by Billee Sharp

Cannabis medicine has therapeutic value for a very wide range of physiological and mental health issues; from glaucoma and epilepsy to depression. Clinical trials have clearly demonstrated positive outcomes when cannabinoids interact with our ECS ( endocannabinoid system) , our central homeostatic regulatory system. Women have found that cannabis has great value for reproductive health and that symptoms of menopause can be treated successfully with cannabis in a variety of forms.

Women use cannabis for female health issues throughout their lives; problems with menstruation, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopausal life can all be alleviated with the appropriate cannabis medicine.

A woman’s reproductive system is transformed through her lifetime several times; at puberty her ovaries activate the hormones which will produce the female gametes which create fertility in females.

Estrogen and progesterone are the hormonal building blocks of fertility, at different stages of the monthly menstrual cycle and the fertility lifecycle these hormones occur in greater and lesser amounts.

Since the scientific discovery of the ECS in the 1990s the connection between endocannabinoids and hormones has been revealed. In females the endocannabinoid Anandamide is produced in the ovaries and the level at which it is produced fluctuates as the menstrual cycle runs its course.

Research found that estrogen levels mirror anandamide levels and although the ECS is the body’s main regulator, it is, in fact, estrogen that determines the amounts of anandamide through the regulation of the fatty acid FAAH, which breaks down anandamide.

This research into estrogen and anandamide levels in menstruating women has shown that the ECS also goes through changes as women progress thro life into peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.

It follows that if estrogen is not present it cannot act to stimulate or reduce anandamide levels.

Anandamide (AEA) was the first endocannabinoid to be identified by Raphael Mechohlam and his team in 1992. Anandamide, the name derived from the Sanskrit word for happiness is an endocannabinoid that exerts influence over mood, neurogeneration, appetite, libido, anxiety, inflammation, fertility levels and also exhibits anti-tumor behavior. Low levels of amandamide in later life might explain why post-menopausal women have an increased risk from some cancers, cardiac conditions and osteoporosis and neurodegeneration.

In Western medicine, the conventional treatment for women who are suffering debilitating physical and mental effects of menopause is HRT

(Hormone Replacement Therapy) which often successfully alleviates symptoms. Unfortunately research shows that HRT elevates the risk of breast cancer and vascular disease over time and understandably makes it a less appealing route for some women.

Many alternative and natural treatments for menopause rely on anandamide supplements for relief of symptoms. Dietary sources include chocolate, truffles, hemp seeds and oil, flax seeds and oil, olive oil, meat, oily fish and eggs. But CBD (Cannabidiol) is by far the richest source of anandamide and has become a very popular supplementary aid to menopausal complaints across the board.

Clinical trials on the effects of CBD on menopausal, peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women are scant but recently Rutgers University conducted a trial on post-menopausal mice and CBD. The trial showed that the CBD improved general health; strengthening bone tissue, improving gut bacteria and increased energy levels.

Another recent study based on data from 258 self-reporting participants shed light on women’s use of cannabis for menopausal issues; 67% used CBD for insomnia, broken sleep and night sweats; 46% for anxiety and 30% for libido enhancement.

CBD increases anandamide levels through the inhibition of FAAH, the fatty acid that breaks down anandamide. The study also indicated that smoking was the most popular first choice delivery method at 84%, closely followed by 78% choosing ingestion ( edibles, tinctures, oils and raw capsules) and 52% preferring vaping.

Other menopausal symptoms, headaches, brain fog, memory loss and vaginal and vulvic pain and dryness can also be relieved with cannabis medicine.

Menopausal symptoms often respond better to a specific delivery method, Synergy Wellness has a wide range of medicinal products which women use for menopausal symptoms and conditions.

Cannabis based vaginal suppositories relieve vulvodynia ( vaginal and/or vulva pain), vaginal dryness and are effective for painful periods.

Synergy suppositories are prepared in various strengths using a 1:1 CBD:THC CO2 extracted oil, this combines the anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD and the pain-relieving value of THC, suspended in easily absorbed cocoa butter.

Throughout the menopausal years women often experience a declining libido and may find intercourse painful, cannabis suppositories can help with vaginal pain and Synergy’s Sensual Wellness Oil (#572) composed of cannabis oil infused in a proprietary botanical oil provides lubrication and stimulating cannabinoids to massage both vagina and vulva.

Similarly Synergy’s 1:1 topical salve (#552.#554), is avaliable with or without essential oils, our salve helps with surface dryness of the vulva and perineum. The addition of CBG isolate to the salve provides restorative support for damaged and inflamed skin tissue. This topical is also popular for inflamed joints and arthritic pain which is often exacerbated by menopausal changes.

Smoking organic cannabis flowers provides an almost instantaneous effect as does vaping CO2 extracted oil cartridges. Synergy offers a comprehensive range of cannabis flowers and vape cartridges in a variety of cannabinoid blends to address different issues: anxiety, hormonal distress, appetite, pain, mental alertness and endocannabinoid support.

Alcohol based tinctures and oil based tinctures are easy to administer and constitute a viable delivery method that has sustained efficacy owing to absorption through the digestive tract. Tinctures can be titrated offering the ability to control the dose in increments of ½ mg. Raw CBD cannabis capsules also offer sustained efficacy as well as benefits from increased bioavailability, as an unprocessed cannabinoid remains in acid form (CBDa).

In conclusion it is important to recognize that menopause is not a disease but a hormonal transition that affects women differently, some women will experience extreme discomfort and disturbances to their physiological health and others will not suffer significantly. Menopausal symptoms are wide ranging and not at all predictable; hot flashes will change in frequency and intensity for no discernible reason, likewise mood swings and anxiety attacks. This is why cannabis can be profoundly useful during these years, cannabis medications do not have to be taken consistently, but can be utilized as needed and dosages adjusted accordingly. Cannabis medicine in all its forms can be experimented with safely by the individual to alleviate symptoms however and whenever they occur

Dahlgren, M. Kathryn PhD et al. A survey of medical cannabis use during perimenopause and postmenopause. Menopause: September 2022 - Volume 29 - Issue 9 - p 1028-1036.