Tag Archives: Medical Cannabis

The History of Cannabis for Menstruation and Period Cramping

That “time of the month,” “Aunt Flo,” “shark week” — no matter what you call it, periods can range from mildly annoying to severely painful. Over-the-counter medications and pharmaceutical painkillers can help, but more and more women are turning to natural remedies like herbal blends, superfoods, and cannabis. It might sound like a new development, but cannabis for period pain is not a recent phenomenon. Read on for stories of how cannabis has been used to support women’s health for generations.

 

Cannabis as Women’s Medicine

The earliest recorded mention of cannabis dates back to 2800 BCE. Emperor Shen Nung, known as the “father of traditional Chinese medicine,” recorded various uses for cannabis in his pharmacopeia.

Globally, cannabis was used as medicine through the early 20th century. Cannabis is in the traditional pharmacopeias of many civilizations and even appeared in The Pharmacopeia of the United States from 1850 through 1942. After decades of prohibition, medical cannabis use is resurging — especially among women.

 

Women and Weed in History

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that women are increasingly turning to cannabis to ease period pains since our ancestors have been using the plant in this way for centuries. Here’s a brief overview of cannabis for menstruation throughout history.

 

India, 3000 BCE: Ancient Ayurvedic traditions endorse the responsible use of cannabis to help with painful periods.

Egypt, 1500 BCE: Cannabis is recommended to aid painful childbirth in the Ebers Papyrus. In the modern world, cannabis is not recommended for pregnant women. However, as period cramps are also mild uterine contractions, it makes sense that cannabis could help with painful periods.

Persia, 800 BCE: Ancient Persian texts cite the use of cannabis to help “calm uterine pains.”

Siberia, 500 BCE: A mummified young woman, dubbed the Siberian “Ice Princess,” was found buried with cannabis. Recent scientific discoveries suggest that the woman had breast cancer, a bone infection, and injuries from a fall. With this posthumous diagnosis, she likely used cannabis to cope with severe pain.

China, 1596: A book detailing traditional remedies, titled “Pen Ts’ao,” recommends cannabis as a potential treatment for menstrual disorders and discomfort.

Great Britain, 1847: The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal published a case study endorsing the use of cannabis for dysmenorrhœa or painful period cramps. The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal later became the British Medical Journal, which is still in publication today.

The United Kingdom, Late 18th Century: Queen Victoria was reportedly prescribed cannabis. The monarch suffered from painful periods for much of her adult life, and her personal physician is said to have administered her monthly doses of cannabis to help her manage the pain.

 

Cannabis for Menstruation Today

As medical cannabis experiences a legal resurgence and natural remedies become more popular, more women gravitate towards cannabis, herbs, and plant medicines to help manage their painful periods. Many cannabis products are even made by and marketed toward women.

There is little research on the connection between cannabis and period pain, but that’s hardly a surprise; Both cannabis and menstruation are still often seen as taboo. Despite the lack of clinical trials, countless women report that cannabis has helped them to manage painful periods. According to a 2015 study, 90% of women who use cannabis to ease their periods say it is effective at reducing pain.

There is substantial research to suggest that cannabis can effectively help manage pain. There’s no reason this can’t apply to menstrual pain as well. Whether Mother Nature gifts you with cramps, headaches, or general aches and pains, cannabis could be a promising option to help you get through that time of the month a little bit easier.

Vaping Medical Cannabis — The Ultimate Guide

Whether you are an avid smoker or have never smoked in your life, you have probably heard of vaping. Reasons for its rapidly growing popularity are numerous — from being used as a smoking cessation tool to holding an image as the “new cool thing” on the market. Yet, there is much uncertainty surrounding this activity, such as assessing how effective vaping is for consuming medical cannabis.

While vape juices from brands like Vampire Vape and Pocket Fuel are the most prevalent element of an average vaper’s toolset, you do not have to limit yourself only to liquid concentrates. Cannabis flower and wax concentrates can also be vaporized — provided you have the right equipment for the job.

