It’s estimated that 80% of women will suffer some kind of hormone imbalance in their lifetime. While this will often happen during menopause, there are many other things that can affect our hormones and put us out of whack.
And while there are medications to handle hormone imbalance, increasingly people are turning to natural remedies.
When it comes to natural remedies for hormone imbalance, more people are turning to CBD to handle their symptoms, and for good reasons.
But how can CBD help with hormone imbalance? And is there any proof that it works at all?
Understanding the human body
Back in the early 1990s, researchers looking into the effects of cannabis in humans discovered a cell-signalling system inside the human body. This system, which uses a chemical similar to some active ingredients found in the cannabis plant, helps to regulate a number of functions in the human body such as sleep, appetite and mood.
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, actually helps to keep your body stable. In fact, our bodies have receptors that need endocannabinoids to function correctly.
These receptors can be used to repair our bodies, improve our motor functions, regulate our sleep, body temperature and mood, alleviate pain, and might even help us retain memories and learn new things.
Interestingly it also turns out that our endocannabinoid system can experience a deficiency which can result in problems as wide ranging as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. (source)
The research into cannabis products such as THC and CBD and their interaction with the ECS is still a work in progress. So while we can’t claim that CBD oil based products can help to fix these problems, there is some fascinating information out there which we’re going to look at in this article.
How does the endocannabinoid system (ECS) work?
Every human body has an ECS, or endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters that regulate many physiological processes, including hormone production.
Research shows that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in regulating hormones such as testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol.
To get a little complex (feel free to skip this bit if you’re not looking for science speak):
Endocannabinoids are naturally produced compounds similar to cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. The two primary endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
Receptors are proteins found on cell surfaces, and in the ECS, there are two main types: CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors are more common in the immune system and peripheral organs.
Endocannabinoids bind to these receptors, sending signals throughout the body to help regulate various functions.
Finally, enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they’ve served their purpose. The two main enzymes are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which breaks down anandamide; and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), which breaks down 2-AG.
In summary, the ECS helps to maintain the body’s balance by producing endocannabinoids that bind to receptors and regulate various functions, while enzymes break down these endocannabinoids to maintain proper levels.
- So that’s the science stuff out of the way.
What can cannabis products do to help you manage the effects of hormone imbalance?
How can CBD help with hormone imbalance symptoms?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the non-psychoactive element of the cannabis plant and is increasingly being used by people for a wide range of applications. One of these is in the non-prescription treatment of symptoms related to hormone imbalance.
Most obviously, CBD can be used to treat anxiety and mood related problems. Multiple studies do support the fact that CBD has potential as a mood treatment agent, including for depression and other serious mental health issues. (study one, study two, study three)
But CBD can also be used to improve sleep and reduce insomnia, which can impact existing problems with hormone imbalance.
In addition to these, there are a number of purported benefits for women when it comes to rebalancing those hormones.
The benefits of CBD for women
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause are two conditions that are often associated with hormonal imbalances. As many women are all too aware, the common symptoms of PMS can include bloating, breast tenderness, and mood swings.
Menopause symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness and slowed metabolism.
CBD oil may help to soothe these symptoms by regulating the production of hormones in the body. By reducing cortisol levels, CBD oil could help alleviate mood swings and other symptoms of PMS. In addition, CBD oil can help balance oestrogen levels, which can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
CBD oil has also been shown to help alleviate symptoms of menopause. By reducing hot flashes and night sweats, CBD oil can help improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of developing other health problems associated with menopause.
In addition, the topical use of CBD oil as an intimate oil or vaginal lube, can also help with reducing inflammation, dryness and improving sensitivity. In fact, the benefits of CBD lube for your sex life could be many and varied.
Using CBD to treat hormone imbalance
In the UK, cannabidiol or CBD is a non-prescription product and can be found in an increasingly wide choice of high street and online shops. CBD also comes in a range of product types from edibles to topical application.
One of the most popular forms of CBD edibles are CBD gummies. Similar to popular sweets or candies, they have a CBD content of between 20mg up to 60mg.
Here at ShelleySupply, we stock the excellent and very popular Orange County CBD gummies in a range of flavours.
CBD gummies are popular as they are a tasty way to get your CBD dosage.
But you don’t have to eat your CBD to enjoy the benefits.
CBD patches can be applied to the skin, releasing the cannabidiol slowly into the bloodstream. Perfect for when you want to enjoy the soothing effects of CBD over an extended period of time, for example overnight or while you’re busy doing something else.
Our transdermal CBD patches come in a variety of strengths, from 8mg to 50mg.
Browse the full range of ShelleySupply CBD oil products in our shop.
