Marijuana had Bob Marley singing in the 70’s, but little did he know, a medical cannabis version of it was probably making Queen Victoria sing more than a century earlier. Her Majesty received monthly cannabis injections to ease the pain from menstrual cramps… and perhaps also enjoyed side effects such as increased randyness and more intense orgasms.
For years we’ve been urging you to “go green” when it comes to your period by using organic tampons and other natural feminine hygiene products. 100% cotton may be our natural fiber of choice to help remedy common menstrual ailments like vaginal irritation, but we’re starting to learn about some interesting alternatives.
As the market for natural menstrual care alternatives continues to expand, so have the conversations and laws about marijuana’s pain-relieving properties, shattering an invisible barrier (‘The Weed Window’ shall we call it?) that made publishing anything positive about marijuana taboo. TV programs like Weediquette (HBO’s Viceland) have paved the way for recent cultural re-acceptance of the soft drug by documenting real life stories of patients whose lives have been saved by medical marijuana derivatives.
Medical cannabis has been shown to be a natural solution with over 20 health benefits including reducing the risk of diabetes, controlling seizures, reducing anxiety, and in some less regulated cases shrinking tumors, fighting cancer cells, and slowing degenerative mental conditions like Alzheimers. Historically, women may have begun using the drug to treat cramps as early as the 9th century, reports The Daily Beast. Translations of Arab, Persian, and Chinese texts from the 11th, 13th, and 15th centuries respectively, say that women used the juice of cannabis seeds to treat migraine, calm uterine pains, and prevent miscarriage as well as other “menstrual disorders” like labor!
As of June 2016, 25 states and the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana for consumption marking a monumental shift in balance when considering national tolerance. In April however, New Jersey’s Chris Christie was up at bat opposing groundbreaking new legislation that would allow menstruation-caused “severe pain” to be a qualifying condition for patients seeking cannabis or THC-based solutions.
Three of our core values at Maxim Hygiene are social justice, a commitment to protecting the environment, and women’s health so naturally we were curious! Read below for an overview of the effects of marijuana on women’s health and the companies cashing in —
The Benefits of Medical Cannabis Use for PMS Relief
Sometimes referred to as ‘the natural alternative to Midol‘, medical cannabis offers women pain relief for uterine, endometrial, and dysmenorrheal cramps as well as associated pain (back and joints). Tetrahydrocannibol (THC), the main compound in marijuana, has also been widely documented to alleviate nausea, bloating and headaches, all symptoms associated with premenstrual pain. Some marijuana users have also reported less frequent and dramatically shorter periods; some say that heavier blood flow leads to less cramping.
Other studies have shown that people who smoke weed are actually less likely to develop conditions associated with weight gain and obesity and some research shows that those consuming marijuana a few times a week have lower body mass indexes and rates of diabetes. Marijuana even appears to contribute to treating breast cancer, which ranks among the most serious threats to women’s health. The drug’s ability to heighten one’s senses through increasing blood flow can even help women achieve orgasm, according to Women’s Health magazine.
The Risks of Medical Cannabis Use for PMS Relief
Smoking medical cannabis is still probably a no-no for those trying to conceive. It can cause irregular and missed periods and negatively affects fertility by disrupting reproductive hormones during the ovulation cycle. Heavy use can lower prolactin levels and inhibit the discharge of eggs from the ovaries. It also lowers men’s sperm count, affects sperm quality and their motility. Coupled with that, THC-laced vaginal mucus can over-stimulate and break down motile sperm making women unknowing spermicide factories.
Capitalizing on the legalization trend are brands like Whoopi & Maya who are offering a line of products including topical rubs and THC-infused bath products that will enable women to go about their daily routines without getting “high” (and cannabis edibles for those who want a side of mental-effects). Foria’s vaginal suppository for pain relief has been dubbed a ‘weed tampon’, delivering THC and CBD (both canabinoids) straight to the source; the first targets nerves to block out pain and the second suppresses inflammation and acts as a antispasmodic property causing uterine muscle relaxation.
Should you choose to smoke up to cure those cramps, there are blogs that rank the best strains for pain and nausea relief and the Leafly crowdsourced encyclopedia of strains and dispensaries is a great guide to making sure you buy your marijuana from a reliable source who can educate you on proper usage!