Did you know that 1998, it was estimated that 477 million women were postmenopausal?
Even more surprising is that the number is expected to double to 1.1 billion by 2025.
This natural process occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55 and has been going on for the entire human existence.
However, that fact does not make the process any easier to deal with. The symptoms can be painful, annoying, and uncomfortable, and can make getter older dreadful.
In recent years, some have begun to claim weed and menopause help one another, and that cannabis may be a natural solution to menopausal issues.
It goes without saying that there are numerous benefits to the use of medical marijuana, but menopause is a particularly tricky issue to handle.
Read on to learn how weed can benefit menopause, and decrease the discomfort in women going through it.
What is Menopause?
The term menopause refers to the time in a woman’s life when her monthly cycle stops, and menstruation no longer occurs.
Typically, the normal age range for menopause is 45 to 55, but earlier onset can happen due to medical issues.
Once menopause is over, it signifies the end of a woman’s reproductive life, and she can no longer have more children.
There are three distinct phases of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Perimenopause usually begins one to two years prior to menopause. It is the slow-down of hormones related to ovulation, progesterone, and estrogen.
Cycles will begin to become irregular at this point, and once 12 consecutive months without a period go by, menopause has begun.
The majority of symptoms occur during the menopause phase, but most settle down once a woman enters the postmenopause phase.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of menopause will range from woman to woman, but there are some that are almost universal.
These symptoms can include mood swings, weight gain, night sweats, hot flashes, decreased sex drive, and pain during sex.
These occur mostly because your body had been accustomed to a certain cocktail of hormones to keep it in sync.
But, now that those hormones are essentially decreasing in quantity, a wide variety of issues begins to occur.
As well, the emotional and mental aspects of menopause can take a toll on a woman. It can be isolating, and it can feel like you are no longer yourself.
This is why weed and menopause pair well together, and this medicinal plant can combat the emotional pain of losing your fertility.
The Endocannabinoid System
Did you know that the endocannabinoid system plays a huge role throughout menopause?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essentially a network of receptors and their corresponding binding molecules.
The ECS has many functions, but it mostly helps maintain the normal function of the body.
Some examples of the processes of body functions involving the ECS include:
- Temperature Regulation
- Mood
- Immune Function
- Sleep
- Pain
- Appetite
- Energy Metabolism
- Reproductive Cycle
Current research suggests that estrogen and endocannabinoids are intimately related. Endocannabinoids are basically your body’s own weed, and when estrogen peaks, so do these compounds.
In fact, it has been shown that woman are most sensitive to TC right before ovulation when estrogen is very high. As well, estrogen regulates the enzyme that breaks up these compounds.
Admittedly, there needs to be further research on the discovery of this relationship between the endocannabinoid system and estrogen, but there are some great implications for weed and menopause.
Benefits of Weed and Menopause
The main health benefits to the use of cannabis prior to and during menopause are immense, considering the inconvenient symptoms faced by women.
The relief of hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, changes in sex drive, and many other symptoms can be decreased by weed.
In addition, the sadness and depression that can come with menopause can be kept at bay with weed.
The stress of menopause can actually make matters worse as well, which is why weed and menopause pair together. The stress levels ideally decrease with medical marijuana.
It is well-documented that THC can lower overall body temperature, which makes it ideal in the fight against night sweats and hot flashes.
Bone loss may also be able to be managed through cannabis, alongside hormone replacement therapy.
And, hormone replacement therapy symptoms that come with incorrect dosages and variations of hormones can be aided with weed until menopause is over.
The best aspect of weed and menopause is that it is a natural option in a world of stress and pain.
Combat Symptoms of Menopause Naturally
There is an abundance of options for women that are interested in the natural solution to menopause.
Cannabis is a great start, but other plants can offer even more benefits to work in synchrony with your body.
Some examples of female-friendly plants to support normal estrogen levels include:
- Flax Seed
- Chia Seed
- Red clover
- Black cohosh
- Wild yam
- Ginseng
- Skullcap
In addition, include plenty of healthy fats like Omega-3’s from fish and flaxseed with your supplementation with weed, as well as high-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, and probiotic foods.
There are also plenty of options to choose from with cannabis as well, from CBD oil to smoking to vaping, women are not limited in the 21st century with weed and menopause.
Experience Relief for Yourself
More people than ever are using medical marijuana to benefit their health. It is not nearly as taboo as it was even 10 years ago.
Over 25 states and D.C. have legalized the use of medical cannabis, and that number is growing with each year.
Therefore, menopause symptoms have the potential to be mediated by weed. The physical and emotional setbacks that menopause can bring are usually reduced.
Want an easy way to get started? Check out our recent blog post on 5 Ways to Make Vegan Pot Brownies to incorporate cannabis into your self-care health routine.
