To be honest I don’t know a huge amount about CBD oil (i’m learning though) but I have tried two brands.
The CBD market has skyrocketed in recent years. When i first looked into using CBD year ago I found the information online quite confusing. Dosage, quantity, contractions etc.
The first is a brand I tried was fourfive, which I used for a few weeks before switching to Dragonfly.
I swapped because I was approached by Dragonfly CBD to see if i would like to try their product and write about it.
I don’t say yes to everyone (I’m not that kinda gal these days!)
I’m picky with the brands I review on my blog. The brands I try must be alignment with my philosophy and beliefs.
My Review
17th March to April 8th, I have been using the Narrow Spectrum Dragonfly CBD Oil 300mg, 10ml £19.50
This is the lowest/weakest concentration Dragonfly sell. I used three drops at night before bed and made sure i let the oil sit under the tongue for a couple of minutes to allow the oil to be absorbed.
I am post -menopause so I cannot say if the oil has helped meno symptoms but I know women who swear by it for their symptoms.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how CBD has helped me because I use other supplements, habits and practises for my health and wellbeing.
Sleep
The main thing I noticed was the quality of my sleep. Good sleep is non-negotiable for me as I get moody, tired and it affects my eating habits if I don’t get enough or decent quality. My sleep is usually pretty good but I do go through stages of waking during the night which is usually linked to blood glucose dis-regulation and high cortisol.
I have used an Oura ring for the last year which helps me track my sleep, energy, movement and HRV and it helps me notice patterns to my overall well-being. What I have noticed is that since taking CBD i have been having better sleep cycles and my deep sleep quantity and quality is improved. HURRAH!
Pain – I sometimes have a tendency to muscle tightness and joint pain. Daily movement, stretching and mobility is a must to keep those pains away. That daily movement hasn’t been so daily (whoops) but my pain/tightness is ok since taking CBD.
Mood – Again it’s hard to say if CBD has helped but when I first started taking it my mood and energy was great. In fact the best it has been for many months. I’m sure the CBD has helped but I have also been committed to looking after my mental health in other ways too.
Will I continue?
I will continue to use CBD and now play with the dosage. I started on the lowest dose as less is more when starting with CBD and I will now increase and see how i react.
Cons – The 10ml bottle lasted me three weeks at 3 drops a night so it didn’t last very long.
I asked Dragonfly if they could provide me and my readers with some information around CBD and menopause.
As you can see, they have supplied some great information.
Dragonfly have kindly offered my community a 15% discount if you would like to try it.
CBD and Menopause
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (‘CBD’) is a chemical found in the same plant that makes cannabis. There are over 113 identified compounds in the crop! Unlike the chemical in marijuana that gets you “high”, ‘THC’, it does not have any psychoactive effects. It also doesn’t have the same negative side effects of withdrawal and tolerance. CBD is entirely different from smoking marijuana, and the World Health Organisation has stated that you can’t get addicted to it. Instead, CBD can give you many positive benefits such as pain and anxiety relief, without any unpleasant effects.
Whilst to date there have been no studies analysing the effects of CBD exclusively on menopausal women, there have been many conducted on associated issues.
Sleep
As the quality of our sleep can be a great indicator of what’s going on inside our bodies, it’s no wonder that menopause can cause disturbances. Sleep issues are so common in menopause, with a staggering 40% of women in their late 40’s to early 50’s experiencing sleep complaints.
Sleep improvement is one of the widest known benefits of CBD Oil. A study by Dragonfly CBD found that 27% of customers used CBD Oil mainly to aid sleep. It’s theorised that CBD improves sleep by affecting the release of cortisol, a stress hormone that is high in those with insomnia at night. Cortisol levels have been shown to decrease significantly when taking CBD, showing potential for acting as a sedative. This same clinical study found that 66% of participants reported their sleep improving after taking CBD! These sleep scores fluctuated over time, but it’s benefits are clear, leading to use by many with insomnia.
Anxiety and mental health
Due to hormone fluctuations, many women also experience issues with anxiety during menopause. Anxiety issues in menopause are often down to large changes in levels of estrogen and progesterone. This is so common that it’s usually referred to as ‘menopause anxiety’! On top of this stress, anxiety levels are currently at all-time high following months of isolation and lockdown.
A study of Dragonfly CBD customers found more people using CBD for anxiety than any other issue, with over 35% taking it for anxiety or stress. It’s not fully understood exactly how CBD works to treat anxiety, but it’s theorised that it interacts with the central nervous system. One study conducted on mice found that CBD had an antidepressant like effect, similar to the medication imipramine.
Furthermore, CBD has also been found to have beneficial effects for those with many different mental illnesses. CBD has shown to be promising for treating conditions such as schizophrenia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD and Tourettes. Whilst more evidence is needed, the sheer number of testimonies from those that suffer from anxiety is a testament to it’s potential.
Cognitive function
Around the time that women enter menopause, many report experiencing issues with memory. This is believed to possibly be related to estrogen levels. This can be distressing for many women, especially as impaired memory is an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia. As memory issues are more common with age, neuroprotection is a common concern of anyone that’s getting older.
Neuroprotection is the process within your body that protects your nervous system. The Journal of Neurochemistryhas found that CBD is both neuroprotective and an anti-oxidative. This protects your body from ‘oxidative stress’- damage that is caused by unstable reactive molecules in your brain and body. Oxidative stress has been linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis- as well as memory loss and depression. The study concluded that CBD use had resulted in a higher rate of cell survival- and whilst more studies are needed, many scientists recognise the great promise of CBD for preventing neurodegeneration.
Digestive Aid
Many women going through menopause also report digestive problems. This is as hormone changes disrupt the gut’s natural rhythm. Much like in the rest of the body, any digestive issues during menopause are down to inflammation. It’s especially important to take care of your gut as the ‘gut-brain axis’ means that the two are linked and can affect each other!
Studies on mice with inflamed intestines have shown that CBD Oil relieve their pain and gut inflammation, although human studies are needed. CBD has been found to inhibit inflammatory pain, which is one of the most difficult types to treat. It also reduces gastric acid secretion and inflammation, showing promise for those with acid reflux issues and IBS. This makes CBD a great relief for those suffering with digestive issues during menopause, or at any stage of their life.
