Millions of Canadian women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) every month and for many, trying medication after medication has done nothing but frustrate. The good news is that medical cannabis for PMS has shown promising signs in helping to treat symptoms. This correlates with what we already know about medical marijuana and its potency in treating a variety of pain-inducing conditions.
In other words, medical cannabis has already shown to be very promising when it comes to treating chronic pain of all varieties and medical cannabis for menstrual cramps appears to be no exception.
For more on PMS symptoms and how medical cannabis can help, read on below.
What Is PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
PMS is said to effect as many as three in four women. Occurring during a patient’s menstrual cycle,
PMS can express in a variety of ways, including:
- Tender, swollen, or sore breasts
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Weight gain
- Skin issues
- Stomach pain
- Cramps and belly pain
- Feeling bloated
- And more
What Causes Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps specifically are caused by the uterus contracting. This occurs during your period and helps the menstrual cycle along. In other words, it’s perfectly normal and healthy to experience cramps.
Medical cannabis for PMS is deployed to help mitigate that pain and treat other symptoms.
How Medical Marijuana Helps Treat Menstrual Cramps
As mentioned above, there are a variety of studies that explore the effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating PMS symptoms.
In fact, medical cannabis has shown promise in treating all manner of PMS symptoms from cramps to pain to headaches.
Muscle tension (like cramping), a very common PMS symptom, was shown in one study to be helped by cannabis due to THC’s ability to induce muscle relaxation.
Medical cannabis has even shown promise in dealing with acne and other skin issues that can often occur during your period.
Medical Marijuana for Related Headaches and Mood Swings
Medical cannabis has been shown in a variety of studies to be effective at treating migraines and headaches; migraines and headaches due to PMS are no exception.
One study found that migraines were reduced in frequency by up to 50% with the introduction of medical marijuana.
On top of that, medical cannabis has also proven effective in a variety of studies when it comes to treating mood-related symptoms. Anxiety, depression, and other adverse mentals states have been shown to be positively impacted by the introduction of medical cannabis.
As for PMS-related mood swings, while more research needs to be done, there are many promising signs of the medication being able to help with mood regulation and prevent more volatile mood swings.
Why Is Marijuana Safer Than Traditional Medicines?
Of the many treatments available to patients facing PMS, many have adverse side effects or are simply not potent enough to address the severity of the pain.
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen are all traditional treatment options, but are often not strong enough to help patients experiencing more severe pain. This can be especially concerning considering there is a tendency among some medical professionals to not treat women’s pain as equal to men’s.
In other words, you deserve to get the medication that can appropriately treat your symptoms and not be forced to settle for only a partially effective treatment.
Hormonal birth control is another common treatment as this can alter the prevalence of the hormones that cause the menstrual cycle in the first place, often reducing symptoms.
The flipside is that some women would prefer not to introduce hormone-altering medication into their bodies. Hormonal birth control has also been known to cause weight gain, mood swings, and headaches in some patients.
Symptoms Treated with Medical Cannabis
Cannabis can primarily help treat:
- Cramps
- Headaches
- Mood swings
Alongside a variety of other symptoms.
Strains to Consider for Treatment of Menstrual Cramps and Period Pain
Due to the muscle-relaxing effect of THC, you’ll often want to go for a strain that is higher in THC percentage. Some strains that are considered to be effective are:
- Blue Dream
- Pink Kush
- Sour Diesel
- Super Lemon Haze
- White Widow
MMC Medical Cannabis Consulting for Women
You shouldn’t have to suffer from PMS symptoms if a viable treatment exists. If you’re interested in medical cannabis for menstrual cramps or any other variety of PMS symptoms, then contact us at Medical Marijuana Consulting (MMC).
As one of the most trusted names in medical cannabis consulting, MMC helps patients from across the country get access to medical professionals who are experts on medical cannabis. Our team of physicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners can provide a prescription, offer you help to get you coverage for your prescription costs (if eligible), refer you to a licensed producer, and help you apply for the ACMPR license.
Our medical cannabis clinic also offers patients the chance to join the Ambassador Program and receive $15 for every person you refer to MMC that becomes a patient.
With MMC’s personalized white glove treatment, you also get access to personalized one-on-one educational sessions, treatment plans, and ongoing support.
To learn more about Medical Marijuana Consulting and how you can secure a prescription as part of your personalized medical cannabis treatment plan, book a consultation online, contact us at 844-312-5143, or email us at patientcare@medmc.ca.
