Medical marijuana has been touted to have some significant medical benefits, most especially pain control.
Practitioners ofalternative medicinewill frequently include menstrual cramps as one of the conditions that medical marijuana can help treat.
These compounds are easily absorbed when inhaled or eaten and can cross theblood-brain barrierto act directly on the brain.
Illustration by Ellen Lindner for Verywell Health
Even so, cannabis has a long history of use ingynecology.
How marijuana is meant to achieve the relief remains unclear.
At its heart, menstrual cramps are triggered by the release of inflammatory compounds, calledprostaglandins, during menstruation.
Women who produce are excessive amounts of prostaglandins are more likely to experience severe cramps.
By contrast, cannabinoids like THC and CBD exert no activity on COX receptors.
and, therefore, have no influence on the production of prostaglandins.
Even so, a 2018 review from the University of Alberta suggests that the benefits may be small.
With that said, it is possible that THC induces euphoria than can reduce the perception of pain.
By contrast, CBD’s effect on menstrual cramps remains unknown and largely unsubstantiated.
Safety of Medical Marijuana
At this point, we dont really know how safe medical marijuana use.
Do not be swayed by manufacturer claims that may or may not be true.
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