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Cannabis Has a Long History of Helping Ease Menstrual Discomfort
The remarkable powers of the cannabis flower to treat a variety of maladies have been documented since ancient times, but it’s only with the relatively recent discovery of the endocannabinoid system that we are beginning to understand just how cannabis works for soothing menstrual pain and discomfort.
This age-old botanical, which forms buds only in its female form, has a long history of treating issues associated with female bodies and has proven to be effective in aiding the discomforts associated with women’s monthly cycle around the moon.
Cannabis’ “role in obstetric and gynecological conditions is ancient, but will surprise many by its breadth and prevalence,” explains leading cannabinoid researcher Dr. Ethan Russo.
“Cannabis appears in this role across many cultures, Old World and New, classical and modern, among young and old, in a sort of herbal vanishing act,” Russo writes. “It is only recently that a physiological basis for these claims has been available with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system.”
Historical Context
As early as the 9th century, Persian texts cite the use of cannabis to “calm uterine pains.” And a Chinese text in 1596 based on ancient remedies recommends cannabis for menstrual disorders. However, when it comes to using cannabis to ease menstrual pain, the most well-known origin story has royal lineage. It was widely known that Queen Victoria received monthly doses of cannabis indica for menstrual discomfort throughout her adult life.
Following 30 years of experimentation with the plant, the Queen’s personal physician, Sir J. Russell Reynolds, was convinced of its effectiveness.
Cannabis “is one of the most valuable medicines we possess,” Reynolds wrote in 1890 in the Lancet Journal, one of the world’s oldest and well-respected medical journals.
He described the plant as being “of great service in cases of simple spasmodic dysmenorrhea,” a clinical term describing painful contractions of the uterus, more commonly known as menstrual cramps.
Reynolds went on to write that cannabis benefits many conditions beyond menstrual discomfort, also citing its ability to quell spasms caused by epilepsy disorders.
Scientific Context
The endogenous cannabinoid system, or endocannabinoid system, was discovered in the early 1900s and named after the plant that led to its discovery. Leading cannabinoid researcher Dr. Dustin Sulak describes it as “perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health.”
Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. And when cannabis is consumed, chemicals found in the plant that are responsible for its effects in the mind and body, called cannabinoids, bind to these endocannabinoid receptors and help to promote homeostasis.
Although U.S. federal prohibition has greatly hampered scientists’ ability to research the therapeutic effects of cannabis on menstrual pain and other conditions, emerging research does suggest an association between cannabis use and menstrual cycle disruptions. Although much more research is needed to fully understand this association, scientists believe cannabis may be so effective at relieving menstrual pain because of the high concentration of endocannabinoid receptors found in the female reproductive tract, particularly in the uterus and lining of the uterus.
Whoopi & Maya’s line of cannabis-infused products harness the therapeutic powers of the cannabis plant to provide maximum relief for various physical discomforts, especially those related to women’s menstrual cycles.
As Whoopi & Maya customer Kathleen says, “The Whoopi and Maya products really help to manage my pain and empower me to face real life when I am having my period. I take the relax tincture every day, before work and during work I eat the CBD chocolate. After work I get some light exercise and then I soak in the bath salts. The tincture is the best, and I have that in the evening days before and during my period. I have been doing this for about a year. Instead of being worried and anxious about my period, I feel good knowing that I can support my body and still support myself financially by getting up and going to work or enjoying my time off without pain.”