Endometriosis is a gynecological disease that is painful to the point of preventing women from enjoying a fulfilling sexual life, which obviously impacts on their overall quality of life.
Unfortunately, to date, the only solution available to patients is to take anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic drugs, which can have serious side-effects and are not always effective.
That's why more and more women are looking for a natural solution like CBD products.
If you'd like to try cannabidiol to relieve your endometriosis symptoms, read on as we explain how CBD can work on your pain.
Table of contents
Endometriosis: causes, symptoms & diagnosis
Definition of endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the endometrium develops outside the uterus, i.e. on the other sexual organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes and vagina), and sometimes on the urinary and digestive tracts.
The endometrium is the tissue that covers the uterus. It thickens throughout the menstrual cycle before being eliminated during menstruation if fertilization has not taken place.
This colonization leads to lesions and cysts which trigger an anti-inflammatory reaction that causes pain during intercourse, menstruation and even at any time during the menstrual cycle.
The causes
The causes of endometriosis are still poorly understood.
This could be a menstruation-related problem, as the cells that migrate to the ovaries and fallopian tubes (menstrual reflux) are not destroyed by the immune system, as is normally the case. These cells develop and propagate in much the same way as cancer cells: they commandeer veins for nourishment, and develop new nerve endings (hence the pain).
However, the scientific community does not rule out the hypothesis that endocrine disruptors are at the root of this abnormal cell proliferation.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Endometriosis is a benign disease. But it affects the quality of life of women who suffer from it. In fact, this disease can cause :
- Painful periods;
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia);
- Digestive and urinary disorders;
- Random bleeding ;
- Infertility (in 30 to 40% of cases);
- Stress;
- Chronic fatigue ;
- Etc.
This discomfort is undoubtedly exacerbated by the fact that, quite often, the patient is unaware that she has this disease... In fact, many women do not consult their gynecologist, because for a very long time, women have been told (and are told!) that it is normal to feel pain during menstruation, and even during sexual intercourse (Cf. the short video above 😃).
Although a gynecological examination combined with an ultrasound scan is enough to detect the disease and its extent, most of the time it takes years (an average of 7 years!) to diagnose endometriosis.
Visit endofrance.org to find out more about this disease: symptoms, treatments, professionals to consult and testimonials can help you better understand your condition.
What is the link between CBD and endometriosis?
If cannabis and CBD-based products top the list of natural alternatives to relieve women suffering from endometriosis, it's for a good reason: our bodies are dotted with receptors that cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, etc.) can activate and/or inhibit. And these receptors can, among other things, act on pain.
This set of cannabinoid receptors is called the endocannabinoid system. It's just as important as our immune system, or our nervous system, since its role is to ensure that all our physiological functions operate optimally.
Put another way, if we can act on the endocannabinoid system, then we can control virtually all the parameters on which our state of health depends. That's why CBD products are said to have so many virtues.
Unfortunately, scientific studies are very patchy, especially when it comes to the action of cannabidiol in particular. Indeed, some preliminary studies are focusing on the properties of cannabis, and more specifically on THC [1], which is banned in France.
Even so, with regard to endometriosis, research conducted in 2010 [2] and 2017 [3] has demonstrated the link between the endocannabinoid system, endometriosis and associated pain.
Although scientists are not yet able to explain the hows and whys, this discovery echoesthe thousands of testimonials from women with endometriosis who use cannabis or CBD oil to relieve their symptoms.[4]
Can CBD reduce the pain caused by endometriosis?
It's rather tricky to say that CBD can reduce the pain caused by endometriosis, because, as we've just seen, scientific studies remain insufficient to prove anything.
And then there's the fact that the endocannabinoid system differs from one individual to another: some people are more sensitive than others to cannabinoids like CBD. Not to mention the fact that cannabidiol is a capricious molecule, requiring extremely precise dosage to do its work in our bodies...
Despite this, CBD's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties have been demonstrated and documented in several scientific reports. In fact, many women use CBD oil to relieve painful periods and premenstrual syndrome.
How to use CBD for endometriosis?
Remember that CBD is not harmful to your health, and if your GP agrees, you're taking no risk in testing the effects of CBD oil on your endometriosis.
Here are a few tips on how to use it.
Which product?
Although CBD oil is the most fashionable and perhaps the healthiest way to consume cannabidiol, you can use any CBD-based product to treat the pain of endometriosis. If you smoke, you can try CBD flowers, and if you vape, then test e-liquid.
The most important thing is to choose a "full spectrum" product. This means that the product contains all the cannabinoids (THC at less than 0.3%, CBN, CBG, etc.) found in hemp, as well as the terpenes. This is important, as it allows you to benefit from the entourage effect. A theory according to which the molecules contained in cannabis have a more effective synergistic effect than when isolated.
What's more, as we mentioned earlier, research is tending to show the efficacy of cannabis, not just CBD. By choosing a full spectrum CBD oil, you benefit from a faithful replica of the plant's molecular baggage.
-
THC-free 10% CBG and 10% CBD "Pain and Inflammation" oil
29,90 €10% CBG + 10% CBD oil for lasting relief of chronic pain and inflammation. A synergy of cannabinoids to soothe the body, without addiction or psychotropic effects.
✔️ THC-free, non-addictive
🇫🇷 Made in France with French ingredients in our laboratory
🧪 Total traceability: We extract the active ingredients from Hemp ourselves.
💧 10 ml bottle with dosing pipette - around 250 drops for easy, precise use -
CBD Oil 10% Full Spectrum - Nobilis Product
24,90 €Discover our Full Spectrum 10% CBD oil from hemp grown in France, without additives or GMOs. Its richness in cannabinoids and terpenes guarantees an optimal surrounding effect for deep relaxation and natural well-being. Practical 10 ml bottle with pipette for precise dosage.
Our Full Spectrum 10% CBD oil is :
🇫🇷 Manufactured from A to Z (from hemp extraction to bottling) in our French laboratory.
🧪 Made with CBD crude to provide all the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes.
✅ Analyzed by an independent laboratory for each batch to guarantee quality.
How often and in what dose?
The question of CBD dosage for endometriosis is a tricky one, as it depends on a whole host of factors: weight, age, symptom intensity, but also cannabinoid sensitivity.
In fact, each person has a unique endocannabinoid system, which determines the affinity we have (or don't have) for cannabinoids such as CBD.
However, it's customary to start with a low-dose CBD oil (between 5 and 10%) at a rate of 3 to 5 drops, 3 times a day. If no relief is observed, you can increase the number of drops or opt for a higher-dose oil. The maximum recommended dose is 1500 mg/day.
In any case, if you'd like more information, don't hesitate to contact our team!