Exploring Menopause, the Endocannabinoid System, and Cannabis
In this blog post, I am going to share information about menopause, the endocannabinoid system, and cannabis. And how, for some, they might work well together.
Let me start out by saying that I have not personally stepped through menopause. However, after preparing for a talk on menopause and the endocannabinoid system (shout out to Menopause & Mocktails!), I wanted to share some of the key concepts I have learned.
Remember, I am not a doctor, and so this is not intended to be taken as medical advice. Like everything else you’ll find on the Bud & Blossom blog, this information is meant to guide you to key holistic wellness concepts and deepen your own personal exploration of health. May this lend helpful insight to your life in some way!
Also, this is a big topic, and I’m just going to scratch the surface in this post. But, I reckon that as I continue to learn more about the body - and grow deeper into my own womanhood - I will have much more to share on this matter! Cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and how it intersects with women’s health in general… these are all areas that I am excited to continue to explore. You know I will continue to share what I learn!
So how are menopause, the endocannabinoid system, and cannabis even related, anyway? Let’s dive in.
A Review of the Endocannabinoid System
If you’re familiar with the endocannabinoid system, then you know that it is the body’s master homeostatic system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the human body’s primary biological harm reduction system tasked with bringing the body back into balance (or homeostasis) whenever it is challenged by stress, infection, injury, or lifestyle.
The ECS regulates/modulates every biological system in the body including:
Pain
Inflammation
Mood
Cognition
The ECS is comprised of an extensive network of receptors, enzymes, and critical chemicals called endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are made in the human body. And – interestingly enough – cannabinoids are also produced in the cannabis plant. The human body is filled with cannabinoid receptors, and they can be activated through cannabinoids that were either produced within the body or provided by the plant world.
For more on the endocannabinoid system, check out my other blog post on the topic, “What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?” Additionally, listen into this podcast interview I did with the crew over at Leaf Life Podcast, we get into the high-level details of the endocannabinoid system: “Show #216 – The Endocannabinoid System”.
ECS Modulation of Hormones
Hormones fluctuate throughout one’s life. Even throughout the course of one day, we have entire cycles of hormone levels. The sleep/wake cycle, for example, is dictated by hormone release. Everything throughout the course of our days, from mood to energy to hunger to bowel movements… this is all regulated by hormones!
And, on a macro scale, hormones fluctuate throughout one’s lifespan. In the case of women, menopause signifies the period in later life in which the body is no longer prioritizing reproduction. As a result, the body naturally lowers estrogen (or rather, the receptors for a hormone that signals estrogen production (FSH) starts to become less efficacious) signifying a changing season into the golden era.
The endocannabinoid system, it turns out, also modules the production and release of hormones. More specifically, via chemical neurotransmission and electrical signaling, the ECS talks to the glands that produce hormones and controls what is released and when.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that helps regulate various processes in the body, including hormone production and balance. Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout many tissues and organs, including the brain, immune system, and reproductive organs. When activated by cannabinoids, these receptors influence the release of hormones. Essentially, the ECS acts like a thermostat, helping to maintain hormonal balance in the body. There are many ways to "tune" this thermostat for optimal performance - and not all of them involve cannabis!
ECS and Menstruation
I have previously written about how a women’s menstruation cycle can impact her cannabis use, and how cannabinoids and hormones are thought to work together within these monthly processes. Check out my prior blog post on this topic: “How Your Menstrual Cycle Impacts Your Cannabis Experience.”
It turns out that when estrogen is low (during one’s “time of the month” ie bleeding), their tolerance to cannabis increases, and they might feel less high than usual after imbibing.
Similarly, during moments in the cycle where estrogen is increased (during ovulation, when the egg is released into the uterus), we might find ourselves getting even higher from our regular dose. When your estrogen levels are higher, the number of CB1 receptors, where THC docks, actually fluctuates in the brain. This reduces the amount of cannabis you need to achieve intoxication.
ECS and Menopause
Menopause is a natural part of aging that typically develops between the ages of 45 to 55. Menopause is technically considered as 12 months of ongoing amenorrhea, or absence of menstruation. Basically, a year without periods signifies menstruation.
Technically, menstruation occurs as the ovaries stop producing eggs and the production of estrogen and progesterone declines but can also occur if ovaries are damaged by certain diseases, cancer treatments, or are surgically removed.
The transition from regular to irregular periods, and then stopping permanently is called perimenopause. This process usually occurs in the mid-30s to mid-40s. During this time, mild to severe symptoms may start to be felt, with hot flashes being the most common, but also including chills, lacking libido, those infamous hot flashes, fatigue, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and poor sleep.
So, as people move through this stage of life - from menstruation to perimenopause to menopause - how can cannabis help?
Cannabis is not about stopping or avoiding menopause. Rather, cannabis can support those experiencing menopause by enhancing their ability to move comfortably through this season of their life.
Cannabis & CBD for Menopause Symptoms
We have recorded history that tells us that women in the West have been using cannabis for menstrual and menopause symptoms since 1889! And, we know that women around the world, across various have been using cannabis in this way for much, much longer - to the very beginnings of human history. Throughout time, women have leveraged cannabis to ease the transition of life’s challenges, including menstruation and menopause.
In so many ways, cannabinoids can soothe, comfort, cool, and relieve. It all depends on how you use it and what your desired effects are. There are many ways to go about this.
Here are some of the top ways cannabis can ease menopause symptoms: Soothe and cool the body/skin, help you get to sleep/deepen sleep, activate your body/encourage movement to combat weight gain, increase sexual desire and pleasure, and possibly more.
Also, I should mention that CBD/cannabis lube is now a popular approach to combating vaginal dryness and also increasing pleasure.
If you are new to cannabis, but are curious about using it to soothe your own menopause symptoms, I encourage you to bolster support along the beginnings of your journey. Check out valuable cannabis resource guides from education companies like Project CBD, The Cannigma, and Healer.com. Start exploring quality products from quality brands (I have guides and lists if you need recommendations). And, I would also like to offer Bud & Blossom Coaching support; you can learn a lot about cannabis by reading other articles on my blog or by signing up for coaching services with me.
Some other Bud & Blossom blogs to highlight for quick tips on cannabis:
Additionally, as a wellness coach, I would also like to highlight that there are lifestyle approaches toward improving the efficacy of your endocannabinoid system, and this can be supportive against those pesky menopause symptoms. You will feel your very best if you continue to pour into yourself, this you know. But I bring this up to say that continued adherence to wellness basics will improve the balance and resiliency in your endocannabinoid system, and therefore your body in general! For a quick look at ways you can support your own endocannabinoid system – even without cannabis – check out my 7 Bud & Blossom pillars for ECS wellness: “Bud & Blossom's 7 ECS & Wellness Pillars”
Additional Resources
Want to learn more about the endocannabinoid system and how it modulates hormones and interacts with the endocrine system? I have two great resources to pass on!
Check out this podcast episode from Seed Your Success Podcast, “How the Endocannabinoid System Keeps Female Hormones in Ebb and Flow Versus Push and Pull”.
I am also linking out to an awesome webinar, hosted by the fine folks over at Polite and featuring Seattle’s own Patricia A Patton aka the Cannaboomer. Also, I should note here that Polite’s products are accessible and effective if you are seeking a product for your own menopause symptoms. “Cannabinoids & Women's Health, Part 2: Menopause Support”