From the sleepless nights and recurrent roller-coaster emotions, to the sometimes excruciating pain, we’ve all had our fair share of fluctuating hormones.
Whether during menopause, menstruation, pregnancy, or puberty, the hormonal imbalance battle is one we all get to fight at one point. Worse yet if you’re in the class of over 43 percent of women who suffer debilitating symptoms during their monthly menstrual periods.
The CBD for moms movement is gaining increasing momentum in the alternative health and wellness niche. Recently, there has been an uptick of inquiries from moms who use CBD, asking if they could also use CBD to help manage the unnerving symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
Our response has always been a resounding ‘Yes’! – But before you order a good night blend CBD product, read on to find common ways CBD can help fight hormonal imbalance.
But first, let’s quickly touch on the causes of hormonal imbalance.
Understanding the Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are microscopic messengers produced by the endocrine glands to deliver messages to several parts of the body to ensure the different body systems operate in sync.
The level of hormones your endocrine gland produces is determined by the time of day (or night) and stage of life (puberty, menstrual, pregnancy, menopause, etc.).
Hormonal imbalances happen when these messengers are produced in irregular proportions. The slightest shift in your hormone levels can send the wrong message to your body, causing various adverse effects.
The accompanying symptoms and their severity vary based on the affected hormones and glands.
Hormonal Imbalance – Signs and Symptoms
Typical symptoms of hormonal imbalance can include:
- Excessive sweating (including night sweats)
- Insomnia
- Mood swings and restlessness
- Fatigue
- Weight gain or loss
- Irregular or heavy periods
- Blurred vision
- Depression and anxiety
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Painful, swollen joints
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal atrophy
- Dry skin
- Acne – usually on the chest, face, shoulders, and upper back
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid change in blood pressure
- Hair loss
- Headaches
So, How Can CBD Help Manage Hormone Imbalance?
While CBD has yet to receive the official nod as an alternative treatment, abounding reviews from first-hand users’ testimonials suggest that CBD may be the best natural alternative for a range of issues, including hormonal imbalance.
From our interactions with a network of Michigan moms, it seems many have long ditched their over-the-counter analgesics for CBD to help with hormonal imbalance, stress, sleep issues, and general wellness.
Let’s quickly go over some common ways Michigan moms say CBD for hormonal imbalance works and what researchers think.
1. Manages Mood Swings
Depression and anxiety are common symptoms women report with their menstrual cycle and during menopause. These symptoms are caused by fluctuating hormones, which alter the production of serotonin, the feel-good chemical responsible for mood.
Recent studies explain how CBD may help regulate mood-changing receptors. The study sample showed a remarkable reduction in depression and anxiety after consuming CBD.
2. Improves Sleep
As mentioned, insomnia is one typical symptom of hormonal imbalance. The hormone responsible for your sleep cycle (when you sleep and wake) is named melatonin. Abnormal production of this messenger may ruin your night’s rest – of course, the resultant effects spill into the next day, ruining productivity.
Thankfully, along with feedback from moms who use CBD for its anti-insomnia effects, studies have suggested how CBD binds the CB1 receptors to increase melatonin levels and, in turn, reduce sleep prep duration and stabilize the sleep-wake cycle.
3. Deals with Stress
When under stress, the body produces an excessive level of cortisol, a hormone that helps manage our fight or flight response. Excess cortisol in the body leads to increased anxiety, mood swings, and weight gain.
One study suggests CBD’s ability to moderate cortisol levels – good news, particularly for women seeking an effective way to manage the effects of cortisol imbalance; depression, mood swings, and anxiety. But this isn’t news to me nor to moms who use CBD for its stress-relieving effects.
4. Reduce Bloating
During your menstrual cycle, you experience more intense uterine contractions. As a result, it can take much more time to process food through the digestive system. This explains the bloating and constipation felt during menstruation.
Thankfully, research has found evidence that the endogenous cannabinoid system may be involved in the performance of your colonic mobility. Since the digestive system contains cannabinoid receptors to which CBD binds, CBD could help increase the flow in the digestive system – and, in turn, reduce bloating.
5. Pain and Cramps
For many moms, menstrual cramps can be hellish. Research and reviews from moms who use CBD suggest that CBD can help alleviate pain and relax muscle cramps.
During the regular menstrual cycle, progesterone decreases, and prostaglandin levels spike. These fluctuating hormone levels can trigger inflammation and, as much, increase blood vessel constriction, uterine contractions, and pain sensitivity.
Thankfully, CBD inhibits the enzyme responsible for prostaglandin production – COX2. CBD can help reduce pain, cramps, and inflammation by lowering COX-2 production.
CBD Can Assist with Your Hormonal Imbalance
Many moms suffer hormonal imbalance and the physical and emotional effects of it can be maddening.
While there’s a need for more research on how CBD interacts with the ECS (endocannabinoid system) and its inner workings, first-hand testimonials from moms who use CBD and existing findings from research suggest CBD may be your best weapon next time your hormones go south (or north, they fluctuate after all).
Thankfully, with options like Reverend Smith’s CBD gummies, your CBD doses can be a discreet, fun, and yummy experience – Go ahead, check out the tasty options and feel free to make a selection right away!
Good luck!