Compare the Best CBD Oil for Menstrual Cramps in 2022

How CBD Helps With Menstrual Cramps

Several studies mentioned that CBD may help reduce chronic pain and inflammation⁽¹⁾. Menstrual cramps are often characterized by intense lower abdomen pains that trigger the body’s inflammatory response.

These characteristics suggest that CBD may help alleviate discomfort brought by inflammation and severe pain, often associated with period cramps.

Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea are intense cramping pains felt in the lower abdomen during menstruation. Women usually feel these period pains before or during their menstrual periods⁽²⁾.

CBD engages the endocannabinoid system (ECS) responsible for regulating various bodily functions.

The ECS contains cannabinoid receptors found in the immune and central nervous systems. These receptors are involved with the body’s pain and inflammatory responses.

CBD is a cannabinoid from the Cannabis plant that binds with the ECS receptors and helps reduce pain and inflammation brought by menstrual cramps.

One study showed that the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the ECS influence pain and inflammatory responses⁽³⁾.

CBD may affect the ECS by binding with the endocannabinoid receptors. This action may help suppress the body’s pain perception and pro-inflammatory response.

During menstruation, prostaglandins trigger uterine muscle contractions and expel the lining. Higher prostaglandin levels are usually associated with severe cramps.

The causes of these menstrual cramps include⁽⁴⁾:

• Endometriosis – The tissue lining the uterus gets implanted outside the uterus.
• Uterine fibroids – The uterus wall develops noncancerous growth that causes pain.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease – Sexually transmitted bacteria may infect the female reproductive organ.
• Premenstrual syndrome – PMS happens a few days before a period starts and is characterized by various PMS symptoms like physical pain, bloating, and mood swings⁽⁵⁾.

A study stated that blood pressure may affect the menstrual cycle⁽⁶⁾. The results suggest that changes in blood pressure may contribute to menstrual cramps.

Symptoms of period cramps include headache, dizziness, looseness of stool, or lower back pain. You may have a higher risk for menstrual cramps if⁽⁷⁾:

• You are below 30 or start puberty early
• You experience heavy bleeding during periods
• Your menstrual bleeding is irregular
• Your family has a history of menstrual cramps
• You smoke

Benefits and Uses of Using CBD for Menstrual Cramps

To date, there are no studies explicitly focused on CBD’s potential to help alleviate menstrual cramps. However, several studies have suggested CBD as a potential method for pain relief and inflammation reduction.

During menstruation, individuals with menstrual cramps usually experience severe pain brought by the body’s inflammatory response to elevated prostaglandin levels.

In one study published in the Online Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the authors stated that CBD may have the potential to improve discomforts like headaches, pain, and mental and emotional symptoms⁽⁸⁾.

These discomforts are associated with menstrual symptoms like PMS that may lead to menstrual cramps.

CBD Dosage for Menstrual Cramps

To date, there is no standard CBD dosage guide approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for menstrual cramps.

However, there are recommendations that individuals starting to use CBD should consider taking lower doses first⁽⁹⁾.

A review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research published in 2020 mentioned that CBD doses and formulations varied across clinical trials and observations of patients with various symptoms⁽¹⁰⁾.

Without a standard dosage chart, cannabis intake may vary per person. Some factors to be considered include your health conditions, diet, daily stress levels, and genetics⁽¹¹⁾.

If you are currently experiencing menstrual cramps, consult a gynecologist or professional health worker about your condition before deciding to take CBD.

CBD Usage for Menstrual Cramps

Several CBD products that may help reduce pain brought by menstrual cramps may be taken using a variety of methods as outlined here⁽¹²⁾:

• CBD tinctures are taken by sublingual administration. CBD oil is applied under the tongue with an oromucosal spray or dropper.

CBD oil administered sublingually enters the bloodstream directly and is then distributed throughout the body.

Tinctures usually have a carrier oil blended in with the CBD extract, like hemp seed or coconut oil.

• Edibles like gummies and chews are taken orally, absorbed by the digestive system, and then go into the liver.

CBD capsules are ingested similarly. Some of these capsules have hemp oil containing fatty acids for additional benefits.

