CBD And Women’s Health

How CBD Affects Women’s Health 

CBD or cannabidiol is a naturally occurring material found within the cannabis plant. It is often praised for its ability to treat pain relief and anti-inflammation, among other ailments and afflictions.  

As CBD becomes more prevalent in society, so has the research behind it. Now, CBD has been shown entering a new arena: women’s health. 

Women have started to incorporate CBD into their wellness and self-care routines. 

Specifically, CBD is being used to treat menstrual symptoms, skin and hair care, breast cancer, and even autoimmune diseases. 

In this article, we’ll discuss CBD and its effects on women’s health. 

What is CBD, and How Does it Work?

CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from the cannabis plant that has been used for centuries for its natural medicinal purposes. 

Your body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) processes CBD. The ECS is a naturally present, complex, biological system inside our bodies responsible for maintaining homeostasis and regulating bodily functions, including immunity, sleep, mood, and appetite.

CBD contains CBD1 and CBD2 receptors that are receiving mechanisms that interact and communicate with your ECS, which ultimately allows CBD to affect your body. 

PMS and CBD – how CBD can assist with period symptoms

PMS or premenstrual syndrome is characterized by an array of ailments that can affect women before starting their menstrual cycle or period. 

These include mood swings, irritability, depression, fatigue, food cravings, acne, headaches, tenderness of the breasts, joint pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal cramping, and heavy bleeding. 

Many of these symptoms carry over into the period, meaning that PMS and period symptoms can remain present for up to or over two weeks when combined. 

CBD can be used to treat premenstrual and menstrual symptoms, targeting both the physical and emotional effects. 

Period Pain Relief: Can CBD help with cramping and craving?

CBD is often used for pain relief and anti-inflammation and can reduce the pain, discomfort, and aches caused by cramping, tender breasts, headaches, and joint pain. 

Reduction of swelling leads to less stomach pain and inflammation, and CBD also can maintain or regulate bowel movements and relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal issues. 

CBD can decrease bloating and food cravings associated with your menstrual cycle. 

CBD has the potential to mitigate appetite because CBD1 antagonist receptors prevent hormones that stimulate food intake and CBD2 receptors reduce inflammation and food consumption. 

Together, pain relief and intestinal regulation could greatly benefit period pain and discomfort.

How CBD can Positively Affect Mood, Anxiety, and Depression in Women

Other afflictions CBD is commonly applied to include sleeplessness and mood regulation. 

Using CBD while on your period may help you sleep better at night, leading you to feel less tired the next day. 

You may also stress less or experience a change in mood and irritability due to CBD’s interaction with hormones. 

CBD affects your hormones because of the role the ECS has in maintaining balance throughout your body. The ECS regulates an abundance of bodily functions, including stress, mood, fertility, and immunity. 

Although more research is needed on the extent of CBDs relationship with your hormones, we know that CBD is processed through your ECS and can have similar effects on hormones as it does mood, sleep, or appetite. 

But CBD can help with more than menstrual mood swings. CBD could also improve your overall emotions and be beneficial for anxiety and depression.

For the same reasons that CBD helps with pain and your period, CBD research shows potential for assisting with psychological mood disorders, especially regarding the stress associated with anxiety and depression. 

Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters responsible for your mental health. Although there is still a lot of work to be done on how CBD interacts with your serotonin levels, scientists have found that the CBD receptors located in your central and peripheral nervous systems can alter your serotonin levels. 

Interaction with serotonin in addition to the ECS’ regulation of mood shows vast potential for CBD mental health benefits. 

Pregnancy, Menopause, and CBD 

Many women also choose to use CBD while experiencing pregnancy or menopause. 

When both of these changes occur, your body goes through a series of intense emotional and physical fluctuations. 

Many symptoms of pregnancy and menopause, such as swelling feet, hormonal imbalance, vaginal dryness, or shift in mood, have the potential to be alleviated by CBD., such as swelling feet, hormonal imbalance, vaginal dryness, or shift in mood, have the potential to be alleviated by CBD.  

Women Can Count On CBD for Healthy Skin and Hair 

CBD has often been heralded for its anti-inflammatory properties, an effect commonly used to target pain relief. 

However, research has shown that CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation and sebum production may also minimize the symptoms of acne or decrease your likelihood of getting acne altogether.

According to these studies, CBD can regulate your sebaceous gland, lowering the level of oil and excretion produced by your body. That doesn’t mean that CBD will make your skin dry, though. Instead, Cannabidiol topicals can prevent excess oil while keeping your skin moisturized by not clogging pores. 

A regulated dermis, combined with CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, could result in less oily skin, reduced blemishes, and alleviated swelling and redness.

CBD possesses antioxidant properties that slow down your skin’s aging process and prevent collagen loss. When combined with hemp oil, an ingredient commonly found in most CBD topical products, CBD’s anti-aging abilities are elevated, offering further something such as reducing wrinkles. 

Because of CBD’s potential to assist with hormone imbalance and stability, sleeplessness, and mood, stress relief derived from cannabidiol use may also help curb breakouts and aging skin. 

CBD is also speculated to increase blood flow and circulation, which spurs and encourages follicle growth. 

The idea is that if your hair receives more nutrients and fewer toxins, it can grow stronger, faster, and healthier. 

Though hemp seed oil and CBD are common additives to hair products, more research is needed to determine how much they help hair health. 

CBD and Your Sex Life 

CBD can also help improve your sex life and sexual health. 

CBD’s ability to increase blood flow, stress relief, pain relief, and function as anti-anxiolytic abilities are ways 

Many women experience pain during or after sexual intercourse, so incorporating CBD into their sexual health care routine can promote more pleasurable sexual experiences. 

Your reproductive organs and sexual tissue contain an abundance of cannabinoid receptors, 

CBD increases the blood flow to those tissues, and increased blood flow leads to increased sensitivity and lubrication.

In addition to pleasure and pain, CBD can help with performance anxiety and relaxation.

Breast Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases in Women – How CBD Can Help.

About one out of every eight women in the U.S. will get breast cancer, the most common cancer experienced by women after different kinds of skin cancer. 

CBD can help alleviate the intense effects of chemotherapy and shows potential for preventing or reducing cancer. 

New studies show CBD can kill breast cancer cells while allowing healthy cells to remain intact. 

Fighting the painful side effects of chemotherapy while fighting cancer that causes the need for such intense treatments makes CBD an exemplary candidate in cancer research and medicine. 

Similarly, women are more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases than their male counterparts at a rate of 2 to 1, with a greater prevalence of autoimmune diseases present in women. 

Autoimmune diseases and disorders are characterized by the immune system’s inability to differentiate between healthy tissue and harmful antigens or toxins. 

Common autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and type 1 diabetes. 

Symptoms often experienced by those with autoimmune diseases include joint pain, swelling, inflammation, and abdominal or intestinal pain or issues. As such, CBD can assist with many of the features that accompany autoimmune disorders.