Most women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or PMS at least a few times throughout the period of their lives when they are menstruating. For many, these symptoms are mild and little more than a minor annoyance. Other women deal with PMS symptoms on a monthly basis and these symptoms are severe enough to affect their enjoyment of life and affect women’s health during the whole experience.

The good news is it is possible to get PMS symptoms under control and stop them from affecting your everyday life. For many, CBD has made this possible.

What Is PMS?

PMS is a set of symptoms linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle. They typically occur about a week to two weeks before she gets her period and can be physical, mental, and emotional. PMS can also change over the course of a lifetime. For instance, it’s possible to not experience any symptoms in your teens and 20s and then develop PMS in your 30s and 40s. Other women find that problems they had when they were younger are no longer an issue once they’ve given birth.

PMS symptoms can vary from woman to woman, but typically include one or more of the following:

• Bloating
• Mood changes
• Irritability
• Breast tenderness
• Cramps
• Skin breakouts
• Headaches
• Bowel changes

Statistics show about 80 percent of women experience at least one of these symptoms every month. About a third of women suffer from PMS severe enough to see their doctor and receive treatment for their symptoms.

How can you be sure the symptoms you’re experiencing are PMS? Chances are if the symptoms begin a few days to a week before your period and ease up once your period begins, and if you are experiencing them on a regular basis each month around the time of your period, they are PMS. Only a doctor will be able to eliminate concerns about all of your symptoms, which in some cases could be linked to a more serious problem. If something seems unusual about your symptoms it’s important to schedule a physical exam.

How Do You Know You Need Treatment for PMS?

It should be everyone’s goal to live as fulfilling and happy a life as possible. When health issues, even mild ones, interfere with that goal, options can be explored for reducing or alleviating those problems.

It’s probably not a good idea to commit to long-term or powerful medications when a health issue is relatively mild, like it is for many women with PMS, but there might be lifestyle changes you can make or natural remedies you can try that will help you deal with the days of feeling less-than-optimal you experience each month. For instance, some women find that cutting caffeine intake down or eliminating it or adding exercise to their daily routine helps them ease their PMS symptoms.

If you’re torn between living with PMS and doing something about it, ask yourself this question: “Do my PMS symptoms get in the way of my living what I consider to be a regular life? Have my relationships suffered or am I missing out on opportunities because of PMS?”

If you answer “yes” or you aren’t able to confidently answer “no” without a second thought, it’s likely time to explore your options.

Finding the Right Treatment for PMS

Everyone is different and what works for one woman might not work for another. Additionally, it might take a combination of treatments to really see an improvement in your PMS symptoms. For instance, many women find that adding more physical activity into their routine and improving their diet can help them ease their PMS symptoms. Other women prioritize sleep more around the time of their period, so they cut back on caffeine and focus on creating an optimal sleep environment.If you find that lifestyle changes aren’t enough to ease your symptoms to the degree you would like, it might be time to introduce a natural treatment option into your routine. For many, CBD is this option.

Unlike cannabis, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that comes from marijuana. This means it does not get you high and using it is different than recreational or medical marijuana use. CBD has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, including relief from depression and anxiety and helps with pain relief including easing the symptoms of PMS.

How Does CBD Help with Pre-Menstrual Symptoms and PMS?

CBD has been shown to help ease the symptoms of PMS. It doesn’t “cure” PMS and it may not alleviate problems completely. However, it can be effective for symptoms management. If the symptoms of PMS are interfering with your enjoyment of life, using CBD can help.

CBD helps with bodily aches and pains which are often a part of PMS such as menstrual cramps. Many women just accept that physically they aren’t going to feel 100 percent in the days leading up to their period, but some research has shown that CBD can ease the aches and pains and help you feel more like yourself.

One 2017 study showed that CBD reduces pain perception and ease the emotional effects of physical pain. This means that even if your body is in pain, you’re less bothered by it and it interferes less in your daily life.

CBD is anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat chronic pain, cancer pain, and arthritis, so it stands to reason that it could help to ease the aches associated with PMS.

CBD also helps with emotional issues and mood changes. PMS often triggers mood swings for women and they feel cranky and irritable in the days leading up to their periods. In some cases, these mood swings affect relationships with loved ones. CBD is used to treat anxiety and depression and can help ease anxiety. Though not specifically tested for the mood swings of PMS, many believe it is an effective tool for “taking the edge off.”

Finally, CBD can ease the pain associated with cramps. One 2016 study found that CBD was an effective treatment for spasticity in MS patients. There is a chance it could serve as an anti-spasmodic in other situations, including PMS cramps. Additionally, there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence that people have eased their PMS cramps using CBD.

 

This article by Madeleine Taylor is originally published at SundayScaries.