POT FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATMENT
Endometriosis has been an issue that has plagued many women’s bodies for quite some time now. Although many have relied on traditional medicine to alleviate symptoms, people have overlooked one that has scientifically been proven to be effective in endometriosis treatment: pot. One of the many benefits of cannabis is providing pain relief for users, and we want to inform more women who may be unfamiliar with the science behind it all.
What is endometriosis?
According to Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue (similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus) grows outside your uterus. The disease is mostly known for its painful symptoms and is especially common among women in their 30s and 40s and may make it harder to get pregnant. Researchers think that at least 11% of women, or more than 6.5 million women in the United States, have endometriosis. One in ten women worldwide are impacted by endometriosis. Still, diagnosis is rare and traditional endometriosis treatment can be invasive and disruptive – including surgery and medications with side effects that contribute to an already tenuous situation.
MENSTRUAL CRAMPS, AKA DYSMENORRHEA: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, TREATMENTS
Cramps are a result of inflammation, which CBD has been proven to reduce – 20x more than aspirin.
Menstrual cramps are due to prostaglandins release as the endometrial tissue breaks down and women have a period. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more severe menstrual cramps. Cannabinoids are proven to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Cannabis can effectively impact, and soothe, the pelvic area. The impact is immediate: pain subsides within the hour. CBD soothes inflammation in the uterus, decreases the sensation of pain, and relaxes the muscle contractions that induce cramps.
My diagnosis was literally called unexplained infertility. No one knew what was going on. I went to so many doctors, I went to everyone that you can go to in multiple cities across the country. Time is your enemy infertility, especially in your late 30s, so getting an answer quickly to what might be going on can make a big difference in your chances of having a baby. And I share my experience here, I share it with people when they ask me about it because if it can help women who have unexplained infertility learn about endometriosis as a possible cause and then either rule it out or move towards IVF, then they can spare themselves years of uncertainty, expense, the emotional roller coaster.
– Ellen Scanlon, co-creator of How to Do the Pot, has dealt with both Endo and IVF
Talk to your doctor if you experience symptoms of endometriosis such as debilitatingly painful periods, pain with sexual intercourse, heavy menstrual flow and/or infertility.
good to know
Common experiences such as PMS, endometriosis, and PCOS are related to a deficiency in endocannabinoids. According to neuroscientist Dr. Michelle Ross, when you have one disorder of endocannabinoid deficiency, you may have other ones, too. Keep this in mind when seeking endometriosis treatment.
SO IS WEED EFFECTIVE FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATMENT?
Women have the second-highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors in the pelvic region (the highest concentration is found in the brain). But women with endometriosis have a lower number of cannabinoid receptors in cells within their pelvic region. From what scientists understand, there are simply fewer receptors to receive the body’s natural chemicals for managing pain in places like the uterus. Those natural chemicals, of course, are endocannabinoids. Just a small deficiency then can cause massive pain. Cannabis seems for many patients to right the imbalance that takes a painful disease and make it excruciating. Treating pain is a big deal, especially when a woman’s pain is so often minimized.
Cannabis can effectively impact, and soothe, the pelvic area hence why it could be impactful for endometriosis treatment. The impact is immediate: pain subsides within the hour. That’s because cannabinoids are proven to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. While THC can help relieve pain, preliminary research suggests CBD is more effective for reducing both endometriosis-related lesions and the spread of the condition itself. So while it may not get rid of symptoms entirely, cannabis could still be effective for endometriosis treatment because of the relief it provides.
Dr. Jess referred to uterine contractions. Yes, cramps. The joked-about monthly pain many women suffer are in fact small contractions – like you have in labor. When women are expected to play through the pain, it can be even more difficult to diagnose extreme cramping that can be a symptom of endometriosis. It can take a decade for an American woman with endometriosis to understand that her cramps are not normal.
Dr. Michelle Ross, the neurologist you heard from in How to Do the Pot’s Endo Episode, cites the work of Dr. Ethan Russo, who has identified a few different conditions that may be linked to a deficiency and the ECS – essentially what happens when the body’s balancing method is thrown out of balance. The National Institutes of Health compiled 15 research studies that show that cannabinoid medicine has an impact not only on pain symptoms associated with endometriosis, but also on slowing its growth.