Vaping medical cannabis does not have to be a challenging affair. Here are four steps to begin enjoying vaping cannabis.

 

Step 1: Decide What Form of Cannabis You Want to Vape

This decision impacts all the future steps, so take your time to familiarise yourself with all the possible options. You can vape cannabis in two forms — solid cannabis flower or concentrates, which are often liquid or wax-like.


Vaping Cannabis Flower

Opting for a cannabis flower is the most straightforward form of cannabis consumption, and many products including cannabis subscription boxes are dedicated to this method. To vape flower, crumble dried flowers of the cannabis plant and vaporize them.

You should grind your high-quality herb before putting it into your vape. This way, the heat from your vaporizer will penetrate evenly, allowing for a better vaping experience.

It would also be wise to read your device’s manual before using it. With its help, you can determine what form of cannabis works best with the equipment you have and how tightly you should pack it.

The G Pen Elite II is a top-of-its-class dry flower vape released in March 2022 by the groundbreaking team at Grenco Science


Vaping Liquid or Wax Cannabis Concentrates

Although people have smoked cannabis for thousands of years by rolling it up into a cigarette, new extraction methods now provide us with several other options. One of these is using cannabis in the form of a concentrate, which is often either liquid or waxy in texture. Some extraction methods include:

—Solventless methods like water extraction and dry-sieving

—Soxhlet extraction is one of the most common procedures for separating bioactive compounds from plant matter. It is a type of solvent-based extraction first proposed by German chemist Franz Ritter Von Soxhlet.

—Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) — Method of extraction based on the use of sound waves.

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) — This method uses the energy provided by microwaves to break cell walls, releasing their contents into a liquid.

Depending on the type of extraction and substances used in creating the product, your vaping experience may significantly vary. For this reason, you should carefully examine each commercially available product before purchasing it. The more information you have about the liquid or wax cannabis concentrate you want to purchase, the more likely you are to make the best choice for you. Not ready to try Delta-9 THC vape cartridges? Consider CBD or Delta-8 THC vape cartridges to whet your whistle.

 

Step 2: Select the Right Equipment

After you have done some research and know what form of medical cannabis you want to vape, now you need to pick a suitable vape kit. You may want to consider multiple factors, such as your current budget, needs, and the type of cannabis you want to consume.

More often than not, you should select the vaporizer designed explicitly for vaping one type of substance if you intend to stick with just flower or just concentrates. Doing so ensures that your vaping experience will be more tailored and have better ease of experience.

If you wish to have your Ice Cream Cake and eat it too, you can choose a vaporizer fit to handle both dry flower and cannabis concentrates.

 

Step 3: Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions

There is an abundance of different vaporizers and vape pens on the market, and each manufacturer follows slightly different procedures, making it impossible to create a one-size-fits-all description of vaping.

Here are a few general guidelines you should keep in mind:

— If you vape cannabis in flower form, remember to grind it. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to learn how fine you should grind your cannabis or if you can use whole buds.

— With cannabis in any form, start low and go slow. Consume small amounts and wait for onset before consuming more.

— If you have the funds available, consider purchasing a convection-based vaporizer instead of a conduction-based one. It can be a more expensive option but can also offer a more satisfying vaping experience.

 

Step 4: Take Good Care of Your Vaporizer

Taking proper care of your vaping equipment is vital to ensure that it will serve you just as well as the first time you used it. Remember to clean your vaporizer regularly. Additionally, store it in a safe place, ideally in a comfortable environment like a padded case.

 

The Bottom Line

Entering the world of vaping might seem a bit intimidating at first glance, but it does not have to be. The internet is full of helpful advice on finding the right vaporizer for you and taking proper care of it once you purchase it.

Remember to follow the step outlined above, and your first contact with vaping will be as smooth as possible. If you do not know where to begin, you can consult your healthcare provider, ask for advice in your local vape shop or consider turning to CBD’s various applications to potentially aid your consumption.

Regardless of your choice, we wish you all the best in your journey. Remember to practice safe consumption and legal traveling.

 

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.