Does CBD for Menopause help? Yes, pure natural CBD helps with Menopause symptoms.

CBD for Menopause—Cannabidiol (CBD) is becoming an increasingly popular remedy among women seeking treatment for symptoms of menopause. Menopause is a natural biological process involving the cessation of menstruation and changing levels of female hormones including estrogen and progesterone. Although CBD does not appear to impact hormone levels, it has been shown in clinical and non-clinical research to have beneficial effects on many of the symptoms of menopause, including sleeplessness, mental health issues, skin problems, menopause and itching, reduced bone density, and cognitive issues.

For some, the natural transition through menopause is seamless. However, up to 50% of women experience menopause symptoms, including sleeplessness, mood swings, hot flashes, loss of sex drive, and vaginal dryness. The transition into menopause is also associated with an increased incidence of osteoporosis and brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Many women seek medical advice and treatment for their symptoms from health care providers, while others self-treat with home remedies, like dietary supplements. When it comes to treating symptoms of menopause, most women use non-prescription products, with a handful opting for prescription therapies, including hormone replacements and antidepressants.

Menopause self-care starts with knowing that you are not alone. The best supplements for menopause brain fog include pure natural CBD. Menopause tea and menopausal tea have hit the market but you can add dissolvable CBD that is tasteless and odorless to any flavor of tea, smoothie, protein shake, coffee, or water. There are also topical lavender CBD lotions that help reduce inflammation and ease menopause itchy skin. Menopause and itching is a common symptom and pure natural cbd will help with menopause self care.

Yes, CBD for Menopause helps with symptoms.

CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, which is a plant-derived cannabinoid. CBD comes from the cannabis plant, most often from the form of cannabis known as hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC. While THC is psychoactive, CBD is not, and users can take CBD legally regularly without experiencing any symptoms that could potentially interfere with their daily lives. In the USA, CBD derived from hemp is legal below (0.3 percent THC) and is widely available for consumers to use for natural remedies. 

CBD is being touted as a “cure-all” these days, for everything from anxiety to cancer. 

While this may seem too good to be true, it makes sense when you understand how CBD works in the body. CBD has more than 65 biological targets, including a range of enzymes, receptors, channels, and transporters. CBD has been said to have “promiscuous pharmacology” because it interacts with so many of our body systems, including the endocannabinoid system! Among these systems are many that are affected by the physiological changes associated with menopause.

CBD for Menopause—Impacting Sleep

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common complaints of menopausal women. In fact, up to 40% of women experience sleep problems during menopause, including insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing.

CBD is widely used as a sleep aid, although whether CBD is sedating or alerting seems to depend on the dose. A recent article reviewed the research on CBD’s wakefulness and sleep-promoting effects and concluded that low to moderate doses is stimulating, while high doses are sedating.

When used for sleep, CBD should be taken before bedtime.

CBD for Menopause—Impacting Mood

Menopausal women may experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. The effects of changes in female hormones and hormone imbalance on mental health can also be seen in conditions like post-partum depression and PMS. Research strongly supports a link between menopause and depression, while there is a more tenuous link between menopause and anxiety. In addition to hormonal effects, mental health issues during menopause may also be linked to sleep problems and menopause-associated alterations in thyroid function.

CBD has been studied for its effect on both CBD reduced anxiety and depression, although there are no studies specific to menopausal women. For other groups, however, including those with anxiety and PTSD, CBD has been shown to have positive effects and the benefits of CBD are vast.

A recent study found that among 400 patients who reported using CBD to achieve “mood-improving” effects, over 62% reported that CBD worked “very well by itself”. In another study, of psychiatric patients experiencing both anxiety and sleep concerns, nearly 80% showed a reduction in anxiety within the first month that was sustained over several months. 

When used to support mental health, CBD can be taken in the morning, with additional doses taken approximately every 6 hours to support benefits throughout the duration of the day.

CBD for Menopause—And The Brain 

Cognitive decline is associated with age. Following menopause, the risk of cognitive decline increases, and it is well known that the hormonal changes associated with menopause increase risk. Effects range from mild, such as a tendency towards forgetfulness, to severe, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Estrogen, which decreases during menopause, has been shown to be “neuroprotective,” meaning it protects the neurons in the brain from degeneration. When estrogen is lost during the menopause transition, this protection is lost.

CBD is increasingly recognized for its neuroprotective effects. While it won’t replace lost estrogen, it does act to protect the brain. Research shows CBD can enhance the growth and development of new brain cells and reverse and prevent the development of cognitive deficits in animals.

Another animal study found that CBD reversed the memory impairment associated with estrogen loss. In humans, CBD has been found to improve blood flow in the brain, which is reduced in AD patients, and reduces brain inflammation. CBD is one of the best supplements for menopause brain fog.

When used to support brain health, CBD should be taken regularly, and during the pre-and peri-menopausal periods to prevent and protect against the effects of estrogen loss in the brain.

CBD for Menopause—CBD And Bone Health

Osteoporosis is closely linked to menopause. In fact, osteoporosis that occurs after menopause is termed “post-menopausal osteoporosis”; estrogen deficiency sets off a rapid loss of bone mineral density – the hallmark of osteoporosis. Since bone loss is also associated with age (even in men), the compounded effects of aging and menopause-associated bone loss in women are especially destructive.

One of the molecular targets of CBD, the CB2 receptor, appears to be especially important in bone health. CB2 is closely associated with bone mineral density. Stimulation of CB2 hinders bone breakdown and stimulates bone formation. Researchers have found that genetic variations in the CB2 receptor are associated with osteoporosis and can even be used as an early diagnostic tool to detect a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis in humans. 

CBD treatment has been found to improve fracture healing in animals, and, though human research in this area is limited, cannabinoids like CBD are being recommended as potential treatments for bone regeneration. CBD can lead to reduced inflammation and reduced joint pain.

