Menopause is an uncomfortable process that all women experience after their last menstrual period as their hormones shift, though not many options exist for alleviating the common symptoms. Many women now use medical cannabis for menopause relief because of the clinical research supporting its effectiveness. If you suffer from hot flashes, mood swings, or other common menopause symptoms, learn how to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi, and continue reading below about how medical cannabis may alleviate your discomfort.
Relieving Your Menopause Symptoms with Medical Marijuana
Menopause occurs around 12 months after your final menstrual period. Some women go through menopause as early as 35, while others don’t experience it until their 60s. Common menopause symptoms include the following:
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Increased irritability
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Dry skin
- Reduced sexual desire
- Vaginal dryness
- Anxiety and depression
The primary treatment for menopause is hormonal replacement therapy, though many menopausal women prefer avoiding this option because of the added side effects. Hormonal therapy can often replace menopausal side effects with similar, if not worse, adverse reactions, like hot flashes, weight gain, reduced sexual desire, fatigue, etc. To avoid adding insult to injury, many women choose medical cannabis to ease their menopause symptoms without having to deal with the hormonal side effects.
How Does Cannabis Interact With Menopause Symptoms?
CBD and THC include plant-based cannabinoids that activate your body’s endocannabinoid system in charge of numerous internal and external functions. The endocannabinoid system influences:
- Pain responses
- Temperature perceptions
- Moods
- Memories
- Hunger cues
- Stress
- Sleep cycles
- Metabolic rates
- Immunological responses
- The reproductive system
Essentially, cannabinoids can stimulate all of the above bodily reactions. Medical cannabis impacts pain and temperature perceptions, influences cognitive function, and affects digestive and reproductive system operations. Because of these whole-body effects, cannabis for menopause relief provides comprehensive benefits, ranging from improved sleep cycles to reduced vaginal dryness and much more.
Your endocannabinoid system struggles when your estrogen levels drop or fluctuate with menopause. Estrogen regulates endocannabinoid breakdown processes, so without the right levels, your body experiences many strange and uncomfortable symptoms. Consuming cannabinoids through THC or CBD gives your endocannabinoid system the extra boost it needs to continue operating smoothly during menopause.
What Menopause Symptoms Can Cannabis Alleviate?
The primary menopause symptoms that cannabis can help improve include the following:
- Hot flashes: Medical marijuana can help regulate body temperatures and reduce hot flash triggers, like anxiety.
- Insomnia: Cannabis can improve your sleep cycles, which provides cascading mental and physical health benefits.
- Vaginal dryness: Cannabinoids influence female sexual function, and topical solutions can improve vaginal dryness.
- Anxiety and depression: Medical cannabis can improve anxiety and depression symptoms, which many women experience while going through menopause.
- Fatigue: Improved sleep cycles with reduced symptoms can help women fight fatigue and feel more active daily.
Effectiveness According to Clinical Research
A recent study with over 250 participants found that over 83% of the women use(d) medical marijuana to treat their menopause symptoms at least once a month. Research on its effectiveness shows promising results. In a similar survey, 78% of women using medical marijuana reported symptom improvements, particularly surrounding sleep, anxiety, and mood swings.
How to Take Cannabis for Menopause Relief
Medical marijuana comes in many forms, all offering varying advantages. A few of the most popular ways to take cannabis for menopause relief include the following:
- Flower/vape: Inhaling cannabis offers nearly immediate symptom relief but short-lived effects.
- Tinctures: Droplets placed under the tongue provide fast onsets without needing to inhale.
- Topicals: Direct topical applications offer targeted symptom improvement for things like vaginal dryness or uterus cramps.
- Edibles: Infused snacks or capsules provide prolonged symptom relief.
Shop for Medical Cannabis From LeafMed Today
At LeafMed, we want to help you understand the many uses of medical cannabis so you can find relief for any condition you struggle with. If you’re interested in cannabis for menopause relief, visit one of our LeafMed medical marijuana dispensaries in Mississippi or contact our team to learn more.