Can CBD topicals relieve PMS, or premenstrual syndrome? PMS has gotten a short shrift. People make jokes about cranky women and seem to roll their eyes at the idea that there is such a thing. If you have PMS, however, you know it’s real.
The symptoms vary in severity from woman to woman, and they can either be physical or behavioral. Because we are discussing CBD topicals for PMS, I’ll stick with the physical symptoms:
- Joint or muscle pain
- Lower abdominal cramps and lower-back pain
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Acne flare ups
The most common and well-known among these are cramps, joint or muscle pain and lower-back pain. All of which seem to revolve around cramps.
What causes menstrual cramps?
Women of child-bearing age go through a monthly cycle of the uterus preparing to house a baby. Estrogen increases and builds the tissue that would surround a baby. If no baby is in its future, the uterus sheds the lining tissue with the help of uterine muscle contractions. These contractions are triggered by hormonelike substances called prostaglandins. They are the key element in labor contractions, so essential. But women with higher levels of prostaglandins often experience more intense cramps.
There are over-the-counter medications that you can use, but those results vary and there are often side effects. In addition, you may need more than one medication based on whether your symptoms are physical or emotional. CBD topicals, however, can often relieve many of the physical symptoms with one product.
CBD and PMS
In the 16th century, women were already using CBD from hemp to relieve PMS, according to Chinese medical texts. OK, it wasn’t called PMS back then, but that’s irrelevant. What we have today is no less uncomfortable, and CBD topicals may help ease the symptoms.
Why topicals? The beauty of CBD is its versatility. It’s a known anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and antioxidant. The power of CBD can be associated with the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, present in everyone. The ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, or balance, by regulating various processes in the body such as appetite, pain and mood, among others. CB receptors are found throughout the skin and applying a CBD topical can help relieve pain and restore homeostasis.
Because topicals are available as lotions, creams, balms and salves, you can apply them directly to an affected area. So, it gets to the heart of the matter faster for certain conditions. It can do that because skin has its own ECS. According to Ethan Russo, MD, medical director, PHYTECHS, “There is hardly any physiological process that is not affected by [the ECS] to some degree.”
Instead of ingesting CBD oil, which can take a couple of hours to move through the digestive system, the liver and finally to the blood stream, skin absorbs the CBD topical. As a result, it can go to work in 15 minutes or less.
5 PMS symptoms CBD topicals help relieve
Cramps
CBD is known to treat inflammation, which can cause cramps, headache and other physical symptoms. When you apply CBD for cramps, you treat inflammation the same as you would for any pain. The important part is the lack of side effects. There are few studies around CBD and PMS, but the anecdotal stories are promising. As I said, there are no side effects, so what do you have to lose?
Breast pain
Tender breasts are common a week or more before your period. Progesterone increases during the luteal phase of your cycle. As a result, the milk ducts within the breast swell and you may experience:
- Breast soreness
- Heaviness/tightness
- Burning sensation
Here again, a CBD topical for pain is a quick and easy way to ease some of your discomfort. Evidence from the 11th century indicates that CBD cream was already being used to reduce the swelling.
Headaches
A common side effect of getting your period is headache. We talked about the increase in estrogen to prepare the uterus for a baby. Well, without a baby, there isn’t a great need for estrogen, so the subsequent drop often induces a throbbing headache. Because estrogen regulates certain parts of the brain that perceive pain, a reduction of estrogen reduces the brain’s resources to lower pain perception. CBD applied to the temples, forehead and neck may help reduce the pain.
Low back pain
Aching in your lower back, thighs and legs can also keep you from feeling your best. CBD for joint and muscle pain can help ease the discomfort quickly. As I’ve noted, CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which comes into play when you experience the pain and soreness of PMS.
Menstrual acne
A study published in the Archives of Dermatology, showed that nearly 63% of women have premenstrual flareups. About a week before your period, estrogen levels drop, and progesterone levels rise. The result can be overactive oil glands. More oil for some women fosters bacteria growth, and subsequently, setting sensitive skin up for breakouts. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation indicates that with its with its “combined lipostatic, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects, CBD has potential as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne vulgaris.” Lost Remedy CBD complexion products are toxin- and chemical-free, which nourishes and helps protect skin from bacteria growth.
Find the right CBD topicals for PMS
Before you rush out to buy CBD topicals for PMS, you need to understand what to look for in CBD products. The best products use full-spectrum hemp oil (FSHO). It contains all the cannabinoids and compounds found in the hemp plant. In addition, it contains many essential vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, proteins, chlorophyll, fiber, flavonoids and terpenes. FSHO contains dozens of cannabinoids. The most abundant is CBD, which makes up 90% of this full-spectrum oil. Other cannabinoids contained in hemp oil are CBD, CBG, CBN and trace levels of THC (under .2%).
Do your research to learn how to choose the best product for your needs.