Does Weed Help With Cramps

Does weed help with period cramps? Yes, cannabis (also known as weed or marijuana) may help with cramps.

Cannabis has been shown to have pain-relieving effects, including reducing inflammation, which may alleviate unpleasant symptoms associated with menstrual cramps.

Key Takeaways – Does Weed Help With Cramps

In this article, we’ll cover the following subheadings to provide you with useful information on weed and periods.

• 🌿💢 Weed and Period Cramps: Understanding the Relationship
• 🔄 Does Smoking Weed Affect Your Period?
• 🩸 Best Weed Strains for Period Cramps & Pain Relief
• 😊 Best PMS Mood-Boosting Strains
• 🤕 Best Marijuana Strain for Headaches
• 🍪🩸 Can Edibles Help With Period Cramps?
• 📚 Ancient use for pain relief
• 🔬 Studies show effectiveness for menstrual pain
• ⚠️ Potential side effects on hormonal regulation
• 🍃 Cannabis strains for various menstrual symptoms
• 🚭 Smoking weed may offer some pain relief
• 💊 Cannabis for other women’s health issues (endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids) 🍪 Effects of edibles on cramps unclear
• 🔄 Individual responses to strains may vary
• 📢 More research needed for better understanding

Sources:

• Bachhuber M, et al. (2019). Use of cannabis to relieve pain and promote sleep by customers at an adult use dispensary.
  tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2019.1626953
• Barrow B. (1847). A case of dysmenorrhœa in which the tincture of cannabis indica was employed, with some observations upon that drug.
  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2487155

However, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between weed and period cramps. It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider before using cannabis for menstrual pain relief.

Cannabis has been known for its therapeutic effects on various illnesses and pains, including menstrual discomfort. Although research is still scarce, studies have shown the effectiveness of cannabis in relieving menstrual pain.

The worldwide trend of legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use reflects its growing popularity as an alternative treatment to painkillers and birth control, which are commonly prescribed for menstrual pain.

Ancient Use For Pain Relief

For thousands of years, medicinal plants have been used in many cultures to treat and prevent diseases and their symptoms. Cannabis is one such plant that may relieve or lessen menstrual pain.

About half of people who menstruate experience menstrual pain for one to two days each cycle. The use of cannabis, also known as weed and marijuana, for pain treatment has been identified in various places worldwide, predating Christianity.

Does Weed Help With Period Cramps?

Table 1: Historical Usage of Cannabis for Menstrual period Pain

Period	Details	Source
Queen Victoria’s Era	Cannabis was prescribed by doctors to alleviate menstruation-related discomfort due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties.	The Cannifornian
Ancient Times (over 4,000 years ago)	Cannabis was used for symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) including cramps, mood swings, and fatigue among others.	Veriheal

Research on the effects of cannabis on the menstrual cycle is scarce, and more studies are needed. In 2015, researchers from the University of British Columbia asked 192 women if they had used cannabis to relieve menstrual pain, and 85% of them said they had used it.

Almost 90% of these women said that it was effective in relieving their menstrual pain. Smoking and eating were the most common methods of consumption.

While cannabis may be effective in relieving menstrual pain, using it may have side effects on the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.

A study of 47 women between 17 and 29 years old who consumed cannabis for at least one year found alterations in progesterone, prolactin, and testosterone.

Women who used cannabis had more frequent menstrual variations, including shorter cycle length and heavy periods, which can impact pain.

As women, we not only have the privilege of being the fairer sex but also the responsibility of enduring monthly menstrual cycles. Whether it is painful cramps, mood swings, or headaches, there are cannabis strains that may alleviate your discomfort.

With more states legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use, cannabis consumption is becoming a common practice for women to relieve their menstrual symptoms.

While not all women experience severe discomfort during their periods, many do, and cannabis can help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with menstrual cramps.

