The way cannabis affects people’s brains is probably the most widely recognized aspect of its influence. To put it another way, many people still think of the “high” as the only impact linked with cannabis use. In fact, they are completely incorrect, as cannabis truly interacts with a variety of bodily systems, including the reproductive system. Cannabis’ properties allow it to interact with estrogen, which is a major concern for women going through menopause and suffering from hot flashes.
Today’s question is: how can cannabis assist women suffering from hot flashes and general menopause? Let’s get into it and offer you some solutions, ladies.
Cannabis Strains for Hot Flashes, Menopause, Menstrual Cramps, and More
Cannabis has been used for a long time to treat a wide range of ailments. In fact, it might be able to help patients with the distressing and sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, menstrual cramps, and more. The strains you should keep an eye out for are:
Black Dragon Hybrid
It’s claimed that Black Dragon Hybrid strain weed is a well-balanced hybrid, but it leans towards indica effects. According to rumors, it’s a cross of Blueberry and Sour Diesel, as well as a member of the rapidly blossoming family of purple marijuana strains. Nobody has claimed responsibility for Black Dragon Hybrid, but some people believe it’s actually a cross between Purple Urkle and Blue Dragon. It is either way a beautiful sight and an enjoyable experience to use.
Black Dragon Hybrid has a CBD concentration of up to 1%, which may provide medical advantages. Its sedative qualities can help you relax if you have chronic aches and pains. It also appears to have an anti-inflammatory property, making it useful for treating a variety of problems including migraines and nausea.
Black Dragon Hybrid can help you feel better if you are depressed. As a result, it might be beneficial to people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and sadness. It may have usefulness in treating ADD or ADHD as it can help you focus. If you are having difficulties sleeping, take a large dose of Black Dragon Hybrid before going to bed; however, wait until you’ve had some practice doing this yourself.
Purple Urkle (Indica):
Menopausal muscle or joint pains, and menstrual cramps during periods are all bad enough to make regular life difficult for some. Menstrual cramps in particular frequently result in women being unable to work or attend school due to the intensity of the pain, which only gets worse with movement. Sure, sometimes resting helps, even if it’s just taking a hot bath. There are a variety of methods that women now use to deal with their discomfort from both menopause and menstrual cycles
Cannabis or marijuana may also be a good option. Purple Urkle, in particular, seems to help with pain relief and overall relaxation while also encouraging deep sleep and recovery. This cannabis strain, like many indicas, is greatest before bedtime and later in the evening when you don’t have much else left to accomplish. The taste of Purple Urkle is pleasant, with tastes of berries, grapes, and skunk – a unique flavor combination.
Vanilla Kush (Indica):
Many women have difficulty being awoken at night because of their own profuse sweating, however this is unfortunately the case for many women going through the phases of menopause who are experiencing hot flashes at night. In addition to evening hot flashes, peri- and postmenopausal females can experience insomnia, making it difficult for them to fall asleep normally and frequently waking up during the night.
Sleep disorders can be addressed with CBD, which affects the body and mind in various ways. It relaxes and relieves the body and mind until it falls into a state of blissful sleep, promoting a better night’s sleep. Vanilla Kush has a high THC content, making it fast-acting and able to provide quick results, especially for people who have trouble sleeping through the night because of menopause-related symptoms.
Super Silver Haze
Estrogen levels are fluctuating substantially during menopause, and changes in hormones often result in modifications in mood and emotions. This is frequently the case with women going through menopause, much like when pregnant (thanks, hormones!). Because changing moods and sentiments might have an impact on your career, home life, and interpersonal relationships, this can be difficult to manage.
Marijuana’s influence on mental health is just one of its features, with some people utilizing it as a natural therapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. Those who have experienced a significant shift in hormones may also utilize marijuana to ease their suffering. Super Silver Haze is a strong sativa that’s good for morning and daytime use and is useful for relieving stress, anxiety, sadness, and other mood disorders.
If you are experiencing fluctuating moods in the evening time or just before bed, it would be best to pick a more indica dominant marijuana strain, for Super Silver Haze can be rather energizing. For this reason, the strain is also uplifting and promotes contentment. Super Silver Haze is long-lasting, so if you are utilizing it for all-day relief, you may only need to consume it again once or twice throughout the day for a reboot.
What You Need to Know About Menopause
In short, menopause is the period in a woman’s life when menstruation slows down and eventually stops. It usually happens among women in their 50s or mid-40s at the earliest and can last for years. Once the menopause stage is complete, the woman is no longer able to conceive.
We distinguish three phases of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
As you may have already noticed, perimenopause refers to the time before the end of menstruation; it is when the levels of estrogen in the body start to decrease. This process begins a couple of years before your body enters the menopause stage. Full menopause stops the ovulation entirely, which means that your body will no longer produce high levels of estrogen.
The 12-month period after the last menstrual cycle is what we refer to as post-menopause. During this stage, all menopausal symptoms should ease.
