While CBD is a useful tool for soothing stress, it’s also beneficial for women when gender-specific concerns arise, such as cramps, PMS symptoms, hormonal imbalances, fertility, etc.
Women can sometimes experience hormonal imbalances close to their menstrual cycles, which means that they can suffer from monthly skin issues, changes in mood, weight gain, hair loss, or irregularity in their cycles. If your body is producing either too much or too little of a particular hormone, then a variety of imbalances can occur. Too much stress may release cortisol, which triggers a flight or fight response. When we get a flight or fight response, it inhibits the production of insulin while releasing glucose into the bloodstream, which is a way of providing muscles with immediate energy. The heart then starts to pump faster, which forces increased blood flow. While this is good in the short term, if your system is constantly overstimulated, problems can occur.
The effects of consistently elevated cortisol can create problems ranging from blood sugar imbalances which could potentially cause diabetes, as well as gastrointestinal issues like stomach cramps, IBS, bloating, and even ulcers, etc. Although cortisol is meant to reduce inflammation, this also means that it can suppress the immune system, making it harder to fight off disease. It can also lead to unwanted weight gain.
Ongoing stress can rewire the brain. When the baseline is ‘focus, focus, focus’, then when there’s no sense of impending danger, the brain will evolve to relax focus, which can lead to issues with attention and focus the rest of the time. It can even affect some sections of the brain more than others.
Benefits of CBD
CBD is effective in treating a lot of these issues. It’s been show to improve digestive issues, for one. It also helps with bloating, cramping, inflammation and nausea as well as the regulation of cortisol.
When stress takes a toll on appearance, CBD has been shown have anti-aging effects, enhancing sleep quality, reducing dark spots, anxiety and improving the overall appearance of the skin. It also improves a woman’s reproductive health, metabolism, lactation and can resolve issues with pituitary hormone secretion. (The pituitary gland is responsible for controlling several hormone centers in the body, including the thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries.)
It can also assist with ensuring that cholesterol levels are on track. In 2011, a study found that CBD can affect genes related to the metabolism.
While CBD certainly has these benefits, it helps to alter your lifestyle to include other stress-reducing activities. These can include listening to music, meditation, exercise, massage, spending time with friends and loved ones, etc. Our relationships especially can sometimes be our biggest healers.
Among the benefits is a reduction in stress, improved health, and longer life, including an opportunity to be caring for other people, which, when combined with a change in lifestyle, can create a solid foundation for ongoing success and happiness.