Table 2: Modern Usage of Cannabis for Menstrual Pain (Study 1)

Year	Institution	Sample Size	Cannabis Users (%)	Reported Relief (%)	Source
2015	University of British Columbia	192	88.5	89.4	Aviva Romm, MD

Table 3: Modern Usage of Cannabis for Menstrual Pain (Study 2)

Study Focus	Sample Size	Positive Effect (%)	Opiate Reduction (%)	Source
Chronic Pelvic Pain	134	60	30	Chatelaine

These tables categorize the instances of cannabis usage for menstrual pain relief across different timelines and through modern studies.

However, because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, it is challenging to perform scientific studies on weed and periods. Menstrual cramps are caused by prostaglandins, which are inflammatory compounds released during menstruation.

Ibuprofen is commonly taken to stop the production of these compounds and reduce inflammation. In contrast, cannabis is believed to have pain-relieving effects, including reducing inflammation.

This is due to its effect on the endocannabinoid systems. However, it is unclear whether the way weed relieves pain affects the cause of pain from menstrual cramps because of limited scientific information.

Does Smoking Weed Affect Your Period?

Some studies suggest that smoking weed during your period may offer some pain relief.

The euphoric effect of weed may offer a distraction from the pain, while THC in marijuana may shorten the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which is the second part of the menstrual cycle beginning around the 15th day of a 28-day cycle and involves thickening the uterine lining.

While smoking weed is a common method for menstrual pain relief, it is difficult to determine the effects of edibles on menstrual cramps. THC is the primary compound in weed, no matter how you choose to consume it, and there is little research to determine the best type of edibles for menstrual cramps.

In short, each marijuana strain affects the individual differently. What works for one person may not work for another.

As women, dealing with monthly menstrual cycles can be a challenging experience. While some women may not experience severe discomfort during their periods, many do. Fortunately, cannabis strains may offer relief to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with menstrual cramps.

Weed and Period Cramps: Understanding the Relationship

Despite more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, cannabis consumption for menstrual pain relief remains largely unexplored.

While ibuprofen is commonly taken to alleviate menstrual cramps, some studies suggest that cannabis may have pain-relieving effects, including reducing inflammation.

However, since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, scientific studies on weed and periods are limited, and the relationship between weed and period cramps remains unclear.

Does Smoking Weed Affect Your Period?

Although limited research exists on the effects of smoking weed on menstrual cycles, some studies suggest that smoking weed may offer some pain relief during periods.

Smoking weed during your period may offer a distraction from pain, and some studies suggest that THC in marijuana may shorten the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Nonetheless, more research is needed to determine the effects of smoking weed on periods.

Best Strain for Cramps & Pain Relief

If you’re looking for weed strains for period cramps, here are some strains that you can try:

• Orange Herijuana: A high-CBD and low-THC Indica-dominant hybrid that offers relaxation and pain relief without noticeable psychoactive effects.
• Harlequin: A Sativa-dominant hybrid with a high CBD to THC ratio, which may make the high feel more healing to the body than psychoactive.
• Jack Herer: A more balanced hybrid that offers an energetic and blissful effect.
• Pink Kush: A deeply calming Indica-dominant hybrid that can be helpful if you want a more peaceful experience.

Best PMS Mood-Boosting Strains

If you’re looking for weed strains to improve your mood and uplift you during your period, here are some strains that can help:

• Sour Diesel: A delicious Sativa strain that uplifts and energizes.
• Super Lemon Haze: A Sativa-dominant hybrid with great flavor that can make you feel more energetic.
• Durban Poison: A landrace Sativa strain that helps you feel more uplifted and energetic.
• Blue Dream: A Sativa-dominant hybrid with a low CBD content that can help you feel more centered.

Best Marijuana Strain for Headaches

For headaches associated with hormonal changes during menstruation, here are some strains that may help alleviate pain:

• OG Kush: A nearly perfect 50/50 hybrid strain that usually leans to the Sativa side but brings a couch-lock sensation typically found in Indica strains.
• ACDC: A strain with high levels of CBD that can help alleviate pain during headaches.
• Purple Kush: A classic Indica strain that offers powerful relaxing effects, which are great when a headache is getting the best of you during your period.

Can Edibles Help With Period Cramps?

