Menstrual Cramps: Is CBD the New Answer for an Age-Old Problem?
Let’s be real for a minute. If cis men had to deal with PMS, we would have a vast array of solutions for period cramps. We would probably get mandated days off work, and heavy-duty painkillers from the local chemist like they were lollipops. But sadly for menstruating people everywhere, we live in the real world, where we have to rely on tea and hot water bottles as if it’s still the 1800s.
Of course, pain medication is a modern option. Unfortunately they’re not for everyone, including people with allergies. And they aren’t without side effects either, such as digestive problems, stomach ulcers, and damage to the liver and kidneys. Opioid painkillers not only can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea, but also come with the serious risks of depression and physical addiction.
For many menstruators, it’s just not worth it to have their health and functional abilities compromised. And yet, we’ve been dealing with cramps since the beginning of time. Surely there should be a better way by now?
Good news: CBD oil for cramps could be the long-awaited answer to your prayers. CBD provides menstrual relief that is all-natural, and yet much more effective than any home remedy. CBD is extracted from the stalks and stems of hemp plants, and doesn’t have the psychoactive effects that opioids do. It’s not just a typical painkiller, either. Read on to know more about the extraordinary benefits of CBD for menstrual cramps.
Anti-Inflammatory Reasons To Use CBD for Menstrual Cramps
CBD is one of the strongest anti-inflammatories available on the market. That means serious reduction of pains from cramps, as well as other inflammatory symptoms like headaches, nausea, and muscle pain. CBD can also help you before your period even kicks in, and can help with PMS overall.
CBD Oil and Menstrual Cycle
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Anyone who’s been through PMS knows that it can strike without warning, several days before your period. You might feel irritable, stressed out, and unusually tense. Anxiety and mood swings can be an issue too. For these PMS moments, CBD can be a blessing. Clinical studies show that CBD calms anxiety and stabilises mood. It has a relaxing effect on both the body and mind.
How does CBD oil affect period cramps?
Okay, so CBD improves your PMS moodiness. But does CBD help with pain? Besides being an anti-inflammatory, CBD can also stimulate cannabinoid receptors in the body that give relief from pain. CBD targets menstrual cramps and other PMS symptoms from many different angles.
Depuff and deflate
Water retention and breast tenderness are common with PMS, and can make you feel lethargic and achy. For swelling that crops up in the breasts, lower back, and abdomen, CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory and balances hydration levels in the body.
Stop swinging
CBD has a stabilising effect on the fluctuating hormones that cause mood swings - particularly cortisol, aka the stress hormone. It also settles the feelings of anxiety and irritation that so often accompany PMS. CBD promotes the production of serotonin and dopamine, which lead to feelings of happiness and satisfaction. So if you’re prone to bursting into tears at the smallest provocation, you might want to try CBD to regain your equilibrium.
Relieve cramping and bloating
CBD can help improve digestive functions, thereby getting rid of some of the uncomfortable symptoms of PMS. As you experience inflammation, it can cause bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea. CBD can sort out cramping that comes from an upset stomach due to PMS.
Just relax
One of the most extensively studied properties of CBD is as a muscle relaxant, notably in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. CBD has been shown to be effective in preventing muscle spasms. This makes CBD an excellent choice to loosen up the tense muscles that come with your period, as well as the uterine contractions that lead to cramps.
How to Use CBD for Menstrual Pain Relief?
Now that you know the many benefits of taking CBD for cramps and PMS, you might be wondering how you can incorporate it into your routine. It’s as easy as dosing a small amount like you would any other pill or painkiller. But CBD is a holistic wellness treatment, and as such, it can be used in a variety of ways to provide relief based on your needs.
Drink up
It’s tempting to reach for that bottle of wine when you’re on your period. However, any succour you feel is temporary, as alcohol is dehydrating and worsens PMS symptoms like bloating. Because it impacts your hormones, alcohol can make menstrual cramps more severe and long-lasting - the last thing you want.
Instead, try a mug of tea or a hydrating spritzer spiked with CBD oil. It’ll help you unwind while regulating your hormones and calming you down. Bonus: unlike alcohol, CBD facilitates a peaceful sleep, so you don’t fall prey to PMS fatigue.
Rub it on
CBD doesn’t have to be ingested to work. Particularly if you don’t want to experience the calming or sleep-inducing effects of CBD, you can apply CBD oil directly to the areas where you need pain relief. The anti-inflammatory nature of CBD brings down any tension and swelling in the affected region. And if you suffer from hormonal acne around your period, a drop of CBD oil in your moisturiser can soothe breakouts as well.
Soak it in
A hot bath is a time-honoured remedy for menstrual cramps, and with a few candles and a face mask, it’s a proper pampering session. Ramp up the comfort factor by pouring some CBD oil into the tub. Not only will MUKOOMI Hemp CBD Oil - made with 100% organic CBD in pure hemp seed oil - soothe your cramps, it will leave you with soft, nourished skin. If your period has you feeling sweaty and gross, a luxe bath is the pick-me-up you need.
Better with chocolate
Chocolate goes with everything, and this is never more true than when you’re PMSing. And cravings for chocolate aren’t just a stereotype. Dark chocolate is rich in minerals like iron, which is often low in menstruating people. High levels of magnesium and potassium bring relief from cramps and bloating.
There’s even the science of a simple truth: enjoying a bit of chocolate can just plain make you feel better. When you mindfully eat your favourite thing, it boosts your happy hormones. Add to the benefits of dark chocolate with CBD-infused bars that combine pain relief with deliciousness, and a hormone-balancing kick.
Straight to the source
When you ingest CBD oil, it goes through the digestive tract before being absorbed into the body. That means it can take awhile to feel the positive effects - and menstrual pain isn’t willing to wait. For those times when your cramps simply won’t cooperate and you need immediate relief, try a CBD oil tampon.
Just add a couple of drops of CBD oil to a tampon and insert as you normally would. The CBD gets absorbed into the bloodstream right away, leading to relief from cramps. Even better, the pelvic region is home to loads of cannabinoid receptors, making it a super effective way to make the most of CBD oil.
If PMS is challenging for you, a bottle of CBD oil can go a long way to making you more comfortable, balanced, and pain-free. The best part is, CBD is not harmful to use throughout the day. Especially MUKOOMI Hemp CBD Oil, made with 100% organic CBD in pure hemp seed oil and designed to be used your way. You can safely ingest it and apply it, even on the most delicate skin. Use it in whichever way serves your unique needs best.
