Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Women In Menopause
Menopause is the time in your life when your periods stop due to a reduction or loss of ovarian reproductive function. Testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen are hormones in a woman’s ovaries.
When your body approaches menopause, it produces less estrogen. As a result, your body behaves differently. According to UPMC, common symptoms of menopause are irregular periods, vaginal dryness, chills, night sweats, and hot flashes.
However, some women may also experience weight gain, slow metabolic processes, mood changes, and sleep disruptions. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining heart, bone, and brain functions during the reproductive years.
The hormonal production reduces when a woman approaches menopause. According to the National Institute on Aging, over one million American women experience menopause yearly.
Numerous treatment options exist to reduce symptoms of menopause. These include hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen, antidepressants, osteoporosis medication, Clonidine, and Gabapentin. However, these treatments can cause severe side effects.
For instance, hormone therapy can increase the risk of endometrial cancer, cause blood clots, and lead to stroke, gallstone, or gallbladder issues. Likewise, antidepressants can cause weight gain, nausea, and digestive and sleep problems.
According to the Journal of North American Menopause Society, medical marijuana or cannabis is a holistic treatment option for women approaching or experiencing menopause.
Not only is medical cannabis a nonhormone treatment, but it also reduces menopause symptoms without causing side effects. Today’s article will answer “can medical marijuana help treat women in menopause.” Read on!
Effects of Medical Marijuana on Menopause
Medical marijuana, also known as medical cannabis, comes from the cannabis plant’s seeds, flowers, and leaves. It contains chemicals called cannabinoids that act as drugs and interact with the human’s body endocannabinoid system.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most familiar cannabinoids. According to medical marijuana doctors, the amount of CBD and THC in a cannabis product determines the effects of medical marijuana on a specific condition or illness.
Although hormone therapies can relieve menopausal symptoms, most women in the U.S, particularly in Florida, use natural, nonhormonal options, such as medical cannabis. Let us now discuss how medical marijuana can relieve different symptoms.
Alleviates Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are due to decreased estrogen levels in a woman’s body. Reduced estrogen levels cause the glands to produce higher amounts of other hormones, affecting the brain’s temperature regulation areas.
As a result, the temperature fluctuates or increases, causing hot flashes. According to Harvard Medical School, THC is a psychoactive compound in medical marijuana that can decrease a woman’s body temperature during menopause and alleviate hot flashes.
In addition, medical marijuana produces relaxation effects, reduces mood swings, and promotes better sleep. However, consulting experienced and qualified medical marijuana doctors in Florida is essential to determine the correct dose.
Reduces Inflammation
There is a solid connection between decreased estrogen and musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Reduced estrogen levels during medical marijuana can lead to degenerative joint disease.
CBD can reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of these diseases among women who experience menopause. A 2020 research study highlights that medical marijuana has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and can improve bone density and fight other inflammatory conditions, such as acne breakouts.
Improves Sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, women experiencing menopause can suffer from sleep deprivation. It affects 47% of perimenopausal women and 60% of postmenopausal female individuals. These disorders include breathing problems during sleep, insomnia, and hot flashes.
Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke among menopausal women. Common sleep deprivation symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness, reduced concentration, and mood changes.
A 2020 research study shows that cannabis can induce a state of relaxation and promote sleep. THC in medical marijuana boosts sleep by triggering the endocannabinoid system and activating the CB1 receptors.
Not only do THC compounds reduce the period of sleep latency, but it also helps women sleep longer. THC can also restore cerebral activities and improve melatonin production.
Boosts Metabolism
Decreased estrogen levels during menopause are directly proportional to lower metabolic rates, affecting energy production. Common metabolic disorders a woman may experience during and after menopause can suffer from dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, type-2 diabetes, and hyperinsulinemia.
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A 2018 research study highlights that medical marijuana interacts with cannabinoid receptors and improves food intake and metabolic processes. Medical marijuana doctors can prescribe the correct dose for menopausal women to increase metabolism and decrease energy storage.
Relieves Stress and Depression
A 2017 study shows that 90% of human illnesses are due to stress and depression. Another publication highlights that hormonal changes during menopause can negatively impact a woman’s physical and mental wellbeing, increasing the risk of stress, depression, and anxiety.
Some women may also experience irritability and anger. Estrogen maintains optimal cortisol levels in the body, but when you go through the menopausal period, estrogen levels decrease, meaning your body does not regulate high cortisol levels.
As a result, you experience stress, depression, or anxiety. Research at the University of Chicago found that low levels of THC, a psychoactive compound in medical marijuana, can decrease cortisol levels and indirectly promote serotonin production, allowing individuals to feel good and relaxed.
A 2017 research study states that a low dose of medical marijuana can reduce stress and anxiety. Another NIH study concludes that CBD has an excellent anxiolytic effect and activates the 5HT1A serotonin receptor, reducing anxiety levels and regulating mood.
Final Words
The menopausal transition affects over one million women in the United States. Each woman experiences different symptoms because the body begins to use energy differently, causing changes in fatty tissues, increasing weight, and deteriorating heart and bone health.
Menopause can also take a massive toll on your mental health, cause emotional changes, reduce energy levels, and trigger insomniac episodes. Therefore, finding experienced and qualified medical marijuana doctors is essential to get the right treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Contact us today for more information and to get pre qualified by an All Natural MD professional medical marijuana card doctor in Florida to discuss your problems and to schedule an appointment. (800) 250-6737.