Written By: Kandola, A. (2018, June 9). “Does CBD oil work for menopause symptoms?.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from Cannabidiol is a chemical that occurs in hemp plants and marijuana. It is possible that cannabidiol oil could help to treat the symptoms of menopause. Researchers have looked at other herbal and natural remedies as treatment options, but have not yet proved that any of them are consistently effective.
Recently, there has been much interest in cannabidiol (CBD). In June 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a specific cannabidiol CBD product to treat two specific types of epilepsy.
Research has suggested that CBD may have other health benefits, ranging from relieving pain to treating depression and anxiety, and possibly also reducing the symptoms of menopause.
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CBD is one of many substances that occur in marijuana. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabinoid, CBD is not psychoactive. This means that it does not cause the high that people typically associate with marijuana.
For this reason, it is legal to sell and consume CBD in some countries. Its legality in the United States varies between states.
Does CBD oil work for menopause?
CBD may work on the body in a range of ways to help menopause symptoms. Of particular interest is the way that it interacts with cannabinoid receptors.
How do cannabinoid receptors work?
The endocannabinoid system refers to a collection of cell receptors, called cannabinoid receptors, which are present in the brain, organs, and other tissues throughout the body.
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The endocannabinoid system works by interacting with chemical messengers, including CBD.
Researchers believe that this system plays an essential role in many bodily functions and other aspects of health, including:
mood regulationimmune functionspainsleepmemoryfertility and reproductiontemperature regulation
One theory is that a poorly functioning endocannabinoid system can lead to several different health conditions. Manipulating the chemicals involved in the system, such as CBD, could potentially help to treat such conditions.
Menopause seems to disrupt the endocannabinoid system, and there are cannabinoid receptors throughout the female reproductive system, so it is possible that CBD oil could reduce some of the symptoms relating to menopause.
What menopause symptoms can CBD treat?
While there is no evidence indicating that CBD oil is likely to influence all menopause symptoms, it could be helpful for the following:
Mood changes
One of the most common symptoms of menopause is mood changes.
A 2010 study in mice found that CBD operates in a similar way to antidepressant medications in the brain, and reduces symptoms of depression.
It may be that CBD could also help to stabilize mood in humans.
Sleep disturbances
📷 CBD oil may help to reduce sleep disturbances and anxiety.
Being unable to sleep properly is a common complaint during menopause, and it can have a significant impact on daily life.
A 2016 case study on a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed that CBD oil was able to reduce sleep disturbances and anxiety.
It is possible that CBD oil may also be useful in treating the sleep disturbances relating to menopause.
Bone density loss A low bone density can increase the chance of fractures or bruises, so it is an important symptom to treat.
Some research has found that CBD interacts with a cannabinoid receptor that may play a role in bone density loss. CBD may, therefore, be able to reduce the rate of bone density loss that can occur during menopause.
References:
FDA approves the first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. (2018, June 25). Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm611046.htm
Mackie, K. (2008, April 17). Cannabinoid receptors: Where they are and what they do. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20(s1), 10–14. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01671.x
McHugh, D., Tanner, C., Mechoulam, R., Pertwee, R. G., & Ross, R. A. (2008, February). Inhibition of human neutrophil chemotaxis by endogenous cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids: Evidence for a site distinct from CB1 and CB2. Molecular Pharmacology, 73(2), 441–450. Retrieved from http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/73/2/441.long
Shannon, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2016, October 12). The effectiveness of cannabidiol oil for pediatric anxiety and insomnia as part of posttraumatic stress disorder: A case report. The Permanente Journal, 20(4), 108–111. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5101100/#b9-permj20_4p0108
Zanelati, T. V., Biojone, C., Moreira, F. A., Guimarães, F. S., & Joca, S. R. L. (2010, January). Antidepressant-like effects of cannabidiol in mice: Possible involvement of 5-HT1A receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 159(1), 122–128. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2823358/