A woman’s menstrual cycle is complex, especially when it comes to periods. This time during your cycle can be painful, mood-altering, and simply unpleasant. And while there are medications you can take to alleviate the pain, there is little you can do about the bloating, gastrointestinal upset, and cycles of depression that occur alongside bleeding.
Contraceptives and NSAIDs may minimize or even eradicate period symptoms. However, these methods of period relief are not for everybody. Women looking for a natural alternative to period management may start to consider CBD products as a healthier, eco-friendly option to reduce cramps and aches without disrupting their body’s natural process.
Recent studies on CBD and other cannabis extracts have paved the way for a better way to deal with periods. With a little bit of research and understanding of your cycle, you may be able to alleviate the worst symptoms of your period without hormonal or synthetic drugs.
When young women reach the age of menstruation, they are usually taught about periods and how to manage them. However, few women are knowledgeable about their entire cycle from ovulation to menstruation. Women and girls are largely left in the dark when it comes to the many other changes in the body that happen before bleeding. If you want to manage both the physical and emotional effects of your period, you should know what’s going on inside your body.
When ovulation begins, your body increases levels of the hormone progesterone, which cues the uterus to line itself with endometrial tissue. This tissue creates an optimal environment for an egg to attach if you become pregnant. After about a week, if an egg does not attach, your body will decrease progesterone output and your uterus will start to shed the endometrial tissue. The uterus contracts, and you begin your period.
When progesterone levels decline, an inflammatory chemical called prostaglandin starts to increase. Prostaglandins are what cause your most awful menstrual symptoms, including:
When you take an NSAID pain reliever, the enzyme that creates prostaglandin is reduced and therefore symptoms are alleviated. Recent studies have shown that CBD may produce similar effects without some of the side effects of NSAIDs, including drowsiness and stomach ache. Along with CBD’s relaxing effects, it is offering an alternative treatment for period relief.
Actress and author Whoopi Goldberg is a long-time advocate for the legalization of cannabis and its byproducts. She has been vocal in interviews about her support for the cannabis movement and is paving the way with her company Whoopi & Maya. Goldberg has partnered with eight-time High Times Cannabis Cup award winner Maya Elisabeth to create a line of CBD and THC infused bath products specifically made for menstruating women.
Whoopi & Maya have two incredibly popular menstrual products: Soak, an Epsom salt bath soak and Rub, a CBD-infused body butter. Both contain varying amounts of THC and CBD. Whoopi & Maya medical cannabis products are currently only available in California and Colorado, but may be sold in other states soon.
Whoopi & Maya products use naturally-sourced cannabis extracts and organically grown ingredients, with scented and unscented varieties. The body butter is rich in organic oils and plant-based butters, while the Epsom salt soak is fortified with detox minerals for exceptional skin nourishment.
These products help alleviate soreness in the muscles as well as period-related pain. You can relax, rejuvenate, and restore yourself on the worst cramping days with Whoopi & Maya. As more women start to use these products and see the benefits of CBD over NSAIDs, the hope is that CBD will become the new standard for period self-care.
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