Ladies around the globe have been on the lookout for a extra pure answer to managing the signs of menopause. One such prospect might be CBD, largely as a consequence of its affect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Earlier than we check out the connection between the ECS and menopause, let’s first perceive what causes menopause.

Understanding menopause

Menopause signifies a shift in a lady’s ranges of oestrogen and progesterone. Because of this, intervals will cease, and getting pregnant naturally is not an possibility. Don’t fear although, this can be a pure a part of getting older, and one thing each girl goes via. The issue with menopause is that, whereas it might be a pure course of, that doesn’t make the signs any extra snug to reside with. For some girls, scorching flashes, evening sweats, issue sleeping, low temper, and ache throughout intercourse can final for as much as fourteen years.

Standard remedies for signs of menopause embody hormone substitute remedy (HRT), counselling, and changes to weight-reduction plan or train regime. The issue is that as a result of signs persist for years, treatment like HRT can take its toll on the physique and inflict a number of uncomfortable side effects.

Dwelling with menopause signs

Usually, menopause impacts girls aged 45–55, however it could actually happen earlier or later than this timeframe. As we talked about above, menopause is caused by a change within the physique’s hormone ranges. From the mid-thirties, a lady’s oestrogen ranges begin to decline, signifying the beginning of perimenopause. The regular decline in oestrogen is what results in most of the signs related to menopause. Signs can proceed previous menopause into the postmenopausal interval, however they’re often much less extreme than throughout perimenopause.

Simply by itemizing the signs of menopause, it’s straightforward to see the big affect on a lady’s high quality of life. Many people are grouchy or really feel down after one evening of unhealthy sleep, however think about the identical points persisting for years. Sizzling flashes can come on the worst time, making it tough to pay attention, and painful intercourse places a pressure on any relationship. Over the centuries, girls have simply needed to grin and bear the signs of menopause, however because of ongoing analysis, CBD will be the pure answer to creating signs simpler to reside with.

CBD’s affect on the endocannabinoid system may play a key position

CBD is believed to be helpful due to the interactions it has with the ECS and its activation of sure enzymes and receptors. It doesn’t sort out menopause instantly, however as an alternative might affect a number of menopausal signs.

The extraordinarily widespread “scorching flashes” skilled throughout menopause characterize the physique’s incapability to control temperature appropriately. Beforehand, research have proven that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) might play a component in our mind’s potential to control temperature. Sadly, AEA is rapidly damaged down within the physique by an enzyme known as FAAH. CBD, nevertheless, has been proven to dam the manufacturing of FAAH, permitting enhanced signalling of anandamide.

A lack of bone density is one other symptom of menopause, which, if left unchecked, can result in osteoporosis. This time, a examine printed on ScienceDirect outlined a relationship between CB receptors and TRPV1 channels. They discovered that sufferers with osteoporosis had elevated TRPV1 channel expression, which results in “large overexpression of CB2 receptors”. Their findings not solely confirmed the position of the endocannabinoid system in osteoporosis, however they level to a possible remedy with CBD. A supporting examine discovered that CBD “is reported to be most potent at influencing TRPV1 and TRPM8 channels. By regulating TRPV channels utilizing CBD, it’s attainable that the overexpression present in osteoporosis sufferers might be diminished, and new therapies launched in consequence”.

The way forward for CBD and menopause

Invoking the research listed above, and CBD’s proposed anxiolytic results, it’s comprehensible why the compound is being explored as a therapeutic remedy for the signs of menopause. CBD might be able to help the physique on a number of fronts—because of its interplay with the ECS—with a fraction of the uncomfortable side effects related to HRT drugs. Contemplating menopause is a pure a part of getting older, it is sensible that future remedies look to pure alternate options.