CBD for PMS : 8 Ways It May Help You

This article has been medically reviewed by Doctor Ramlah Tariq FCPS on/gyn, RMP, MBBS, BSc. You can read more about our medical review policy here.

Periods and PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are a part of life. And while it all might feel like a nuisance, they are important. Periods are an outward sign that our body is healthy and working as it should. 

However, if you are one of the many women who suffers every month from period pain and pesky PMS symptoms, you might not welcome your monthly visitor with open arms.

There are natural remedies that may help to make those symptoms a little more manageable. The one we will take a good look at is CBD for PMS and to help your periods.

Here are 8 ways CBD for PMS may help you:

1. Sleep 

As your hormones adjust during the luteal phase of your cycle there is decreased melatonin secretions. This can explain why you sleep poorly during the lead up to your period.

CBD may help you to get a good night’s rest, even with these hormone changes. A dose of CBD each evening on its own or with a chamomile tea, may help you to fully relax and drift off into a deep sleep as proved by research..

2. Food cravings

Food cravings are caused by fluctuations of serotonin as well as estrogen and cortisol during PMS. When there is not enough of this brain chemical it can lead you to crave certain foods, especially carbs. CBD for PMS food cravings is thought to work by helping your body to unlock and make use of its own serotonin. 

It is also proved by researches done for the studies of anxiolytic effects of CBD. Moreover, CBD when studied for depressive disorders in rats showed promising results in decreasing hyperphagia (excessive eating) associated with depression or PMS.

This may prevent you from that empty, sugar craving, bottomless feeling where you could eat the entire contents of the fridge and not feel satisfied. 

3. Aches and pains

We go into way more depth about period pains on our blog here. In a nutshell, it may help to relax smooth muscle tissue, which is the tissue that tenses up and contracts causing those dull monthly aches. There’s lots of research on this, which you can read about here.

4. Low mood

Do you feel abit flat in the lead up to your period? Like you can’t quite smile or even sing along to a song in the car? This low mood is a common PMS issue that CBD may be able to help.

As with food cravings, it comes back to how CBD may help you to use your serotonin. This feel good chemical can then boost your mood and leave you singing to Spice Girls at full volume again (or is that just me?)

5. Hormonal headaches

A hormonal headache can be caused by fluctuations in hormones. This is because of estrogen which controls the chemicals in the brain which relate to pain. When these levels drop to trigger your period they can also cause a headache.

CBD has been said to alter how you perceive pain by working with CB1 and CB2 receptors.  

6. Anxiety

Heart like a box of frogs? Having a pre period sense of dread? Feeling anxious is a common PMS symptom due to the rise of cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone (hormones) just before your period starts. Sometimes, it may be due to the level of serotonin in your body. 

CBD may help with this PMS symptom as it is said to encourage your body to use serotonin, increase prefrontal cortex activation and help you to feel relaxed. We use some really big words and go deep into this topic here on our blog.

7. Mood swings

Mood swings are probably one of the first symptoms that come to mind when you think PMS. One minute you are laughing, the next crying, then you are filled with rage because your other half hasn’t done the [insert irritation here].

They can make you feel quite unpredictable. CBD oil may help to relax you and send you into a more level state, with fewer ups and downs.

8. Endo flare ups

Endo pain is more than a PMS symptom that CBD may help with. CBD oil is an anti-inflammatory. Endo flare ups are spikes of inflammation in the body among other things. If you can help to calm these spells of flare ups, you may find yourself in much less pain and able to fully function in your daily life. There is still need for further research on this topic.

We’ve got more information on endo flare ups here.

Is there any proof that CBD oil could help with PMS?

We thought the best proof we could share with you would be some real life reviews from people who have tried, tested and now swear by CBD for PMS.

‘I had used CBD e-liquid but only when I was at home as I found it could make me light-headed. Our Remedy, I have found that using CBD consistently in the form of drops doesn’t make me feel light-headed and works much better than using it as and when.

Using this CBD every day helps to keep my pains at bay. With the help of Our Remedy and having a Mirena coil now it is very rare for me to have a flare-up. My mood swings are nowhere near as bad as they were before I started using it.

Kim, 25