Leaf For The Ladies

After two kids and a tubal ligation in my late 30s, horrible menstrual cramps had become my monthly norm. Smoking a joint and popping two Midol seemed the best way to self-medicate and survive those five miserable days a month…until I discovered CBD-infused lubricant.

I put a bit of the coconut oil-based concoction on a Kotex tampon, and within 15 minutes of inserting it, my debilitating cramps vanished. Could that have been psychosomatic? Well, sure...or maybe not. Growing evidence suggests CBD may be able to help with myriad gynecological conditions and pain relief, plus it could even assist in the bedroom.

A 2016 study from the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine showed a link between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the female reproductive system. CBD binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are found in the brain as well as the immune and gastrointestinal systems, respectively. Due to the con - centration of endocannabinoids in the female reproductive system, CBD has the ability to do double duty by assisting in pain relief while also increasing arousal, the study found.

“For so long we’ve looked at health as one-dimensional, but cannabis is helping to create a progressive, open conversation around new and better ways to look at health and wellness through a holistic perspective,” says Joie Meffert, a founding partner of the natural beauty and wellness line Apothecanna in Denver.

 HELP WITH THE HURT

Pelvic pain is the most common complaint women have about menstruating. Luckily CBD pairs perfectly with periods.

“PMS and period pain is your body reacting to hormonal changes that trig - ger muscle cramping, pain, bloating and inflammation,” says Andrew Kerklaan, DC, of the CBD company Dr. Kerklaan

Therapeutics in Santa-Monica, California. “Because CBD acts to block pain pathways and reduce inflammation, it provides a terrific, natural approach to reducing symptoms associated with PMS and your period.”

That it’s a natural alternative to over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers appeals to many women. Plus, Kerklaan points out, it can be used as a multipronged approach. “CBD can be applied topically for targeted effects to the lower back and lower abdomen, and it can also be ingested for more systemic effects.”

Cannabis is likewise being used in the treatment of conditions like endometriosis and vulvodynia—chronic pain in the vulva. And the trend is likely to continue. The cannabis wellness industry is forecasted to make $38 billion by 2022, according to Beatrice Espada, founder and CEO of the plant-based feminine hygiene company The Honey Pot.

As with most things cannabis, “start low and go slow” in regards to dosage. CBD’s help isn’t just for females in their childbearing years. As women enter perimenopause, they tend to experience increased anxiety and insomnia, and this is another arena where CBD is emerging as a powerful tool in place of more conventional treatments.

According to Patel, research done on animal models shows CBD interacts with the 5HT1A serotonin receptors, meaning CBD affects serotonin levels. “What’s interesting is that medications that are commonly prescribed for anxiety fall under the category of SSRIs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,” she says. “They are also affecting serotonin pathways so there is a commonality there. With insomnia we’re not quite as sure, but CBD does have a sedating effect, thereby people are able to fall asleep easily and to stay asleep, as well as wake up feeling refreshed rather than groggy, which is not what’s commonly encountered with OTC or prescription medications.”

It worked for cannabis farmer Franny Tacy, whose daily CBD routine includes tincture, salve and CBD-infused coffee. “Before I started CBD, I had night sweats and couldn’t sleep,” says Tacy, who is considered a pot pioneer by becoming the first woman to grow hemp in North Carolina in over 75 years. She says she no longer has night sweats, “and I get to sleep.”

 Why Choose 8Labs CBD?

 Message from 8Labs Founder & CEO

Our hemp has a unique chemical composition. It is extremely rich in CBD and other cannabinoids with less than 0.3% THC. Therefore, our products do not have any negative effects associated with marijuana and THC use. With 8LABS CBD, you receive all the positive benefits of hemp’s full spectrum of components, with absolutely zero psychoactive effects.

8LABS CBD products contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids including CBC, CBG, CBDA, CBN and others. Additionally, our extracts contain terpenes - organic hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants. Together CBD, other cannabinoids and terpenes all interact synergistically to create what scientists refer to as an “entourage effect” that magnifies the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components—so that the medicinal impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.

We have a strict quality control program including on site chromatography reviews and independent lab tests on each batch of product. These reports confirm that the components of hemp remain potent, completely undenatured, and fully active. We maintain high standards of purity and potency to deliver only the highest grade CBD.