Six Benefits of CBD for Menopause

CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, which is a plant derived cannabinoid. CBD comes from the cannabis plant, most often from the form of cannabis known as hemp, which contains only trace amount of THC. While THC is psychoactive, CBD is not, and users can take CBD regularly without experiencing any symptoms that interfere with their normal activities. In the US, CBD derived from hemp is legal and is widely available for consumer use.

CBD is being touted as a “cure all” these days for everything from anxiety to cancer. While this may seem odd, it makes sense when you understand how CBD works in the body. CBD has more than 65 biological targets including a range of enzymes, receptors, channels, and transporters [link]. CBD has been said to have “promiscuous pharmacology” because it interacts with so many of our body systems [link! Among these systems are many that are affected by the physiological changes associated with menopause.

Menopause is a natural biological process that involves the cessation of menstruation. It is associated with changes in levels of female hormones including estrogen and progesterone. Although CBD does not appear to modify hormone levels, it has been shown in clinical and non-clinical research to have beneficial effects on many of the symptoms of menopause, including sleeplessness, mental health issues, skin problems, reduced bone density, and cognitive issues. It is through the reduction of symptoms that CBD can be used by menopausal women to support this life transition.

1) Sleep

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common complaints of menopausal women. In fact, up to 40% of women experience sleep problems during this period [link]. In addition to insomnia, menopausal women also experience sleep disturbances such as sleep disordered breathing. The effects of menopause on sleep biology are varied, and include things like reduced melatonin, altered regulation of body temperature, and changes in neurotransmitter levels [link].

CBD is widely used as a sleep aid, although whether CBD is sedating or alerting seems to depend on dose. A recent article reviewed the research on CBD’s wakefulness and sleep promoting effects and concluded that low to moderate doses are stimulating, while high doses are sedating [link]. However, it should also be noted that the dose effects of CBD on sleep in humans have not been thoroughly investigated. When used for sleep, CBD should be taken before bedtime.

2) Mental Health

Menopausal women may experience symptoms of both anxiety and depression. The effects of changes in female hormones on mental health can also be seen in conditions like post-partum depression and PMS. Research strongly supports a link between menopause and depression, while there is a more tenuous link between menopause and anxiety [link]. In addition to hormonal effects, mental health issues during menopause may also be linked to sleep problems and menopause-associated alterations in thyroid function.

CBD has been studied for its effect in both anxiety and depression, although there are no studies specific to menopausal women. In other populations, including subjects with anxiety and PTSD, CBD has been shown to have positive effects. For example, a recent study found that among 400 patients who reported using CBD to achieve “mood-improving” effects, 250 reported that CBD worked “very well by itself” [link]. And, in a study of psychiatric patients experiencing both anxiety and sleep concerns, nearly 80% showed a reduction in anxiety within the first month that was sustained over several months [link]. When used to support mental health, CBD can be taken in the morning, with additional doses taken approximately every 6 hours to support benefits throughout the duration of the day.

3) Brain Health

Cognitive decline is associated with age. Following menopause, the risk of cognitive decline increases, and it is well known that the hormonal changes associated with menopause increase risk [link]. Effects range from mild, such as a tendency towards forgetfulness, to severe, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Estrogen, which decreases during menopause, has been shown to be “neuroprotective”, meaning it protects the neurons in the brain from degeneration. When estrogen is lost during the menopause transition, this protection is lost.

CBD is being increasingly recognized as also having neuroprotective effects. While it does not replace estrogen lost during menopause, as would happen with hormone replacement therapy, it does act to protect the brain. For example, research has shown that CBD can enhance the growth and development of new brain cells and reverse and prevent the development of cognitive deficits in animal studies [link]. In humans, CBD has been found to improve blood flow in the brain, which is reduced in AD patients [link]. CBD has also been found to reduce brain inflammation [link]. A recent study looking at cognitive decline in an animal model of estrogen depletion found that CBD reversed the memory impairment associated with estrogen loss [link]. When used to support brain health, CBD should be taken regularly. It may even help to begin using CBD during the pre- and peri-menopausal periods to prevent and protect against the effects of estrogen loss in the brain.

4) Bone Health

Osteoporosis is closely linked to menopause. In fact, osteoporosis that occurs after menopause is termed “post-menopausal osteoporosis” [link]. Estrogen deficiency increases the resorption of bone and decreases bone formation. Combined, this sets the stage for a rapid loss of bone mineral density, which is the hallmark of osteoporosis. Since bone loss is also associated with age, even in men, the combined effects of age- and menopause-associated bone loss in menopausal women is especially problematic.

One of the molecular targets of CBD, the CB2 receptor, seems to be especially important in bone [link]. CB2 is closely associated with bone mineral density, and stimulation of CB2 inhibits bone breakdown and stimulates bone formation. Researchers have found that genetic variations in the CB2 receptor are associated with osteoporosis and can even be used as an early diagnostic tool to detect a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis in humans [link]. CBD treatment has been found to improve fracture healing in animals [link], and although human research in this area is limited, cannabinoids including CBD are being recommended as potential future treatments for bone regeneration [link]. As with brain health, when used to support bone health, CBD should be taken regularly, and it could help to begin using CBD during the pre- and peri-menopausal periods to prevent and protect against the effects of estrogen loss in the bone.

