Cannabidiol (CBD) has risen in popularity among health-conscious communities that dote over its potential health benefits. This recognition has helped expand the CBD market, with new products like oils, tinctures, CBD gummies, lotions and pills popping up across different CBD manufacturers.
While CBD can be beneficial for everyone, how it operates in women may be different than in men, as brain chemistry, hormone levels and body composition all play a role in our bodies’ abilities to absorb and utilize certain substances.
In fact, CBD has been shown to act on different neural systems in the bodies of women than men, affecting its overall influence. Studies also suggest that women have a higher reaction to the same doses of CBD, which may result in greater health effects in some areas.
...It’s suggested that CBD can play a critical role in managing discomfort, sensory and informational processing and immune response.
To that end, let’s explore the top benefits of CBD to women specifically, addressing the substance’s potential impacts on women’s unique bodies and biological systems.
What is CBD?
Before we dive directly into the advantages of CBD for women, it's important to first understand the origin, properties and regulation of this substance.
CBD is derived from hemp, a cannabis Sativa plant that contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the mind-altering chemical traditionally associated with cannabis or marijuana. Under US federal law, CBD can’t have more than 0.3% of THC and, thereby does not possess the same psychoactive properties as marijuana.
CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex system that’s critical to the function of your central nervous system (CNS). It’s suggested that the ECS also plays a role in regulating mood swings, reproduction, sleep and memory.
CBD’s cannabinoids — the naturally occurring chemical compounds found in CBD — are structurally similar to the endocannabinoids that our bodies naturally produce. Interestingly, it’s believed that CBD’s cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid receptors and pathways to help regulate homeostasis.
Our two primary endocannabinoid receptors are:
- CB1 – Located in the central nervous system, CB1 can be responsible for the management of physical discomfort.
- CB2 – Located in your peripheral nervous system, CB2 may influence your body’s immune system.
To that end, it’s suggested that CBD can play a critical role in managing discomfort, sensory and informational processing and immune response. While these benefits are overarching across both men and women, there exist some specific advantages that are unique to women. Let’s explore them, below.
#1 CBD May Help Reduce Stress and Low Mood
CBD has been shown to have an effect on certain regions of the brain, such as the insula and amygdala, which play a role in the regulation of the immune system and emotions. As such, CBD use may be able to help manage women’s mental health.
Certain triggers, like traumatic events, change or relationship problems, can cause certain areas of your brain to go into high alert, eliciting a stress response. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is believed to help moderate this physiological process by sending messages to your brain to help regulate your emotions.
CBD’s interaction with your ECS may help bring your body back to homeostasis to feel calmer and more relaxed.
The Yale School of Medicine found that women tend to respond more favorably to doses of CBD than men, as they may possess more CB1 receptors in their central nervous system. This suggests that women may experience a higher reduction of nervousness and uncertainty with the regular intake of CBD products, like oils or edibles.
CBD’s interaction with the ECS, which can regulate emotions, may also enhance women’s moods by activating dopamine receptors in the brain and reducing feelings of sadness or gloom.
#2 CBD May Improve Sexual Health
For women looking to enhance their sex lives, incorporating CBD-infused lubricants, oils and edibles like CBD gummies may help set the right mood and improve pleasure.
CBD Can Stimulate Pleasure Hormones
What are the CBD effects on hormones in relation to women’s wellness? The female reproductive organs contain high concentrations of cannabinoid receptors. A bit of CBD can stimulate blood flow and improve the sensitivity of these areas. Products containing CBD may also interact with anandamide, a neurotransmitter linked to oxytocin release. This hormone, known as the love hormone, has been shown to augment sexual arousal in women.
Dopamine receptors in women’s brains can also be activated by the cannabinoids in CBD. This can help the body produce dopamine, which can stimulate libido and desire during sex.
