A trial examining the effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) isolate for alleviating menstrual related symptoms (MRS) has provided some encouraging results – but more research is needed.
Among common menstruation-related symptoms are lower abdominal pain and premenstrual mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, stress and irritability. While common, effective remedies for managing MRS symptoms remain scarce. Some look for relief using cannabinoids such as CBD, but there reportedly hadn’t been any studies directly evaluating the effect of cannabinoids on MRS.
Until now.
In a pre–post, randomized, open-label trial examining the effects of orally ingested CBD isolate softgels on MRS and related psychological outcomes, participants were assigned randomly to one of two dosing groups. One group were to take 160 mg split between morning and night , and the other 320 mg .
After completing a 1-month baseline period, participants were instructed to start taking the CBD beginning on the first day they experienced symptoms each month, daily for 5 consecutive days for three CBD-consumption months.
Results indicated reductions in MRS, irritability, anxiety, global impression of change, stress, and subjective severity scores when compare to baseline. There was no impact on depression. The results were evident in all 3 months of CBD consumption and applied to both groups.
“Notably, changes in symptoms across primary outcomes (i.e., MRS) appeared in the first month of CBD consumption and persisted consistently across subsequent study months for most outcomes,” state the study’s authors.
While the findings suggest CBD may be effective in alleviating menstrual-related symptoms, it’s important to note there was no placebo group in this trial.
The researchers concluded:
“Further research is warranted comparing the effects of CBD to placebo (a limitation of the study) and examining the potential to optimize CBD consumption for reducing MRS (e.g., combining CBD with terpenes; varying routes and timing of administration).”
The study has been published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Terpenes are found in the essential oils of plants and are responsible for a plant’s aroma and contribute to the way they taste. But beyond that, it’s thought some terpenes may have therapeutic potential and contribute to what’s known as the “entourage effect”, whereby combinations of cannabis compounds may enhance their therapeutic effect.
