Cannabis for you PMS

As a woman who works in the cannabis industry, I get the privilege of speaking with many women about their cannabis questions and concerns. One question I get quite a bit is wrapped in skepticism: "Does cannabis work like medicine?" My answer is always yes!

Herbs were not only our earliest form of medicine, dating way back to 3000 BC, but also the most prominent until the early 20th century. The cannabis plant is one of the oldest, most effective, and least understood herbs. Herbal medicine only began to take a backseat in the early 20th century, when scientists began to extract and chemically reproduce the properties of these herbs (which evolved into what we know today as the pharmaceutical industry).

Herbs were our first form of medicine for a reason – these plants possess a collection of compounds that work with our bodies' natural systems. Specifically, the endocannabinoid system (ECS)- is a network of receptors found within the central and peripheral nervous systems. As noted by the Italian researcher Vincenzo Di Marzo, it relays messages that affect how we relax, eat, sleep, forget, and protect.

Our endocannabinoid system, a group of cannabinoid receptors located around the peripheral and central nervous system and brain, plays an essential role in female fertility, from the development of the embryo as well as the end of fertility. Women today will, on average, experience around 450 "periods" or menstrual cycles during their life.

For those who suffer from period cramps and other premenstrual symptoms, this is a considerable number — and it can feel like a whole lot more. PMS can cause much more than pain for women — it can drain them both physically and emotionally, which can be hard to cope with. If you are a woman, you know the agony of period cramps; you probably also know about the accompanying headaches and mood swings. While some women can get away with eating a chocolate bar and slapping on a heating pad for relief, others need something a bit stronger. Your body will tell ya.

Women and men use the term "PMS-ing" a lot, but what does it even mean? Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to the emotional and physical symptoms women experience before they begin their menstrual period after ovulation.

Most researchers believe PMS occurs just days after you ovulate due to progesterone and estrogen levels starting to fall drastically if you are not pregnant.

Typically, symptoms of PMS go away several days after you start your period once your hormone levels begin to rise again. While some women will go through their menstrual cycle experiencing only mild symptoms or none at all, others will have severe symptoms that interfere with school, work, and other everyday activities. I guarantee you they do not have time for it.

So, what is the alternative to over-thecounter medications such as Tylenol or Advil?

Introducing medical marijuana! Medical marijuana is a popular choice these days to treat PMS. It is not only a powerful painkiller, but research also shows the prominent psychoactive cannabinoid in medical cannabis for PMS, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), works as a muscle relaxant. Cannabis's chemical compounds release cannabinoid receptors to engage with your brain's natural endocannabinoids.

Later in life, during menopause, the endocannabinoid system in a woman's body goes through significant changes. Menopause also leads to an increased risk for osteoporosis, which studies suggest is related to changes in how the endocannabinoids work in the skeletal system. For example, a 2011 study showed that in the osteoclasts, or the cells responsible for bone resorption in premenopausal women with osteoporosis, the CB-2 receptors caused too much activity in the osteoclasts, which caused bones to be resorbed too fast.

In addition, the signaling of the endocannabinoid system is also disrupted during menopause. A theory states that some of the side effects experienced by women during this time are caused by this. Estrogen levels are also associated with endocannabinoid levels, both of which are at their peak during ovulation, although this does not happen with menopausal and postmenopausal females.

Studies also show that anorexic or severely underweight women who experience premature menopause are also low in endocannabinoid levels. Therefore, increasing endocannabinoid levels or activating cannabinoid receptors through cannabis use can help delay menopause in some women.

Here are five examples of PMS:

Type A for Anxiety

Mood swings

Hypersensitivity

Tension

Irritability

Frequent crying

Type C for Cravings

In this type, you may experience cravings, typically for sweets or chocolate. As a result, you may have a drastic, even uncontrollable, appetite increase.

Fatigue

Headaches

Irritability

Moodiness

Type D for Depression

Forgetfulness

Insomnia

Clumsiness

Depression

Withdrawal

Confusion

Type C for Cravings

If you have breast tenderness, swollen ankles and fingers, weight gain, and bloating, you are likely experiencing water retention, which comes with this type of PMS. Stress, high serotonin, and impaired lymphatic flow can cause these issues. Avoid excess sodium and alcohol.

Pain Head

Lower back

Joints

Abdomen

According to research, nearly eighty-five percent of women in the U.S. experience PMS in their childbearing years. Around five percent of these women experience severe, disabling PMS symptoms. Any woman of childbearing age can experience PMS, but it's more common in women who are between the ages of 20 and 40 years old.

The Office on Women's Health division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports: Women in their third decade are more likely, on average, to experience PMS. Also, more than 90 percent of women have PMS symptoms, such as moodiness, headaches, and bloating.

Here are some tips when mother nature visits you once a month:

For cramps, I recommend beta-caryophyllene or pinene terpene dominant strains.

For fatigue, I recommend pinene or limonene dominant strains.

For moodiness, I recommend linalool and limonene heavy strains.

Ladies, do not forget in the world of plant-based medicine, two positives do not equal a negative; they equal extra awesome. First, by adding more levels of terpenes through other herbs, vegetation, or spices, the effects you feel can be activated quickly and extended for longer. For example, if you mix your linalool dominant cannabis with herbal blends that contain lavender, the extra hit of terpenes from the lavender amplifies those relaxing elements. Adding this to your self-care routine during this time of the month will help tremendously, and you can tell your menstrual pain to take a hike with some green bud.