CBD Can Lessen Feelings of Stress During Sex
With all the responsibilities of modern-day life running through their minds, it may be difficult for some women to get out of their heads and be mindful during sex. By taking CBD orally or rubbing a cream or lubricant on their bodies, the properties of CBD can help stressors fade away.
CBD May Diminish Inflammation
It’s suggested that CBD’s interaction with the ECS can play a role in reducing inflammation. Inflammation during sex can be caused by rough movements, vaginal dryness or allergic reactions to certain lubricants or creams.
Since CBD interacts with the CB2 receptors of the ECS, it can thereby influence the immune response that causes swelling or redness to the reproductive organs. By applying CBD products like CBD topicals, users may experience relief from inflammation. Learn more about CBD and sex to see how you can make spending time in the bedroom more enjoyable.
#3 CBD May Help Regulate Hormones
Factors like stress, medication and diet can all create hormone imbalances in a woman's body, but these imbalances may also occur during:
- Puberty
- Menstruation
- Menopause
The excess or lack of sex hormones (like progesterone and estrogen) or stress hormones (like cortisol) can result in tiredness, irritability and mood dysregulation in women experiencing these imbalances.
Because the endocannabinoid system is closely associated with the endocrine system — a biological system that manages and releases hormones — products containing CBD may relieve these symptoms by helping regulate these hormone problems.
Similarly, in environments of high stress, cortisol levels may climb, which can lower estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. Because CBD can reduce stress, it may also be able to reduce the negative impacts of cortisol on a woman's body.
Interactions between CBD and cannabinoid receptors in the female reproductive system may also lead to a reduction in symptoms of menopause. This is because CBD may stabilize mood swings and regulate feelings of nervousness and sadness during menopause. Additionally, CBD’s regulation of cortisol may also help menopausal women get more restful sleep at night.
#4 CBD May Offer Beauty Benefits
Women who incorporate CBD into their skincare routines may notice long-term benefits to their skin’s health. In particular, skincare products containing CBD may help brighten women’s complexions.
This is because CBD can help reduce red spots on the face by regulating fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone (which can lead to breakouts). Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can shrink the appearance of blemishes. It’s also suggested that CBD may reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation or dark spots on the face. Learn more about how to take advantage of a CBD beauty boost.
Zebra CBD — Supporting Women’s Health and Wellness
In the wellness community, CBD has become recognized as a helpful tool for supporting women’s health and wellness. So whether you’re looking for a product that assists in stress reduction, mood stabilization, hormone regulation or simply one that makes your skin glow, CBD use may be your answer.
But with a saturation of CBD products on the market, it may feel difficult to comb through each option and choose the one that best fits your unique needs, lifestyle and health concerns.
From CBD for mood enhancement to CBD for menopause, we’re here to help.
At Zebra CBD, we make buying CBD easy. With the widest selection of condition-specific CBD options on our site, you’re guaranteed to find a trusted CBD product that supports your overall well-being and helps you meet your specific wellness goals.
Source:
Healthline. 6 Health Benefits of CBD Oil – and a Look at Side Effects. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits#mental-health
Yale School of Medicine. How Does CBD Affect Women? WHRY Fills Gap in the Science of an Exploding Market. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/how-does-cbd-affect-women-whry-fills-gaps-in-the-science-of-an-exploding-market/
Harvard Medical School. Why are women using CBD products – and do they work? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-are-women-using-cbd-products-and-do-they-work-2019111818317
Medahuman. Benefits of CBD for women. https://medahuman.com/benefits-of-cbd-for-women/
Rutgers. CBD Shows Health Benefits in Estrogen-Deficient Mice That Model Postmenopause. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/cbd-shows-health-benefits-estrogen-deficient-mice-model-postmenopause
WebMD. CBD vs THC: What’s the Difference? https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cbd-thc-difference
Healthline. A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System. https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
Healthline. Can CBD Make Sex Better? Here’s What the Experts Say. https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-sex-effectiveness
WebMD. CBD for Skin: What to Know. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cbd-for-skin
