Hemp is a natural miracle for female pain management. My name is Nia and I am a writer, musician, academic, and mom from rural Idaho who has a lot of experience with pain. Today I’m sharing my appreciation for this incredible plant and the ways it could help you lessen chronic inflammatory pain.

The Burden of Chronic Pain

There are few things in life more isolating than chronic pain. I had a traumatic brain injury when I was about 8 years old; now in my 30s, I struggle with migraines, neuropathy, and back pain.

But nothing in my life - not even childbirth - can compare to the monthly torture that started to plague me at the age of 12. There is a long list of ailments and symptoms unique to women that start as a teenager, and sometimes earlier:

• Mood disorders
• Pelvic pain
• Bloating
• Hot flashes
• Acne
• Other burdens that are difficult to describe, let alone treat

In this article, we’ll take a look at endometriosis: what it is, who has it, and how you can use hemp-derived CBD for endometriosis-associated symptom relief.

What is Endometriosis?

Nearly 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from the chronic pain of endometriosis, and the associated depression and anxiety that comes along with it.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition of the female reproductive system that causes tissue to grow outside the uterus. This causes havoc in the abdominal cavity, and symptoms include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Fertility issues
• Painful bowel movements
• Painful sex
• Debilitating period pain 

A healthy uterus grows a thick nourishing layer of cells, called the endometrium, in preparation for a possible pregnancy. But if the egg is not fertilized, the uterus discharges this blood-rich tissue so the cycle can start again – a process colloquially called the “period.”

The medical treatment for endometriosis includes synthetic hormones, painkillers, and surgical treatment. In some cases, patients have all or part of their uterus removed. The medical treatments are often extreme and don’t look for the underlying issue.

Women & Pain

Women who suffer from pain are used to being dismissed by doctors, accused of drug-seeking, or not allowed enough medication to manage their pain. Consequently, alternative treatments, including CBD oil, have become more prevalent in patients with endometriosis.

Many women accept painful periods as a standard part of their daily lives. They are hesitant to admit the pain bothers them. We suffer, thinking it’s normal. But for at least 1 out of every 9 of us, “normal” means:

• Days of torture

• Every month

• For four decades

Fortunately, hemp and hemp-derived CBD is paving the way for a natural approach to pain management that actually treats the root causes of the issue. Research suggests that CBD can relieve the chronic pain of many conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and nervous system disorders. 

CBD for Symptom Relief

Recent Canadian research highlighted the number of women successfully using hemp-derived products to reduce inflammation and endometriosis symptoms, especially pain. Hemp is effective at reducing pelvic pain and digestive issues while improving mood. Oral forms of hemp were more effective in providing maximum long-term relief.

I tried using hemp for the first time over ten years ago. I was visiting from another state and ran out of hydrocodone. My sister-in-law offered me a hemp vaporizer. Within minutes of my first puff, I felt the sharpness of my pain diminish. My mood elevated. Though the pain was still present, I found I could go about the rest of the day without being distracted by pain.

The pain turned into a simple signal hot, cold, wet, or dry. It was more relief than going numb because the hemp didn’t hide the pain – it helped me master it. 

But after growing up in a conservative community in the Wild West, where parents would routinely burn hemp jewelry, I knew I needed to learn more about this plant!

The Endocannabinoid System

Hemp contains many therapeutic compounds that have a positive effect on the body, and CBD is one of the best-known. It can be isolated for therapeutic use and cannot cause a ‘high’. It stimulates the endocannabinoid system which regulates critical processes in the body, such as:

• Sleep
• Mood
• Appetite
• Memory
• Fertility
• Pain signals

Research suggests that interacting with the endocannabinoid system is a good strategy for managing endometriosis pain. This system seems to unlock the secret to all kinds of chronic pain relief and treatment for many inflammatory conditions.

Endometriosis looks like it could be due to a down-regulation in the endocannabinoid system (due to toxicity, no doubt!) which is why hemp offers such effective relief.  

CBD for Endometriosis Pain Relief

You can get CBD in several different forms, but they fall into one of three categories: CBD isolates, Broad-Spectrum, or Full-Spectrum CBD products. Full-spectrum CBD comes from a plant with an original phytochemistry profile containing minor cannabinoid compounds, terpenoids, flavonoid compounds, and traces of THC (less than 0.3% which is not enough for a psychoactive effect).

Full-spectrum CBD includes all components of the cannabis plant and it’s the form I’ve found works best for pain, and I’m not alone. There’s a theory known as the ‘entourage effect’ which suggests that cannabinoids work better together than they do alone; this is the whole plant doctrine that Dr. Sebi also championed.

How Do You Take CBD Oil?

The use of Hemp-CBD for endometriosis is highly individualized. Start supplementing at the lowest dose and slowly increase consumption until you get the desired effects. CBD has few side effects and is safe in substantial quantities, though you want to be careful with daily high doses. 

With consistent regular use the effects add up as inflammation is gradually tackled and the immune system is supported. The plants can differ in chemical composition and effects, even between harvest seasons of the same plant, so it’s important to choose a high-quality product. Other variables affecting the dosage include dietary habits, lifestyle, and other conditions.

CBD oil is available in many different delivery methods, including:

• Infused into foods
• Swallowed as a pill
• Dripped under the tongue
• Blended into creams and salves
• Bath and beauty products
• Suppositories
• Inhaled through a vaporizer

Topical (directly onto the skin) or oral administration is the best management approach for women with endometriosis pain. The only side effect I’ve noticed is a bit of sleepiness if I take a large dose.

Sublingual (under the tongue) delivery ensures rapid effects, increased bioavailability, and enhanced absorption. This occurs because CBD can be taken from your mouth directly into your bloodstream via tiny blood vessels.

This is also probably the best delivery method. CBD oil that goes through the digestive system has to be processed by the liver, slowing down the process. Meanwhile, vaporized CBD oil brings potentially destructive side effects due to the combustion which may or may not be worth its other perks - such as faster pain relief.

How I Used CBD to Reduce Pain Symptoms

As a frequent flyer at my local hospital, I have experienced many different options for pain management. Though I still have an ongoing prescription for painkillers, I hardly ever use them anymore.

Pain medications are great at making you numb. But eventually, the pain comes back, often with a vengeance. Every dose comes with overdose risks, dependence, and frustrating side effects such as constipation.

The last time I ran out of CBD and had to take hydrocodone instead, I cried.

Hemp is different. Its anti-inflammatory properties target the source of the pain, treating it rather than just numbing it. Plenty of pain still comes through, but the signal loses its bite: I can tell I’m in pain but can ignore it. It’s just another sensation like hot, cold, wet, or dry.

Just a few drops under my tongue every night was enough to ease my pain and regulate my cycle. With time, I found that I bled less and more regularly and could finally carry babies to term after two miscarriages.

Thanks to hemp oil, I live a much happier life than I thought possible a decade ago. Though I still have pain, I consider it managed. Don’t suffer with pain when mother nature has provided the perfect remedy. Let her help you with hemp.