Harvard reveals that cannabis may improve women's health against menopause
Studies published by the American university have confirmed that the plant helps reduce side effects by improving mood and relieving pain
Published on 01/18/2023
By Leandro Maia
A study from Harvard Medical School revealed that cannabis may help alleviate the side effects caused by menopause. The last menstruation occurs in the range of 40 to 50 years, after a whole year without menstruation. Many women fear menopause due to changes in the body, such as mood swings, hair loss, weight gain, and loss of breast volume, for example. Not to mention that the end of menstruation is accompanied by side effects, including night sweats and insomnia. But how could cannabis assist in improving the quality of life for women?
The plant has been undergoing many studies due to the medicinal richness of its components. One of them is CBD (cannabidiol), which has the potential to lower blood pressure and anxiety, as well as reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. Other studies have already confirmed that the plant can also help prevent seizures and treat various forms of cancer.
Medicinal Properties
Due to its rich medicinal properties, researchers tried to understand how cannabis would affect the treatment of menopause. The study published by Harvard confirmed that the use of the herb helps reduce symptoms in about 79% of women. During the tests, participants answered questions about the effects of the substance on menopause symptoms. The big surprise was that 67% reported improved sleep quality and 46% said their mood and anxiety improved.
Despite the positive findings, unfortunately, hot flashes, the most common symptom of menopause, increased with cannabis use.
The North American Menopause Society found that in 2020, 27% of surveyed women used or were using cannabis to manage menopause symptoms. Meanwhile, 19% attempted more traditional hormone therapy, and 10% reported being interested in trying cannabis to relieve symptoms, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
To explain the relationship between cannabis and menopause, researchers demonstrated that the antidepressant and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects of estrogen are related to the endocannabinoid system.
Thus, cannabis-based treatment for menopause involves administering phytocannabinoids extracted from the plant to restore balance to the endocannabinoid system. With the regulation of the body, there is a reduction of estrogen in a non-hormonal way.