Menopausal tea, menopause coffee, and menopause drinks are commonly advertised. With CBD drink mix powder, you can add pure natural CBD to your favorite tea.

When used to support bone health, CBD should be taken regularly, and during the pre-and peri-menopausal periods to prevent and protect against the effects of estrogen loss in the bone.

CBD for Menopause—CBD And Skin Health

Menopause has been described as an “estrogen-deficient condition [that] is associated with a dramatic reduction in skin health and wellness”. These changes include a loss of collagen, elastin, and other important skin components leading to dryness, wrinkling, and impaired wound healing. Menopause and itchy skin is a common symptom due to the changes in the skin. Topical CBD treatments have shown to be an effective remedy and a potentially safer alternative to topical estrogen treatments.

For treating skin conditions, CBD is usually applied directly to the skin. Most topical CBD products are marketed for the treatment of pain, but more evidence is indicating CBD benefits dermatological conditions. Although research has not yet focused on menopausal women specifically, studies with other patients found CBD to benefit a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and scars, as well as sebum production and inflammation. CBD has also been found to improve wound healing.

Topical CBD creams specially formulated for dermatological use can be applied daily. Ideally, CBD products applied to the skin should be free from parabens, artificial fragrances, sodium lauryl/Laureth sulfate, toluene, phthalates, formaldehyde, diethanolamine, and triclosan, which could exacerbate underlying dermatological conditions.

CBD helps with additional Menopause Symptoms

Many claims on the internet insist CBD helps with other menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, breast tenderness, and night sweats. While any/all of those claims may be true, clinical research in these areas is currently lacking; though there are some biologically plausible mechanisms that could explain these outcomes. Hopefully, future research will clarify these benefits. In the meantime, there is good evidence supporting the use of CBD for the treatment of many other menopause symptoms.

Choosing CBD for Menopause Products

There are many different types of CBD products available to consumers. These include oral, topical, sublingual, and inhaled preparations. How do these products differ, and what is best for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

Oral And Sublingual CBD

CBD is usually taken orally. Both oil and water-soluble CBD products are available, although most products are oil-based – the form that is native to CBD. Oil-based products are not soluble in water; water-soluble products are.

Both oil and water-soluble CBD products provide several hours of therapeutic benefit, but in terms of treatment efficacy, water-soluble CBD is preferred. Water-soluble products are more quickly absorbed into the body, and the rates of absorption are up to four times greater than for oil-based products.

Higher doses of oil-based products are required relative to water-soluble products, and some patients dislike the taste and texture of CBD oil. Water-soluble CBD can be taken with or without food, potentially tasteless and odorless, and because it is more rapidly absorbed into the body, the benefits can be felt in as little as 15 to 30 minutes.

Oil-soluble CBD should be taken with food for better absorption, varying consistency, and onset time. Sublingual products are oil-based but provide more rapid absorption, although this is still inferior to water-soluble products.

Topical CBD Lotion

CBD is also commonly applied to the skin. Most of these products are considered topical because they act locally in the applied area but are not absorbed into the bloodstream because they don’t penetrate through all the layers of the skin. In contrast, transdermal products are applied to the skin and because of their formulations, are absorbed into the blood through the deep skin layers. 

Topical CBD products can be used for localized pain, but for menopause symptoms like sleep and mood problems, and for bone and brain support, CBD needs to be absorbed into the blood so that it can be distributed throughout the body. Topical products will not be useful here, while transdermal products will be. However, topical products can be used to support skin health, including symptoms like dryness that may be associated with menopause.

Although less common, CBD products may be smoked. Hemp and CBD-rich cannabis flowers can be smoked in a joint, and vaporizers are available with cartridges that include variable amounts of CBD. With smoking, CBD levels in the plasma rise immediately and reach peak concentrations after three minutes and drop dramatically by 1hr.

This means that smoked CBD is available faster than orally ingested CBD (particularly oil-based), and, it remains in the body for a much shorter time period which requires more frequent dosing. For this reason, orally ingested CBD is a better option for the treatment of menopause symptoms. As well, there is concern over the harmful effects of inhaled CBD products on the respiratory system.

Most CBD products are available in isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum forms. CBD isolate products only contain CBD. Broad spectrum CBD products contain several other extracts from the cannabis plant, excluding THC. Full spectrum CBD products are similar to broad-spectrum products but they usually contain even more cannabis plant extracts, such as waxes and chlorophylls, and they can contain up to 0.3% THC.

Most of the research on CBD has been done using the isolate form, although consumers use products in all three forms. It is important to note that regardless of the form used, CBD will be the highest concentration, with most other molecules being present in very small amounts. You may want to experiment with both an isolate and a full or broad-spectrum product and track your symptoms using both products. This way you will know what product works best for you.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “how much CBD should I take?” Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. The general recommendation for starting CBD is to start low, go slow, and wait.

Meaning: start off at a low dose, and waiting a while to observe your response; if the response is not optimal, increase a bit, and repeat. When it comes to CBD, a personalized approach is needed. Dosing is highly individualized and depends on many factors. The goal is to find the dose that maximizes the benefits for each person. 

Take It Home

When it comes to treating menopause symptoms, CBD shows great potential. Because of its ability to interact with and influence a wide range of body systems, CBD can improve a wide variety of symptoms, from sleeplessness to dry skin. While some can be targeted specifically when they manifest (like sleep and skin problems), others (like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s Disease) may benefit even more from early intervention. 

If you are interested in trying CBD, talk to a healthcare professional for some specific recommendations targeted to your personal health needs. 

The content on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions or before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

Dr. Genevieve Newton, publishers of this content, or Fringe, Inc. takes no responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.