Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea, commonly called menstrual cramps, is an issue experienced by women during their menstrual cycle. These cramps can range from mild to extremely severe and may interfere with daily activities. Some women have reported finding relief from menstrual cramps by using cannabis products that contain cannabidiol (CBD). These products, which include topicals and edibles, can help relax muscles and alleviate pain without causing psychoactive effects that are associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Research:

• Seifalian A, Kenyon J, Khullar V. Dysmenorrhoea: Can Medicinal Cannabis Bring New Hope for a Collective Group of Women Suffering in Pain, Globally? International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(24):16201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232416201
• Aakriti R. Carrubba, Jon O. Ebbert, Aaron C. Spaulding, David DeStephano, and Christopher C. DeStephano.Use of Cannabis for Self-Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.Journal of Women's Health.Sep 2021.1344-1351.http://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8737

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a prevalent form of cancer that affects women around the world. According to the CDC, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States, with approximately one in eight women expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime.  That is approximately 13% of the country's female population who will go through cancer treatment. Recent studies have shown that cannabis may help reduce some of the chemotherapy treatment side effects like nausea, nerve pain, and severe weightloss. Research also suggests that CBD may be toxic to certain types of cancer cells when tested in vitro (tested outside the living organism, typically in a laboratory). CBD may also inhibit the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.

Research:

• Ashutosh Shrivastava, Paula M. Kuzontkoski, Jerome E. Groopman, Anil Prasad; Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating the Cross-talk between Apoptosis and Autophagy. Mol Cancer Ther 1 July 2011; 10 (7): 1161–1172. https://doi.org/10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-10-1100