Can You Manage The Symptoms of Menopause With Cannabis?
By Burgess Powell March 15 th 2018 (High Times)
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s
menstrual cycle. According to the Mayo
Clinic, symptoms include irregular periods,
mood changes, hot flashes, vaginal dryness
and issues with sleeping.
According to National Public Radio, these
studies reduced the number of women taking
hormone replacements by almost half.
In an interview with NPR, Dr. JoAnn
Manson, who plays an active role in
menopausal research, explains that these
findings are far from clear-cut.
“This is a big, complicated study,” Dr.
Manson says. “For just one example, the two
trials found that taking estrogen alone reduced
the risk of breast cancer while taking it with
progestin increased breast cancer risk.”
Most women live over a third of their life with
menopause. Due to the resulting discomfort
and stress and the expanding uses of medical
marijuana, many are asking: can you manage
the symptoms of menopause with cannabis?
Traditional Treatments for Menopause
Women experience menopause due to
decreased fertility after their bodies stop
producing certain hormones.
To counter this hormone imbalance, some
doctors prescribe Hormone Replacement
Therapy.
This typically translates to taking an estrogen
and progesterone supplement.
Recent research has found that Hormone
Replacement Therapy poses a serious health
risk.
A study published in 2002 revealed that HRT
increases the risk of breast cancer and heart
disease.
Later, a second study found that one’s risk
of dementia, stroke, and blood clots
increases with estrogen supplements.
Women’s Health Concern argues that, for
many women, the discomfort of menopause
exceeds the dangers of HRT.
However, they add that older women should
be warier of hormone replacement because
they are more at risk.
Overall the non-profit is mindful that
statistically, a woman’s chance of developing
breast cancer or heart disease greatly
increases with this medication. This means
that you should only take the minimum
effective dose.
Many women are dissatisfied with hormone
replacement therapy as the only ‘effective’
treatment for menopause. Instead, they are
turning to supplements and natural remedies.
Flaxseed and soy contain phytoestrogens—
estrogen found in plants—so many women
attempt to assuage their symptoms with diet.
Experts cite Vitamin E and exercise as
common coping mechanisms for menopause.
But these supplements cannot cure
menopause.
As a result, health-conscious women
speculate, can you manage the symptoms of
menopause with cannabis?