When consumed with a full stomach, capsules usually take effect after around three hours. On an empty stomach, onset is generally around an hour⁽¹³⁾.

• Topicals like lotions and creams are usually applied to the skin. While CBD delivered through this method does not get absorbed into the bloodstream, topicals may be effective for skin and joint tissues.
• Inhalation methods like smoking and vaping may be considered the fastest way to deliver CBD into the body.

Inhaled CBD spreads through the lungs and passes through the heart and brain before CBD is distributed throughout the body⁽¹⁴⁾.

However, smoke and vaping have potentially harmful effects on the body and are associated with lung disease⁽¹⁵⁾. Consult a physician or professional health worker before smoking or vaping CBD.

• Some brands have CBD suppositories that deliver CBD into your body through vaginal or rectal administration. This method is similar to how tampons are used.

Ask a physician or gynecologist before considering the use of suppositories to administer CBD.

How Long Does CBD Take to Help With Menstrual Cramps?

Each CBD product type has different onset times, or how fast the cannabinoids in the product start to take effect⁽¹⁶⁾.

CBD tinctures applied sublingually or under the tongue usually take about 15 minutes before taking effect. The short onset time is because the sublingual application allows the CBD to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Oral administration using edibles or capsules allows CBD to be absorbed by the digestive system. This method may take one to two hours before CBD takes effect.

CBD topicals applied to the skin do not usually get absorbed into the bloodstream. However, topicals may be effective for skin or joint concerns. Effects take place depending on how much fat is under the skin.

CBD oil administered through inhalants like vape pens take a few seconds to several minutes before effects are observed. CBD is absorbed through the lungs and distributed immediately throughout the body.                                                    

However, vaping is reported to be associated with lung disease⁽¹⁷⁾. Individuals are advised to take caution or consult a health professional before using CBD vapes.

How Long Will CBD Help With Menstrual Cramps?

The type of CBD product and ingestion method may determine the duration of CBD’s effects on the body⁽¹⁸⁾.

CBD tinctures usually have a short onset time. However, the effects may last for about six to eight hours before most CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is eliminated or digested by the body.

Edibles usually have longer onset times than tinctures, and the effects may last for about 6 to 12 hours.

Topicals like lotions and creams may maintain their effectiveness for about five hours or more. Transdermal patches, for instance, may be effective for one or two days.

Vapes usually have fast onset times. However, effects immediately subside after two or three hours.

Risks and Side Effects of Using CBD for Menstrual Cramps

CBD’s risks may be tolerable, like dry mouth, fatigue, loss of appetite, drowsiness, and diarrhea⁽¹⁹⁾.

However, CBD may interfere with other medications, such as blood thinners. Some CBD products have a grapefruit warning, meaning CBD may prevent other drugs from being broken down and absorbed by the body⁽²⁰⁾.

Choosing the Best CBD Oil for Menstrual Cramps

CBD oil comes in three forms: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolates.

Full-spectrum CBD oil contains all compounds from the hemp plant, including CBD, THC, terpenes, and flavonoids. These compounds combined may further enhance the purported benefits of Cannabis and promote wellness⁽²¹⁾.

Broad-spectrum CBD has cannabinoids similar to those in full-spectrum, except that broad-spectrum CBD oils do not have THC. This form may appeal to individuals who prefer to take CBD without THC’s psychoactive effects.

CBD isolates contain only pure cannabidiol. All the other compounds have been removed.

After CBD oil is extracted, brands that sell Cannabis products must have their products analyzed by a third-party lab. The testing involves determining the actual amount of CBD concentration and other ingredients⁽²²⁾.

Third-party testing also checks for the presence of contaminants that may be harmful to consumers. Reputable brands ensure transparency by posting the results of the analysis on the brand’s website.

Legality of CBD

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp cultivation and removed hemp-derived CBD products from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of controlled substances.

However, marijuana-derived CBD may still be prohibited since marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC⁽²³⁾.

Check your product’s CBD and THC content and review your state’s laws to determine if CBD use is legal in your state.