Can CBD Help Manage Menopausal Symptoms? By Bonnie Hagen

By Bonnie Hagen

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-intoxicating compound that is derived from the hemp plant. CBD impacts the human endocannabinoid system, or ECS, which regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions, such as learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating.  In 2018, Congress passed the Hemp Farming Act, which legalized the production and sale of industrial hemp and hemp derivatives, including hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). Since then, CBD has exploded into the marketplace and anecdotal evidence of its curative powers abound, including its ability to lessen the symptoms of menopause without the side effects that standard treatment for menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), is known for. Interest in HRT has cooled in recent years after research established a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and cancer among women over 60 who were taking HRT. 

Menopause, the natural biological process marked by the cessation of menstruation, is often accompanied by a range of symptoms, including loss of bone density, arthritis and joint pain, hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and more. Several scientific studies have explored the potential effects of CBD on menopause symptoms, aiming to understand the anecdotal evidence and whether CBD could offer relief for common issues associated with this life stage. 

Approximately 1 in 4 American women over the age of 65 suffer from loss of bone density, or osteoporosis. This condition leads to more falls and bone fractures. While there are limited direct studies that focus on CBD and bone health in menopause, there have been studies that explore the role of the ECS in bone metabolism in general, indicating that the CB1 receptor, which is activated by CBD, plays an essential role in regulating bone loss that results from estrogen deficiency.    

The Arthritis Foundation did a survey in 2020 and learned that CBD has shown promise in preclinical studies to reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. The majority of respondents in the study reported a reduction or cessation of other medications (including anti-inflammatories, opioids, and acetaminophen) after CBD use.   

Changes in hormone levels may influence neurotransmitters in the brain. The drop in estrogen levels can also lead to hot flashes that disturb sleep, which can then lead to anxiety and mood swings. Most women who go through menopause won’t develop a major mood disorder. However many will experience insomnia and mood problems before, during, and after menopause when hormone levels fluctuate. A review of the potential of CBD as an antidepressant has indicated its possible utility in addressing mood-related symptoms. Another study investigated the potential anxiolytic effects of CBD, suggesting that it might have a positive impact on sleep and anxiety-related symptoms.  

In 2022, scientists at Rutgers University reported in Frontiers in Pharmacology that CBD may be a possible treatment for postmenopausal women, whose ovaries no longer make estrogen. When estrogen-deficient mice were fed CBD, their bloodstreams disposed higher levels of glucose and burned more energy. Also, their bone density improved, they had less inflammation in the gut and bone tissues, and they had higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria.

The interaction between CBD and hormonal changes during menopause remains a topic of ongoing research. While these studies suggest the potential benefits of CBD for menopausal symptoms, the field is evolving, and more robust clinical trials are necessary to draw firm conclusions. Always consult with healthcare professionals before considering CBD or any other supplement for menopause symptoms.

If you’re curious about CBD and would like to try it, there are some basic pointers when choosing a brand. First, look for a brand that’s extracted from hemp grown organically and sustainably without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Hemp absorbs what is in the soil, and if you do not want these substances in your body, make sure you are not ingesting hemp that has absorbed these dangerous chemicals. Look for CBD that’s “full-spectrum,” not broad-spectrum or an isolate. A full-spectrum product has a full variety of cannabinoids along with CBD, so you enjoy the synergistic benefits of hemp’s compounds known as the “entourage effect.” Yes, there is a tiny bit of THC in a legal full-spectrum product (< 0.3%), but not enough to get you high. And, it is necessary to help kick-start the effects of the CBD. Make sure you get a brand whose product has been tested by an independent third-party laboratory so you can confirm potency and purity. The manufacturer should make the lab test results available on their website. Finally, CBD’s benefits don’t manifest immediately after ingestion. It needs to build up in your system before you feel the effects, so give the compound 2-3 weeks to fully kick in.

Bonnie Hagen is the principal and founder of Bright Formulations LLC, a health and wellness company that specializes in hemp extract with CBD.  The Bright Energy ® brand of hemp extract with CBD was launched with the intention of helping people achieve their health and well-being goals, using the all-natural hemp plant. Bonnie helps people use the hemp plant to free themselves from pain, insomnia, stress, and discomfort. Seeing repeatedly how this incredible plant provides protection, grounding, balance, regeneration, clarity, purpose, and peace to those who use it wisely, Bonnie decided to build a different kind of company around it. Using clean and sustainably grown ingredients in her formulations, Bonnie brings to the marketplace hemp extract with CBD that is grown without chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, is extracted without using harmful solvents, and is bottled without any artificial ingredients or fillers.