5) Skin Health

Menopause has been described as a “estrogen-deficient condition [that] is associated with a dramatic reduction in skin health and wellness” [link]. These changes include a loss of collagen, elastin, and other important skin components which leads to effects like dryness, wrinkling, and impaired wound healing. Topical estrogen can be applied to the skin, but alternatives such as CBD may be safer and have good effectiveness.

For the treatment of skin conditions, CBD is usually applied directly to the skin. There are many commercially available topical CBD products. Most of these products are marketed for the treatment of pain, but there’s increasing research on how CBD benefits dermatological conditions. Although this has not yet focused on menopausal women specifically, studies with other populations has found CBD to benefit a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and scars [link] as well as sebum production and inflammation [link]. CBD has also been found to improve wound healing [link]. When used for menopause symptoms, a topical CBD cream specially formulated for dermatological uses can be used daily. Pay attention to the other product ingredients. It is generally accepted that products applied to the skin should be free from parabens, artificial fragrances, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, toluene, phthalates, formaldehyde, diethanolamine, and triclosan. These should all be avoided in CBD topical products.

6) Other

There are many claims on the internet that CBD can help with other menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, breast tenderness, and night sweats. While this may be true, clinical research in these areas is lacking at present, although there are some biologically plausible mechanisms that could explain these outcomes. Hopefully future research will clarify these benefits. In the meantime, there is good evidence supporting the use of CBD for the treatment of many other menopause symptoms, 

CBD Products For Menopause

There are many different types of CBD products available to consumers. These include oral, topical, sublingual, and inhaled preparations. How do these products differ, and what is best for the treatment of menopause symptoms.

CBD is usually taken orally. Both oil and water-soluble CBD products are available, although most products are oil-based, which is the form that is native to CBD. These oil-based products are not soluble in water, in contrast to water-soluble products which are. Water-soluble products are more quickly absorbed into the body, and the rates of absorption are up to 4 times greater than for oil-based products [link].

Both oil and water-soluble CBD products are good options for the treatment of menopause symptoms, as both provide several hours of therapeutic benefit. However, higher doses of oil-based products are required relative to water-soluble products, and some people dislike the taste and texture of CBD oil. Water-soluble CBD is tasteless and odorless, and because it is more rapidly absorbed into the body, the benefits can be felt in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. Oil soluble CBD should be taken with food for better absorption. Water soluble CBD can be taken with or without food. Sublingual products are oil-based but provide more rapid absorption, although this is still inferior to water-soluble products.

CBD is also commonly applied to the skin. Most of these products are considered topical, because they act locally in the applied area but are not absorbed into the bloodstream because they don’t penetrate through all the layers of the skin. In contrast, transdermal products are applied to the skin and because of their formulations, are absorbed into the blood through the deep skin layers. Topical CBD products are good for localized pain, but for menopause symptoms like sleep and mood problems, and for bone and brain support, CBD needs to be absorbed into the blood so that it can be distributed throughout the body. Topical products will not be useful here, while transdermal products will be. However, topical products can be used to support skin health, including symptoms like dryness that may be associated with menopause.

Although less common, CBD products may be smoked. Hemp and CBD rich cannabis flowers can be smoked in a joint, and vaporizers are available with cartridges that include variable amounts of CBD. With smoking, CBD levels in the plasma rise immediately and reach peak concentrations after three minutes and drop dramatically by 1hr [link]. This means that while smoked CBD is available faster than orally ingested CBD (particularly oil-based), it remains in the body for a much shorter time period which requires more frequent dosing. For this reason, orally ingested CBD is a better option for the treatment of menopause symptoms. As well, there is concern over harmful effects of inhaled CBD products on the respiratory system.

Most CBD products are available in isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum forms. CBD isolate products only contain CBD. Broad spectrum CBD products will contain more than isolated CBD extract from the cannabis plant but will contain no THC. Full spectrum CBD products are similar to broad spectrum products but they usually contain even more cannabis plant extracts, such as waxes and chlorophylls, and they can contain up to 0.3% THC. Most of the research on CBD has been done using the isolate form, although consumers use products in all three forms. It is important to note that regardless of the form used, CBD will be the molecule found in the highest concentration, with most other molecules being present in very small amounts. You may want to experiment with both an isolate and a full or broad-spectrum product and track your symptoms using both products. This way you will know what product works best for you.

At this point, you’re probably asking “how much CBD should I take?” Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. The general recommendation for starting CBD is to start low, go slow, and wait. Meaning: start off at a low dose, wait a while to see your response to that dose, and then if the response is not optimal, increase a bit, and then repeat. It is increasingly being recognized that when it comes to CBD, a personalized approach is needed. Dosing is highly individualized and depends on many factors. The goal is to find the dose that maximizes the benefits for each person.

Take Home Message

It seems clear that when it comes to the treatment of menopause symptoms, CBD has great potential to be of benefit. Because of its ability to interact with and influence a wide range of body systems, CBD can help with symptoms ranging from sleeplessness to dry skin. Some symptoms can be targeted specifically when they manifest (like the just-mentioned sleep and skin problems), while others (like an increased risk of osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s Disease) may benefit even more from early intervention. If you are interested in trying CBD, talk to a health care professional who uses CBD in practice for some specific recommendations that are targeted to your personal health needs.