What is menopause?
The menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. This is a normal process for every woman and it marks the end of the female reproductive period. The menopause occurs when the woman has been without a menstrual period for over year, and the onset of the menopause can be a slow process.
Whilst women are born with a lifetime supply of eggs, this number decreases every year, and this declines much faster when women reach the age of around 40. The average age for menopausal women is between 47 and 58.
Symptoms
When a woman is approaching the menopause, there will be a ‘transition period’ were the female begins to experience the symptoms of the menopause. This early onset often consists of shorter period lengths, and longer in between periods. These symptoms can vary from person to person and impact everybody differently.
Irregular periods
Irregular periods are one of the first symptoms of the menopause, and usually, the beginning of the transition periods. If there are more than 60 days between periods, this can indicate that the woman is in the transitional period.
Hot Flushes and Insomnia
Hot flushes are the most well-known symptom of menopause. This occurs due to the sudden change of hormones within the body and the sudden imbalance of these hormones. Hot flushes and night sweats tend to become more severe the closer that a woman gets to menopause, and often cause sleep disruption. Sleep disruption can then progress to insomnia due to lack of sleep from anxiety, depression and hot sweats making it uncomfortable to get a good quality nights rest.
Mood Swings
Mood swings are a common symptom of menopause can sometimes be the reason for breakdowns in relationships. This is because oestrogen can also affect brain cell functions. This can also cause feelings o anxiety, fear and even depression.
CBD and menopause
The human cannabinoid system within the human body is like a lock and key with the body’s receptors. The endocannabinoid system exists to receive cannabinoids, which as a result helps bring the body to a balance.
CBD is said to affect the way in which the chemicals in the brain respond to serotonin levels. Low serotonin levels are thought to also be linked to low mood and depression. More people are choosing to take CBD as a supplement, and it is becoming increasingly popular as there are fewer side effects of taking CBD. Improved serotonin levels could improve mood and anxiety in some menopause sufferers, which as a result, can reduce the number of mood swings. Products such as CBD tinctures and capsules are a great way of consuming CBD to help with these side effects. This is because capsules may enable the user to find their ideal dosage whilst tinctures can be taken sublingually or added to food and drink recipes.
Another way that the receptors help to bring balance into the body is by regulating functions such as appetite, mood, body temperature and sleep. Sleep can be affected due to changes in hormones, mood, and hot sweats during the night. Regulating sleep may improve overall health, whilst also improving mood and energy levels. When CBD products are combined with other ingredients such as lavender, chamomile and passionflower, they can be a very effective sleep aid whilst potentially improving overall sleep quality.
Products such as sleep balms, bath bombs and also edibles are a great way to use CBD. Bath bombs and topicals can work with receptors in the skin to potentially relax the body and reduce pain. This, as a result, could potentially improve sleep. Additionally, edibles are a tasty way of taking CBD or those who do not like the taste of CBD.
Overall, when the endocannabinoid system is stimulated by plant-based cannabinoids, it helps to restore balance in the body. By doing this, it can help to regulate sleep, mood, and body temperature which are some of the common symptoms for those experiencing menopause. By achieving homeostasis within the body, it can help to improve the general symptoms of menopause.