CBD & Pregnancy

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CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is a compound found within the cannabis plant. Although there is not significant research outlining the beneficial or negative effects of CBD, many people around the world use it for therapeutic purposes. Unlike another common compound found in cannabis like THC, CBD does not provide mind-altering effects. In other words, CBD will NOT get you high.

When a woman becomes pregnant, everything she comes into contact with can potentially affect her fetus. While there are several beneficial products that women can take, such as prenatal vitamins, other substances negatively impact the fetus. These can include certain types of foods, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and illegal substances.

If you are wondering if you can take CBD oil while you are pregnant, schedule a meeting with your doctor. Although there is limited research on the effects of CBD on a fetus, your provider will be able to determine whether or not you should use CBD hemp oil while you are pregnant. Many women report that they use CBD oil during pregnancy in order to reduce pregnancy-related nausea.

In general, using CBD while one is pregnant is thought to be safer than smoking cannabis itself or THC-rich products.

There is a lack of conclusive data to determine the effects of CBD hemp oil on a fetus. However, it is known that a growing fetus is equipped with an endocannabinoid system, even when the fetus is only composed of two cells. This system is in all humans and even some animals. The endocannabinoid system is a system composed of endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors.

In a study conducted on mouse embryos, researchers found that the compound THC inhibited the development of the embryos which contained less than eight cells. Another natural cannabinoid found in the human body, anandamide, also stopped the embryos from developing. CBD can increase levels of anandamide, so there may be negative effects associated with CBD use during pregnancy. It is important to note that this was a study conducted on mice and the results may not be transferable to human subjects.

CBD & Breastfeeding

Given the lack of relevant research, one of the most significant findings of the last decade in this sphere is the fact that cannabinoids are found naturally in human breast milk. Several studies have confirmed that breast milk contains the same cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant and they are crucial for correct human development.

Endocannabinoids help teach a newborn baby how to eat by stimulating the process of suckling. If these endocannabinoids didn’t exist, babies wouldn’t know how to eat nor would they have the desire.

If you have any questions about using substances or medications while you are pregnant, including CBD, you should always speak with your doctor before trying anything new. Your doctor will be able to determine if the potential benefits of CBD hemp oil and other medications outweigh the risks of using the product during pregnancy.

 

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CBD & Fertility

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What is CBD’s Effect on Fertility?

Increasing evidence has shown CBD has
a powerful effect on fertility. This is due to the way it interacts with the ECS. Since
the ECS is a regulatory system, its
primary function is helping maintain homeostasis, or balance, in the body.
When CBD is introduced, the ECS
system can be brought back to balance and be encouraged to work more smoothly and efficiently.

CBD’s Effect on Female Fertility

This powerful cannabinoid affects women and men in different ways. For women, CBD can be beneficial for getting pregnant as well as helping throughout pregnancy and delivery as well. Many women also are turning toward CBD because of its ability to mitigate THC’s effects.

For women trying to get pregnant, promising evidence has shown CBD can help with conceiving. While studies have shown THC may affect implantation, ovulation, and even be linked to miscarriages, CBD has shown the opposite effects. In addition, because CBD has powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, many women opt for CBD during uncomfortable periods of pregnancy and delivery.

A study conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the National University of Ireland Galway, and published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility, found CBD also may be incredibly effective for reducing uterine contractions during labor and delivery. This is because CBD may act as an antagonist for oxytocin, which is what causes these contractions. This means CBD can help to ease the delivery process naturally.

CBD’s Effect on Male Fertility

Research conducted by Dr. Hans Hatt at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany has found an incredible link between CBD and male fertility. This study found that a receptor previously presumed to be a part of the ECS also is present in sperm cells. This receptor, called the GPR18 receptor, now can link cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System directly to fertility.

However, the evidence concerning THC and CBD is incredibly different. Studies have shown THC may impact testosterone levels, stunt sperm maturation, and increase the number of abnormal sperm cells, as well as decreasing overall sperm count and mobility. On the other hand, the evidence for CBD is much more promising.

 

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CBD and PMS Pain

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CBD oil – derived from cannabis plants – is gaining status around the world; but its pain-relieving, mood-boosting properties have serious research to back it up, and could help relieve period-related symptoms.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is making headway in the natural health and wellness world, mainly due to the growing list of health benefits, including relief from PMS. It’s an active compound found in cannabis, but don’t let it’s association with marijuana scare you. You won’t get the mind-altering high because it contains little to none(0.03%) of the psychoactive component, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). Instead, the oil, which is extracted from the cannabis plant and mixed with carrier oils like almond, coconut, and olive, has been shown to help with pain relief. As a result, many women are turning to CBD specifically for PMS symptoms.

What’s more, it can be helpful treating cramps, too. CBD can be immensely helpful in treating the irritability and discomfort that comes during the premenstrual phase of our cycles. Because it has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is also a muscle relaxer, it can help with the overall tension, as well as menstrual cramps that can come later.

So how does it work? The body has its own endocannabinoid system (ECS) and internal cannabis receptors (the body’s internal cannabinoid system was named after the plant, which led to the discovery in the 1980s). There are cannabinoid receptors throughout the body – from the brain and central nervous system to the gut, connective tissues and nerves – and they work with the endocannabinoid system as a homeostatic regulator, meaning that the body is trying to maintain a state of balance in all its cells. In an indication of how that should actually feel, scientists named one of the key endocannabinoids ‘anandamide’ – the “Bliss Molecule”

How does CBD oil fit in to this? Well, interestingly, researchers have found that taking CBD oil promotes the body’s own internal cannabinoids to function more effectively – helping to reduce stress and inflammation within its own cells.

And whilst further research is needed into applications for women’s health specifically, scientists have found that those who suffer from endometriosis also have low levels of cannabinoid receptors, leading experts to suggest that CBD oil could offer relief from the condition.

All this comes with a note of caution that as yet the research into CBD is not complete; while there have been lots of anecdotal evidence around the use of CBD for PMS symptoms, and some preliminary research into pain relief, there have not yet been double-blind, placebo-controlled studies into the topic, and it’s important to check with your doctor, qualified nutritionist or herbal medicine practitioner first that CBD is right for you.

The current research, while not explicitly focused on PMS, certainly seems to suggest that if you’re looking for something natural and effective for your PMS tool belt, it’s worth a shot. Every day, there are more studies about the potential medical and daily wellness applications for CBD (and cannabis in general), whether to treat particular medical conditions or to help improve your emotional, physical, and mental health. Of course, these new studies are often confirming the anecdotal, lived experiences of many cannabis-savvy consumers.

 

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