Night sweats. Anxiety. Irritability. Sleeplessness. Brain fog. Sound familiar?
\nThese are common symptoms of menopause, changes in women’s bodies that signal the end of our reproductive years. Menopause typically happens when we hit our early 50s, but is preceded by perimenopause. This natural transition can take five to seven years on average to complete and even longer for some women. Other women may experience early menopause for various reasons, including when they go undergo hysterectomies.
\nI went into menopause relatively early, with a number of symptoms exacerbated by a late pregnancy at 41. I’ve described before my postpartum symptoms, which included intense night sweats where I was not only drenched in sweat each morning but covered in a rash. I would also wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. after struggling to get to sleep in the first place, so I was averaging four hours of sleep.
\nThis lack of sleep was devastating to my mental state.
\n\n
My period completely stopped by the time I was 48, and by then, I was in the throes of depression. For me, depression shows itself as extreme irritability and a total lack of ability to cope with life’s stressors. I felt like I was living a nightmare.
\nHormone replacement therapy was off the table because of cancer in my family, breast and ovarian cancer in particular.
\nCannabis changed everything—and I only needed a little bit to make a big difference. Literally, a few puffs on a vape pen at bedtime changed my life:
\nWhy did it work so well for me?
\nTo understand the connection between cannabis and menopause, I spoke with Elizabeth Moriarty, who’s a clinical herbalist and formulator, and founder of Luminary Medicine Company. She first explains menopause this way:
\n“Menopause is characterized by a decline in estrogen production. Many of the uncomfortable changes we experience are authored by the impact of the decline in estrogen on the choreography of biochemicals that affect mood and cognition.”
\nSo less estrogen means more anxiety, irritability, and brain fog.
\n\n
While scientists and doctors understand the chemical changes in women’s bodies as we age, the entire process can be confusing and frustrating. Elizabeth explains that all humans have an endocannabinoid that’s a neurotransmitter in our brains called anandamide. Scientists refer to anandamide as our bliss molecule.
\nIf our anandamide is deficient, we may experience stress-induced anxiety and irritability. And guess what? Declining estrogen disrupts the regulation of our anandamide. In short, the specific hormonal changes in women’s bodies that occur during menopause affect our bliss.
\n\n
So how can microdosing cannabis help you ease your way through menopause? A microdose is usually considered around 2.5 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), But this may vary depending on someone’s tolerance, metabolism, and size.
\nMicrodosing THC along with the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) can help with menopause symptoms in a number of ways:
\nIn other words, microdosing cannabis reduces unpleasant physical and mental symptoms of menopause while still allowing you to function throughout your day.
\n\n
One woman I spoke to, Veronica, was experiencing typical symptoms of menopause:
\nVeronica finds both cannabis with THC and CBD to be helpful.
\n“Cannabis completely aids with sleep, whether it’s getting back to sleep after waking up from night sweats or assisting with getting a regular sleep pattern by medicating at bedtime,” says Veronica, who says she uses cannabis daily for menopause. “[I put] 10 mg in my coffee in the morning, and depending on my pain in the morning, I will use cannabis flower or a CBD vape pen and more throughout the day depending on anxiety levels from the stress of menopause,” she explains.
\nWhen Veronica’s experiencing mental stress associated with hot flashes and hormone irregularity, she ingests microdoses of cannabis throughout her day. Sometimes, if work, caregiving, hot flashes, and just life, in general, have her feeling extra stressed, she takes a break to consume cannabis and even meditate for 10 minutes to help reduce her stress.
\nIf you’re looking for stress relief during menopause, Veronica recommends using a tincture/or sublingual tab or spray to help the cannabinoids assimilate quickly into your system. The mucus membranes in your mouth carry these cannabis compounds into your system more efficiently than when you smoke or vape marijuana.
\nSpecifically for mental focus, Veronica says she consumes CBD oil in the morning daily and vapes or smokes CBD-rich cannabis flower throughout the day.
\n“A good thing about all of the new science and technology is that it makes it very easy to microdose your cannabis when you need to increase just a little bit,” she explains. For example, you can cut edibles into smaller pieces to start with lower doses. For more accuracy, tinctures let you control the number of drops, so you can calculate up or down as needed.
\nIf you try microdosing THC, and you feel more psychoactivity than you’d like, take a CBD oil under the tongue. CBD counteracts THC’s effects, plus you’ll be getting all of the benefits of CBD as well.
\nMore bliss and less stress can mean a smoother transition into menopause.
\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 index of articles.
\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online Telehealth service HelloMD. Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!
","timeToRead":6},"headerYoutubeVideo":null,"autoplayHeaderYoutubeVideo":null},"allArticle":{"nodes":[{"id":"Article_3035-markdown","title":"Can Cannabis Help With Hot Flashes? ","slug":"can-cannabis-help-with-hot-flashes","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.368421052631579,"src":"/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/10fcc/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/f37cf/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 78w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/6620e/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 156w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/10fcc/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 311w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/7c4aa/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 467w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/ab499/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 622w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/7c918/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.jpg 3590w","srcWebp":"/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/de783/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/dc369/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 78w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/09bb5/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 156w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/de783/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 311w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/40086/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 467w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/3df30/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 622w,\n/static/d67c2c0287069dedbdb5b93e08ee96af/b0b9a/94b219652bbeaf0ea2eb31a6c7b48c56.webp 3590w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_1970-markdown","title":"Cannabis Helps Women Cope with Stress & Anxiety","slug":"cannabis-helps-women-cope-with-stress-and-anxiety","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3928571428571428,"src":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/cc196/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png","srcSet":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/f5a60/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 78w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/2199e/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 156w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/cc196/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 311w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/21564/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 467w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/b0675/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 622w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/6df68/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 1020w","srcWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/de783/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/dc369/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 78w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/09bb5/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 156w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/de783/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 311w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/40086/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 467w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/3df30/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 622w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/fa3a9/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 1020w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_3178-markdown","title":"DIY Recipe: Heartwarming Rosebud Green Tea Infused with CBD","slug":"diy-recipe-heartwarming-rosebud-green-tea-infused-with-cbd","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/cc196/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png","srcSet":"/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/f5a60/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 78w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/2199e/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 156w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/cc196/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 311w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/21564/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 467w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/b0675/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 622w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/f3583/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.png 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/de783/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/dc369/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 78w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/09bb5/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 156w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/de783/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 311w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/40086/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 467w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/3df30/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 622w,\n/static/88979baed1fd189687329425f286383a/99238/240aa67c4ff866d456d84ea5ab4027df.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":2838,"slug":"microdosing-cannabis-for-a-more-blissful-menopause","tags":[5501,5512,5939],"country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}