Every seasoned weed smoker knows that Mary Jane is a surefire way to beat PMS and the cramps and moodiness that go along with it. But with an ever-growing array of available strains, which compound, THC or CBD, is the most effective for handling Aunt Flo? How can we best use weed for PMS relief?
What are THC and CBD?
For those a little green when it comes to weed chemistry, THC and CBD are the two most prevalent chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in marijuana.
If you’re familiar with either, you probably know that THC is the most psychoactive of the plant’s chemical compounds. It’s probably why you smoke in the first place.
Cannabidiol, abbreviated to CBD, is famous in recent times for its diverse medical applications. These include treating chronic seizures, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
The difference between THC and CBD is that the latter is non-psychoactive, meaning that it neutralizes the soaring high of THC.
For this reason, many grass growers initially bred CBD out of their cannabis crops. Today, CBD is enjoying a renaissance thanks to its medicinal properties, all without getting you stoned.
Cannabinoids and the Body
Many women consume weed for PMS relief. It’s also great for alleviating other female-related health issues. But how does CBD or THC diminish your hormonal moodiness or PMS’s sometimes nauseating and debilitating pain?
Put simply, your body already possesses a complex network of cannabinoids, called the Endocannabinoid System. This biological web of neurotransmitters and receptors regulates everything from fertility to your ability to feel pain.
Since your body naturally produces and responds to cannabinoids of its own, THC and CBD can regulate your physiological and neurological responses.
The Benefits of CBD …
Though both THC and CBD can help with pain management, which is best for when you’re PMSing?
The easy answer would be CBD. Scientific research has proven that cannabidiol can treat epilepsy as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.
It also functions as a non-addictive and non-psychoactive painkiller.
The accessibility of CBD-rich products ranging from CBD oils to ointments, shampoos, and wax concentrates makes PMS symptom treatment legal, and more accessible.
… vs. THC
But just because CBD is more palatable to weed conservatives doesn’t mean that it’s marijuana’s most effective painkilling chemical compound. In fact, many believe it isn’t.
THC has twenty times the anti-inflammatory property of aspirin according to a 2008 study published in the US National Library of Medicine.
This means that it can reduce the pain associated with headaches, arthritis, and even cancer by decreasing inflammation.
This differs from opioids, which merely block the signals from your nervous system to your brain that cause you to feel pain.
Final Hit: How To Use Weed For PMS Relief
There isn’t a definition conclusion, popular or scientific, as to whether it’s better to use CBD or THC-heavy weed for PMS symptom management.
Some say that the psychoactive nature of THC makes it a stronger (and way more fun) form of pain management.
Others say that THC heightens anxiety, another common PMS symptom for many women. And some studies suggest that CBD has the same pain management potential as THC.
What is for certain, though, is that marijuana is most effective for managing pain, period-related or otherwise, when both THC and CBD are present.
This phenomenon is popularly known as the Entourage Effect: THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids and terpenoids (chemical compounds) are stronger when ingested simultaneously.
Pure CBD will be nowhere near as effective as a combination of both cannabinoids. Pure THC, though potentially very potent as seen with oils used in cancer treatment, can prevent you from doing simple, everyday tasks.
So consider your PMS syndromes. If moodiness is a common issue for you, CBD may be your golden ticket as it’s known to soothe. And if you’re looking for an all-natural remedy for cramp management, look for a strain high in THC.
No matter what you choose, when it comes time to ‘surf the crimson wave’, as Cher says in Clueless, go green.
