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UK's first adaptogenic Mushroom Honey | SHOP NOW
UK's first adaptogenic Mushroom Honey | SHOP NOW
Every year from the 1st to the 31st of October, the world marks Menopause Awareness Month - a time to raise awareness around menopause, its symptoms, and the support available. In honour of this global event, we’re taking a closer look at menopause, its impact on those going through it, and how a growing number of women are turning to alternative therapies to better manage their symptoms.
We’ll be exploring the cause and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, the most common treatments, and how some people are turning to CBD to relieve their menopause symptoms.
What is menopause?
Menopause is a natural life stage that occurs in women and people who menstruate as they get older. It occurs when a person’s menstrual cycles end, leading to a change in the production of certain hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes can trigger a range of symptoms that can have a significant impact on everyday life.
Menopause typically starts between the ages of 40 and 60; however, some people may go through the process significantly earlier or later in life. In some cases, menopause can be triggered by external factors such as undergoing cancer treatment or certain surgeries.
A person is considered menopausal when they haven’t had a period for at least 12 months. However, it is common to start experiencing symptoms before this point - this is called perimenopause. There are over 30 menopause symptoms which include:
Conventional Menopause Treatments
It is estimated that there are around 13 million perimenopausal and menopausal women in the UK alone. Many of these individuals report that their symptoms have a significant impact on their quality of life. Therefore, adequate management of these symptoms is of the utmost importance.
The main treatment for menopause-related symptoms in the UK is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT works by boosting the levels of oestrogen and progesterone in the body, essentially replacing those lost as a result of the menopause. This treatment is often effective; however, recent figures indicate that only a fraction of those who could benefit are currently prescribed HRT, despite initiatives to make the treatment more accessible.
This low prescription rate has been attributed to a number of factors, including shortages in HRT products, patients not being offered the treatment by their GPs, and patients’ personal choices. In some cases, women and people experiencing menopause may be opting for alternative management techniques. For example, some evidence indicates that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) products is on the rise among menopausal women.
CBD and the Menopause
CBD is a common compound found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is the second most abundant of a class of compounds known as cannabinoids, behind THC - the main psychoactive component of the plant. However, unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and, as such, has been increasingly explored for its therapeutic potential.
In fact, growing research into the compound has found that CBD possesses a number of impressive therapeutic properties. For example, studies indicate that CBD may be beneficial in the management of anxiety, pain, and inflammation, as well as an aid to improve sleep and reduce seizures associated with some forms of epilepsy.
These potential properties could theoretically prove beneficial in the management of several menopause symptoms. For example, as mentioned above, many women going through menopause experience anxiety, sleep problems, or painful joints (and often all three!). But what does the evidence say? And are women really turning to CBD for menopause?
An aid for sleep and anxiety?
Well, few studies have directly assessed the potential of CBD in menopausal women; however, some data indicates that CBD can help to improve sleep and anxiety. In a study of 72 adults presenting with anxiety or poor sleep, 79.2% reported improved anxiety scores and 66.2% noted improved sleep scores following a month of CBD therapy.
While more research is needed to confirm these findings and to offer a better understanding of exactly how CBD could help with menopause symptoms, many experts agree it likely comes down to the compound’s interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is expressed throughout the body and plays a vital role in a number of processes, including - you guessed it! - sleep and mood!
So, while we might still be waiting for clinical studies into CBD for menopause, anecdotal evidence indicates that this humble cannabinoid could be a good addition to everyday health and wellness regimes. And with so many diverse CBD products now available, that has never been easier! Just take a look at our range of high-quality CBD oils, CBD gummies, and CBD skincare. You’re sure to find the right product for you!
