In 2019, we’re leaving the “reefer madness” mindset affiliated with marijuana use and now marijuana is becoming more acceptable, specifically for its medicinal benefits.
Marijuana can benefit a variety of patients on both a physiological and psychological scale.
But what about women’s health? Women endure certain physical struggles more than men. However, men are twice as likely to consume cannabis over women.
Medical marijuana can benefit the unique struggles women face and make living life a lot easier. Medical marijuana is also a tool for skincare and beauty uses.
Here are 9 health benefits of cannabis for women and how women can use cannabis in their daily lives.
1. Skincare and Beauty
Before we get to the physical health topics, let’s discuss one of the lesser-known marijuana uses. Marijuana, specifically hemp, can benefit the skin in a variety of ways.
When the oil is extracted from marijuana’s non-psychoactive sister plant hemp, the oil offers many benefits to the skin. Hemp oil, specifically the cannabinoid CBD, is a powerful antioxidant. This ingredient protects your skin from damage.
The oil is also conditioning. You can find hemp and CBD oil in moisturizers, facial masks, lotions, and even shampoo and conditioner.
2. Decreases Menstrual Cramps and Pain
80% of women experience some type of menstrual pain, more commonly menstrual cramps.
Women typically resort to over-the-counter pain and menstruation relief medications. But you can see more women using cannabis to relieve their menstrual pain and cramps.
The secret boils down to the endocannabinoid system. CBD enforces the body to create more endocannabinoids and the CB2 cannabinoid receptors interact with immune cells to treat pain and inflammation.
For women who have no qualms about the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, this cannabinoid also helps treat menstrual cramps.
THC controls the CB1 receptors and there are CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system, which help decrease pain.
3. Treats Fatigue
Fatigue is another common menstruation symptom. When you’re on your period, high amounts of fatigue leave you constantly sluggish and exhausted.
Keep in mind, treating fatigue with marijuana depends on the strain.
Marijuana has three different strain types: indica, sativa, and a hybrid of both. Sativa and sativa-dominant hybrids are energizing strains whereas indica and indica-dominant strains are more relaxing.
If you prefer using non-psychoactive marijuana, CBD can help improve your REM sleep, leaving you more energized when you wake up.
4. Reduces Nausea
Nausea is another common menstruation symptom. Cannabis is such a great nausea treatment, it’s commonly used by cancer patients who suffer from nauseating chemotherapy side effects.
Both THC and CBD help decrease nausea and vomiting. THC soothes the stomach and CBD quells the sensation to vomit.
Keep in mind, dosage and the type of cannabis you use depends on positive anti-nausea results. CBD-dominant strains are a better treatment option over THC-dominant strains; however, high amounts of CBD could also result in vomiting.
It’s also recommended you utilize “the entourage effect” when treating nausea with cannabis, which means using strains high in both THC and CBD.
5. Manages Diarrhea
One of the more disgusting menstruation side effects is diarrhea. While experts aren’t sure why menstruation causes a change in bathroom habits, a theory is the hormone prostaglandin.
This hormone cause contractions so the uterus can shed the blood lining. This contraction also takes place in your intestines, causing diarrhea.
If your menstruation-fueled diarrhea is becoming an issue, cannabis can help relieve your diarrhea. While researchers aren’t certain why, many think it’s because of the anti-inflammatory benefits.
6. Treats Endometriosis Pain
Endometriosis occurs when tissues similar to the uterus tissues grow in other organs of the body. This causes excessive bleeding, pain, and menstrual irregularities.
There are many options to treat endometriosis, but cannabis is a good pain-reliever.
As stated previously, both CBD and THC help reduce pain.
This is due to their effect on the central nervous and immune systems. The cannabinoids desensitize nerve pain and can even stop the cell multiplication that blocks endometriotic cell tissue from growing.
7. Benefits Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS occurs when androgen levels increase, causing ovarian issues and irregular periods. There’s no PCOS cure and researchers know very little about how marijuana can treat PCOS.
But some research states PCOS is linked to irregularities in the endocannabinoid system. If this is the case, cannabinoid influence can help balance the ECS and decrease the PCOS effects.
If you use medical marijuana to treat your ECS, you’ll need a full range of cannabinoids, not just CBD.
8. Aids Menopause
When a woman enters menopause, her body takes a dramatic shift. Menopause is a process that typically lasts between four and five years, but some experience symptoms for as long as seven years after their last period.
Some symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and emotional changes.
Research supporting cannabis as a menopause treatment is scarce. What we do know is estrogen is linked to our endocannabinoid system. Estrogen breaks down the fatty acid FAAH that breaks down cannabinoids.
Estrogen also uses cannabinoids for regulation, which is why many women experience relief when using marijuana.
9. Improves Sexual Health
43% of women suffer from sexual dysfunction. Symptoms include discomfort and/or pain during intercourse, vaginal dryness, difficulty in achieving an orgasm, and decreased arousal.
Fortunately, marijuana can help. One of the side effects of marijuana is touch sensitivity. This will help activate the sexual organs and will bring more sexual pleasure.
Marijuana-based lubricants also help lubricate and stimulate the vagina.
This makes sex not only more comfortable but also more pleasurable. If you don’t have a partner, using marijuana-based sex products for masturbation can also heighten your sex drive and make your orgasms more intense.
The Health Benefits of Cannabis: Healing Women for Different Reasons
We all know the health benefits of cannabis, but do we know why cannabis benefits women? Cannabis can help improve a woman’s reproductive health and also benefits the skin and sexual health.
Are you a woman and need more education on your body and life? We have a whole section dedicated to women’s topics and interests. Continue reading our blog!
