CBD and the Menopause: Can it really help?
by
Aisling Grimley.
I hear lots of great things about CBD oil and help with menopausal symptoms like insomnia, depression, and increased inflammation, but also concerns about buying and trusting sources of CBD oil. The topic can feel confusing and conflicting. In this article, we speak to Cliona Nagle, the founder of plus120, a platform that collates the very best CBD products across Europe. After stumbling into the world of CBD and finding it so difficult to find trustworthy CBD oils, she founded plus120 to solve this problem. Cliona shares her tips for safely choosing your CBD oil here.
What do we need to know about CBD?
Around 30 years ago, scientists discovered we have another body system called an Endocannabinoid system (ECS). It has been described as one of the most “important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health” - yet doctors are barely trained on it.
Our ECS plays an important part in all biological functions: everything from sleep, appetite, memory, mood, immune system, pain control and reproduction. It is like an orchestra for our body, it keeps everything working together in balance. If one system goes out of balance, like for example, how our hormonal system goes out of balance during the menopause, everything else is affected.
We produce our own cannabinoids which help regulate our ECS (called endocannabinoids) but plants produce cannabinoids too.
When our bodies are under pressure, like how it is during the menopause, we can use plant cannabinoids to support us through this time.
Our bodies were designed to interact with plant cannabinoids. CBD is one plant cannabinoid that we can use to help support our ECS.
How can CBD help menopause symptoms?
Because the ECS is such a huge complex system that affects every organ in our bodies, there are many ways that plant cannabinoids like CBD can support us through this time.
CBD can help regulate our endocannabinoid system
What’s happening: Oestrogen helps regulate our levels of endocannabinoids. Without it, some endocannabinoids like anandamide get broken down too early. Anandamide, also known as the ‘bliss molecule’, helps us feel good. Low levels will show up as stress, anxiety and depression.
How CBD can help: Supporting our bodies with CBD, will prevent the early breakdown of anandamide helping us feel better for longer.
CBD can reduce inflammation
What’s happening: Oestrogen helps reduce body inflammation which means that declining levels during menopause contribute to more inflammation in our bodies. This shows up as joint and muscle pains and aches and is why arthritis, for example, can start in the menopause.
How CBD can help: CBD has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It works by reducing the pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines. More than that, however, CBD is also great for pain caused by inflammation as it binds with pain receptors.
CBD can help manage symptoms of depression
What’s happening: Plummeting levels of oestrogen and other hormones affect the levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in our brains - all affecting our mood.
How CBD can help: CBD increases the levels of serotonin by activating our serotonin receptors. And as above, it also helps the too early breakdown of anandamide. The combination of both increasing anandamide and serotonin is what is thought to provide the anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects of CBD.
CBD can help with insomnia
What’s happening: Fluctuating hormones, combined with reduced levels of GABA, the calming neurotransmitter in our brains, often causes sleep disturbances during menopause.
How CBD can help: CBD can balance out levels of GABA in our brains, resulting in more restful sleep. CBD also helps with sleep due to its anti-anxiety properties.
How to choose a good CBD product for the menopause?
Choosing a good CBD product is an absolute minefield for customers and unfortunately, it’s all too easy to go wrong.
However, once armed with even a basic amount of information, you can help navigate through to a great CBD product.
Some helpful tips when buying a CBD product:
- Make sure to buy organic - hemp, the plant which CBD comes from accumulates toxins from the soil so you want to make sure the soil hemp is grown in is clean.
- Look for a full-spectrum product - CBD works best with all plant compounds known as the “entourage effect”. Isolated CBD, often marketed as “pure” is not as effective.
- Make sure you are buying clean ingredients - avoid added ‘ flavours’ or anything synthetic that will compromise the health benefits of CBD.
- To target inflammation, look for the cannabinoid CBDa, the acid precursor of CBD
- To target sleep issues, look for relaxing terpenes like myrcene or beta-Caryophyllene to be present
CBD frequently asked questions.
- Is it safe? Yes, CBD is considered as “well tolerated with a good safety profile” - WHO, 2018
- Is it legal to buy in Ireland? Yes. CBD is legal to buy in Ireland.
- Will it make me high? No. There’s trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound which makes you high but nothing that will affect you.
- Will it show up on a drug test? THC is what is being detected in drug tests. This shouldn't be a concern unless you are consuming huge amounts of CBD. Use a broad spectrum CBD product if this something that is on your mind.
If you have any further questions, please email cliona@plus120.com
About Cliona Nagle
Cliona is the founder of plus120, a platform that collates the very best CBD products across Europe. After stumbling into the world of CBD and finding it so difficult to find trustworthy CBD oils, she founded plus120 to solve this problem.
Cliona believes we are at the forefront of a medical breakthrough with emerging studies proving the health benefits CBD offers to the endocannabinoid system.
You can find Cliona over on instagram @plus120_
Cliona Nagle helps you to source the best CBD oil to help relieve symptoms of menopause