What are Hot Flashes?
As the name suggests, a hot flash is a sudden and temporary burst of heat that can drive you crazy within seconds. Some ladies experiencing hot flashes can be compared to Dr. Bruce Banner who suddenly turns into Hulk and is ready to destroy everything within his reach. Other ladies may just be uncomfortable with the sudden onset of a full blush and an overheated feeling.
From the medical point of view, a hot flash is the most common symptom of menopause, troubling more than two-thirds of women whose bodies are dealing with the condition. It’s characterized by a sudden feeling of heat that is detectable in the upper body and, most of the time, in the face. It can cause your cheeks to turn beet red and make you start sweating in the blink of an eye. Some women also report chills or a rapid heart rate because the blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate to regulate the temperature of the woman’s body.
What makes hot flashes particularly annoying for most women is the time when they occur. Usually, they happen at night, which makes it extremely difficult for them to fall asleep. This is why they are also nicknamed, “the night sweats”.
The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Menopause
The endocannabinoid system plays a major role in regulating many bodily functions, and including those functions associated with menopause. The role of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain homeostasis in the body, so it affects the body’s primary system of maintaining hormonal balance.
According to what we know about the endocannabinoid system so far, it helps regulate:
- Hormone levels
- Temperature control
- Reproductive cycles
- Sleep
- Immune responses
- Mood
- Pain
- Appetite
- Blood sugar levels
- Metabolism
The first three bullet points are associated with the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.
Interestingly, it looks like estrogen can directly interact with endocannabinoids, which is why cannabis can help women overcome certain symptoms of the menopause. Because cannabinoids act in a similar way to the body’s own endocannabinoid system.
How Does THC Help With Hot Flashes?
Although there are no scientific studies on cannabis and hot flashes, it is a well-known fact that THC is responsible for lowering body temperature. It does so by mimicking the structure of the endocannabinoid called anandamide.
However, the cooling effects of THC are largely dose-dependent. The more you consume, the lower body temperature you’ll have. Anecdotal evidence and animal-model studies suggest that this theory is true.
On the other hand, consuming just a little THC may increase your body temperature, so if you’re trying to get rid of hot flashes when they hit you, consider hitting a THC-rich cannabis strain.
Try this great high THC strain, Tuna Kush , or grab the Premium Flowers Sampler Pack for a variety of great strains for menopause.
Hot Flashes and CBD
When it comes to interactions between different cannabinoids, the relationship between THC and CBD is the most thoroughly researched link. These two chemicals produce synergistic effects that can boost the therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant.
But how does CBD affect menopause and hot flashes?
Well, just like we said, menopause is caused by the decrease in women’s hormones, mainly estrogen. This, in turn, can cause a number of side effects among which hot flashes are rather mild. One of the most serious side effects of menopause is bone loss, the main reason behind osteoporosis.
Now, a typical physician will likely prescribe estrogen replacement therapy with certain drugs that are to compensate for your body’s lack of production of this hormone. However, many women don’t even qualify for the therapy because it increases their risk of severe diseases, such as gallstones, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attacks, and blood clots.
Naturally, this has led many ladies to turn to natural remedies. And luckily, there is a natural alternative for stopping bone loss, and its name is cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis.
CBD can help with bone regeneration, and some researchers believe that it might even help women prevent osteoporosis during the postmenopause stage. More importantly, CBD protects healthy cells in the body while killing breast cancer cells. So, if you’ve been using estrogen replacement therapy and you’re afraid about the condition of your breasts, CBD may come in handy.
As for the synergistic effects of CBD and THC, cannabidiol can lower the body temperature just like its psychoactive friend. It does this by boosting the serotonin activity, so next time you get hot flashes because of menopause, a few drops of CBD oil may help you overcome the crisis.
Cannabis and Hot Flashes: The Final Hit
Alas, the research on the impact of cannabis on menopause is very scant. Yet, what we know so far – according to the available literature – shows great promise for running further studies on the relationship between the use of marijuana and easing menopausal symptoms.
Keep in mind that your cannabis supplementation may vary depending on the condition, and there are different strains that can help you with particular symptoms. Consult your doctor about using cannabis for menopause and hot flashes and pick the best strain for your conditions – budtenders at medical dispensaries should give you a hand if you need further help with selecting your variety.
Final Thoughts
If you’re having some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause or menstrual cycles, one of the cannabis strains mentioned above might help. Menopause commonly affects women in their 40s to their 60s, and it’s a significant part of life for them. It is a wonderful aspect of the body that changes with time and eventually learns to establish new homeostasis.
While menopause is a natural part of life, reducing symptoms as much as possible is optimal for those who are greatly impacted by them–and cannabis can assist. Marijuana may be able to do a lot of good when it comes to hot flashes, a menopause symptom that affects approximately 75% of women during menopause, bringing about comfort and ease once again.