannabinoids can impact the chemistry of the brain, binding to the ECS and other receptor sites. It can help with impacting mood. There are ongoing studies that look at beta-pinene, a terpene that’s responsible for piney scents, as a way to possibly be used as a means to counteract antidepressants.
While there isn’t a ton of research, there is a chance that cannabis can be useful for the development and treatment of PMS symptoms, helping women everywhere have a better, more rewarding life as a result of this, and to truly offer marked effects in this.
