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Cannabis for Endometriosis
A painful condition that affects over 6.5 million , or 11 %, of American women ...
by Peter Kershaw , contributing writer
Endometriosis is a painful condition ( more so during menstruation ) that affects over 6.5 million , or 11 %, of American women of childbearing age ( 15 and 44 ). Endometriosis pain can grow progressively worse over time and tends to affect women more in their 30s and 40s . Endometriosis can result in fertility issues and , therefore , makes it challenging to get pregnant .
Endometriosis takes its name from the word “ endometrium ,” the tissue that lines the uterus ( or “ womb ”). Endometriosis ( endo ) occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus where it doesn ’ t belong , resulting in painful lesions . Most commonly , endometriosis lesions form on the ovaries , fallopian tubes , outer surface of the uterus , and tissues that secure the uterus in place . Less commonly , endo growths can occur at the vagina , cervix , vulva , bowel , bladder , or rectum .
The most prominent symptom of endo is pelvic pain , especially coinciding with menstrual periods . Though it ’ s quite common for women to experience some cramping during their periods , those with endometriosis describe their menstrual pain as significantly worse than just normal cramping . The pain , in some cases , is debilitating and lasts until their period is over .
Other symptoms may include :
● Other pains . Lower back and stomach pain .
● Painful sex . Pain during or after sex .
● Pain with bowel movements or urination . Most likely to have these symptoms before or during your period .
● Excessive bleeding . Heavy menstrual periods or bleeding between periods .
● Infertility . Endometriosis is sometimes first diagnosed during testing for infertility and treatment .
● Other possible symptoms . Fatigue , diarrhea , constipation , bloating , or nausea . More common before or during menstrual periods .
Doctor remedies for endo pain are often ineffective and difficult to treat without first turning to hormones , but these often produce intolerable side effects . Doctors often prescribe anti-neuropathics , including gabapentin , pregabalin , and amitriptyline . Research shows that endo patients are four times more likely to overuse these powerful painkillers , thereby developing dependency and abuse conditions . Surgery to remove endo lesions is commonly recommended , but with less than stellar results — more than 50 % of all such surgeries result in endo lesions returning . Endometriosis is the leading cause of hysterectomy surgeries .
The Endocannabinoid System and Endometriosis
Ask any physician , “ What causes endometriosis ?” They ’ ll respond , “ No one knows what causes this disease .” Since they don ’ t know what causes it , they don ’ t know how to prevent it or even how to keep it from getting worse once it manifests . Unfortunately , that ’ s also true of a great many other diseases , as well .
Though it may not be a factor in every case , a common denominator identified in a great number of endo patients is childhood trauma / PTSD incurred by sexual and / or physical abuse . 1 Numerous studies have shown that cannabis is highly beneficial for treating PTSD symptoms .
Few physicians ever consider the significant role the human endocannabinoid system plays in our bodily functions and overall health or how , when our endocannabinoid system isn ’ t functioning as it should , it ’ s likely to severely compromise our health . Studies suggest that Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency could be a leading cause of endometriosis .
Endocannabinoid is highly involved in the female reproductive system , as evidenced by the significant presence of CB1 and CB2 receptors within the womb . Animal studies using CB1 antagonists and agonists are able to produce endometriosis symptoms , including lesions , and then subsequently reverse them . One such study took place at Florida State University ( 2010 ): “ We further found that CB1 receptor agonists decrease , whereas CB1 receptor antagonists increase , endometriosisassociated hyperalgesia . Together these findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system contributes to mechanisms underlying both the peripheral innervation of the abnormal growths and the pain associated with endometriosis , thereby providing a novel approach for the development of badly-needed new treatments .” 2
Another similar study conducted at the Univerité Paris Descartes , France ( 2010 ), “ Antiproliferative Effects of Cannabinoid Agonists on Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis ,” 3 produced similar results . As such , the consumption of cannabinoids offers great promise in not only preventing endometriosis but the possibility of reversing its effects . More research is needed to determine what specific cannabinoids offer
24 August 2024