PMS or premenstrual syndrome is a problem that many women face. PMS is generally characterized by a host of issues before the onset of menstruation like cramps, mood swings, pain in the legs and the back, and much more. So much pain can occur that the person can become physically and emotionally drained.
The intensity of the pain varies much, and relief can be gotten from some strategies like eating dark chocolates to using heating pads in the abdomen. Those who cannot get enough relief depend on painkillers. But nowadays, with the growing impact of medical marijuana, many women are opting for this wonder plant as a treatment for PMS.
You can check out beliebis.co.uk for more details on medical marijuana, cannabis and CBD products.
Now, the most important question is- can medical marijuana actually help in managing PMS? Let us find out.
How does marijuana help in PMS?
The cramps associated with PMS are one of the vital factors and can affect the quality of the life. The cramps often start a few days before the periods and sometimes continue to happen during the periods. Cramping is the result of the imbalance of hormones that trigger severe contractions in your uterus. The pain spikes with a sudden spike in prostaglandins. The prostaglandins are mainly responsible for the unbearably painful cramps associated with PMS.
It was found that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can help in reducing cramps through many pieces of research. THC does this by working as a muscle relaxant, the primary psychoactive agent in cannabis. The topical application through cannabis-infused cream or transdermal patches has helped many women.
Cannabis works uniquely by releasing chemical compounds that bind with the endocannabinoid receptors of our body. This helps patients use cannabis products for relief from depression, anxiety, pain, and more.
Which symptoms of PMS can medical marijuana help in management?
The first thing that we need to note is that medical marijuana cannot regulate the hormone levels in the body. Hence, it cannot treat the root cause of the problem. But, medical marijuana can help by providing relief to various symptoms that occur during PMS. These include
- PMS headaches: Medical marijuana has shown effectiveness in reducing the headaches caused by treatment-resistant migraine and cluster headaches. These two types of headaches are possibly the worst that a person can experience. Among the plausible explanations regarding the action of marijuana, it is believed that the drug affects the parts of the brain related to headaches. The effect of marijuana, however, isn’t strong, and hence combining it with other painkillers can produce great results.
- PMS pain: As mentioned in the previous point, the pain-relieving action of marijuana is not potent. However, it works really well with other painkillers like Tylenol. The use of marijuana with other medications is generally accepted as being safe that helps it as one of the preferred choices for combination drugs.
- PMS-related insomnia: Marijuana has been used to treat insomnia for a long time. In fact, some documents suggest the use of marijuana for treating insomnia for centuries. It is well accepted that the use of marijuana can help in increasing sleep and also help people fall asleep faster. The lack of sleep is a very pertinent issue for people suffering from PMS. Less sleep can cause a lot of emotional stress. Marijuana promotes sleep which in turn can help people reduce the effects of PMS. It is suggested that the treatment be carried out under the watchful eye of a medical practitioner so that the benefits and side effects can be monitored carefully.
The best available strains for treating PMS related symptoms
- Blue Dream (Sativa-dominant) – This is a hybrid strain that helps in pain relief. Blue Dream also controls mood swings.
- Black Cherry Cheesecake (Indica-dominant) – This strain is also hybrid and helps in relieving pain. It also gives a feeling of relaxing and pleasant high.
- Obama Kush (Indica) – A mood-enhancing strain that also relieves you from pain.
- Dutch Treat (Indica-dominant) – This is yet another hybrid strain that produces a calming effect by making you high. It also improves mood and relieves pain.
- Chernobyl (Sativa-dominant) – This is a potent intoxicant. It produces a euphoric high that stays for hours. The result is effective relief from pain and a better mood.
How to take marijuana treatment?
- The first way is, of course, traditional smoking. The onset of action is fast with smoking though the effects do linger away faster. The psychoactive effect is, however, less intense when compared to edible modes of ingestion. As you can expect immediate relief from the symptoms when smoking weed, you can adjust the dosage easily as per your needs.
- The second way to take marijuana treatment is through topical application. The result of topical application is not a high but a pinpoint relief of the symptoms. Lotions or creams can be applied at the particular spot where the pain or cramp is experienced, like the abdomen.
- Beverages and edibles are the last ways by which you can gain the benefit of marijuana treatment for PMS. There are many edible and drinkable forms of marijuana available in the market. It is a preferred way of taking marijuana for people who don’t want to smoke. When they find out that the topical application isn’t providing expected relief, they often opt for marijuana treatment as ingestible. The ingestible form brings in the most potent body high but also provides the most effective pain relief.
A final word
Medical marijuana has been used in many cultures for a long time. In recent years, marijuana has been listed as a drug with the potential of abuse. This led to the various legal bindings on the use of marijuana.
Recent studies have highlighted its health benefits too. These have started opening legal avenues for the use of the drug. Many states have already legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. The use of marijuana to treat symptoms of PMS is still being researched, and with time we will get to learn even more about its benefits.
