Using cannabis for its health benefits is nothing new. It’s believed that the plant got its start in Asia, with Chinese Emperor Shen Nung first recording its medicinal applications way back in 2737 B.C. Certainly, all forms of life are unique. Yet, even with thousands if not millions of plant species that have been identified in nature, the cannabis plant has transported the annuls of time as one of the most important herbs on the planet.
For the curious, I was introduced to cannabis some years back (years and years) and have been writing about and advocating for the plant for nearly 6 years now. However, CBD has had my heart the last few years, especially when it comes to my period. Some periods are easy to deal with while others are havoc-wreaking, making me feel like a little grimacing demon is twisting my pelvis and enjoying it thoroughly. If you’re a cannabis lover like me, you might know some of the basics — but just how much do you know about CBD, the less psychoactive counterpart? CBD is the reason I consistently come out as a victor over the pain and suffering caused by my period.
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There are a number of symptoms women have to work through during their period — abdominal cramping, heavy bleeding, and for some, a pause on sexual intercourse. While menstrual cramps aren’t life-threatening, its related symptoms negatively affect our quality of life, leaving some women bedridden and unable to function due to the debilitating pain.
The space of feminine care is saturated with harmful and outdated products — many of which I conspire have been created for controlling the vaginal fortune. “Why does everyone in the world care so much about my vagina?” A question I’ve asked myself in my internal thought process pondering the (hidden) colonized female genitalia. The answer that comes to mind, though, is power– even in the 17th-century, we find drinking mugs depicting Satan faltering at the sight of a vagina (take that, ancient doer of iniquity!). Many may not know it, but vaginas are some of the biggest sources of the flow of…well, money. In regard to painful periods, many products only seem to mellow the edge temporarily, in my personal experience. Thankfully God gave us cannabis, so that women can experience and educate themselves on the science behind many of the health issues society tends to dismiss and dispel when it comes to plant-based medicine and feminine wellness.
Besides its amazing history, nutritionally, CBD (also known as cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Science says this chemical compound has great therapeutic potential and contains some powerful properties including key minerals, vitamins A, B, C, and E, flavonoids, and other chemical compounds said to work wonders in the body. This includes potential relief from inflammation, depression, anxiety, chronic pain and you guessed it — those damned menstrual cramps. What’s even better? The research that’s out there right now suggests that consuming CBD products is not associated with any risk of addiction, overdose, or withdrawal, which is great for those looking to ditch pills for pain relief. Oh, and it doesn’t cause a high. For all of you die-hard smokers who consume cannabis recreationally, you might be thinking, if you’re not getting high, what’s the point of smoking CBD Mell? Honestly, for me, that’s just how I roll — no pun intended.
Back in the day when recreational cannabis started to grow in popularity, 3.5% was the average amount of THC found in cannabis plants. Today, that average hovers around 7 percent, but modern growing techniques can drive it up to 27 percent — quite an improvement. And, with the growing aid of technology, breeders have been working diligently to find new and innovative ways to increase THC content via cross-breeding. This process allows breeders to combine the genetics from high THC plants in order to produce new strains, which have the highest THC ratio to provide lovers of psychoactivity a strong and intense high. And, as the market accessibility continues to expand, there will be more and more cannabis strains commercially available for folks to choose from — including CBD-dominant strains.
Now, there are many ways to consume CBD. There are CBD oils, edibles, topicals, even suppositories and lubricants. If you crave the ritual of lighting up some flower, you can even get some non-psychoactive CBD flower for quicker effects. I work from home, which may sound dreamy and affords me the freedom to escape to the bathroom or curl up in my bed whenever I want. But period pain is still period pain. On top of all of that, the way my career is set up right now, I depend on myself and usually have a lot to do, so I want at least to feel physically good while doing it. Before CBD, there were days after work where I would just lie in bed in agony, but now I’m able to unpack my day in my head in peace — things that I still needed to do and things I didn’t want to do, phone call meetings, email-me-backs — whatever. After smoking CBD, I am more clear in mind, feel zero pain, and am able to fall into a deep, peaceful slumber. Admittedly, I’m not there yet when it comes to using all-natural products but I know my wellness endeavors will advance with time.
This is prescriptive territory here. Every woman is different, so please note that I am not a medical professional. It’s important to note that CBD is a personal experience and will depend on a number of factors including the reason you’re taking it, your body weight and composition, the kind of CBD product you’re taking, and your medical history. If you’re down for calming your mind, relieving pain, and energizing your soul, give CBD a try and share your experience with us!
Mell’s Product Recommendations for PMS Relief:
Mother’s Dose CBD Vaginal Suppositories
About the author: Mell Green is a writer and advocate of cannabis with nearly 7 years experience. While the world awaits the full legalization, her mission will not turn up void. She plans to continue fighting the good fight by spreading the gospel of the humble plant’s incredible therapeutic value to all.