While smoking weed is a common method for menstrual pain relief, the effects of edibles on menstrual cramps are unclear. THC is the primary compound in weed, no matter how you choose to consume it, and there is little research to determine the best edibles for menstrual cramps.

Nonetheless, if you feel that edibles work for you, you can try them to help alleviate pain. However, more research is needed to determine the effects of edibles on menstrual cramps.

Marijuana for Women’s Health

Women who experience painful periods, mood swings, hot flashes associated with menopause, and endometriosis may be able to find relief in medical marijuana.

Endometriosis

Up to 10 percent of women will experience the chronic autoimmune disease endometriosis. The condition, often undiagnosed, results in endometrial tissue building up outside the uterus. The resulting pain is severe and can severely impact one’s quality of life.

Doctors have commonly prescribed highly addictive opiates for the condition, along with hormone treatment and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Before resorting to toxic pharmaceutical painkillers, increasing numbers of women turn to targeted cannabis and CBD products explicitly designed to address female pelvic pain, such as those from Foria Wellness.

Both THC and CBD may help alleviate chronic pain and inflammation associated with endometriosis. A study published in eLife titled “Disease-modifying effects of natural delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol 1 in endometriosis-associated pain” suggests that cannabis and THC may reduce the severity of endometrial tissue growth, at least in mice.

A recent cohort study with people shows that “Cannabis appears to be effective for pelvic pain, gastrointestinal issues, and mood, with effectiveness differing based on [the] method of ingestion.”

Interestingly, pain symptoms showed more significant improvement with inhaling cannabis, while mood and gastrointestinal issues showed more significant improvement with oral forms of ingestion (e.g., tinctures, edibles). Clinical trials are urgently required.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an inflammatory disorder that can cause chronic painful periods. Hormone imbalances, insulin resistance, and obesity are often linked to PCOS, affecting approximately 10 percent of women.

Limited research is available, but some studies have suggested that cannabinoids like CBD and THC could positively affect PCOS.

Uterine Fibroids 

Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths of the uterus. Women in their childbearing years are more frequently diagnosed with uterine fibroids than those who have been through menopause.

High estrogen levels are believed to cause fibroids in some women, but the precise cause is often unknown. While fibroids are benign, they can be very painful.

Direct research on cannabis and uterine fibroids is lacking, but some researchers have explored the effects of marijuana on estrogen.

Research published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine indicates that marijuana use may lower estrogen levels, making fibroids less likely to develop if high levels of this female hormone are the culprit.

Beyond hormones, the overall ability of cannabis to decrease pain could extend to women with discomfort from uterine fibroids.

Gynecological Cancer

Gynecological cancers include uterine, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. There is little available research about the potential benefits of medical marijuana for gynecological cancers.

However, some recent studies have revealed that cannabis may be an alternative treatment option for other types of cancer. The tumor-shrinking abilities of cannabis may also prove helpful to women with malignant ovarian cysts, but deeper research is needed.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition that causes pain in the bladder region. The chronic condition is caused by inflamed bladder walls, leading to other problems such as scarring.

Again, cannabis has shown in many studies to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help prevent further damage to the bladder for women with IC.

Furthermore, participants in some clinical studies reported that cannabis was beneficial for their IC and caused minimal side effects.

Menopause 

Common symptoms of menopause, like body aches and insomnia, may improve with medical marijuana use. Medical cannabis products have the potential to help lessen the impact of mood swings connected to declining estrogen levels during menopause.

When using medical cannabis products for mood swings associated with menopause, make careful application and adjustment of dosage for best effects and do not combine with some classes and types of antidepressants.

In conclusion

Cannabis strains may provide a natural and effective alternative to relieve the unpleasant symptoms associated with menstrual cramps. The best way to find weed strains for period cramps that work for you is to try different ones. As with everything cannabis-related, each marijuana strain affects individuals differently.

What works for one person may not work for another. Nonetheless, with more research, the relationship between weed and period cramps may become clearer in the future.

Does Weed Help With menstrual Cramps -Frequently Asked Questions