By: Ganja Goddess
It’s that time of the month again. Staying in, canceling plans, eating brownies, and curling up in bed with hot tea and a heating pad while watching as much streaming TV as possible, all in an attempt to ignore the stabbing pain in your back and the cramps in your abdomen. If this sounds like your monthly ritual, you’re not alone. More than 90% of women experience monthly dysmenorrhea, the medical term for painful periods. For many women, the period itself is the problem. However, for others, the mood swings, lethargy, and fogginess that precede the period in the form of PMS are so bad the period feels like relief.
Managing period symptoms is a big topic of conversation on period apps, and in real life. Many a friendship has started over a shared tampon or pain reliever. One tracking app, Clue, even conducted a survey of 4,000 women of menstruation age. Found that cramps are just the tip of the iceberg; 49% of women surveyed experience neural symptoms like headache or lightheaded, 40% experience fatigue, 37% experience backache, and 26% of women experience some form of nausea. Although, with so many women experiencing these symptoms, how come the topic of weed as a form of period pain management almost never comes up?
Sure, there are no published scientific studies of cannabis and women’s periods, specifically, but cannabis is well known as a pain reliever, nausea inhibitor, and mood booster. It’s still considered taboo for women to talk about their bodies freely, and even though there have been attempts to get dysmenorrhea added to the with the very long list of ailments treatable by medical marijuana, it hasn’t happened yet. However, like many female stoners know, it’s highly effective. So have no fear, there’s no need to become a shut in for several days every month. These five strains are chosen because they help relieve symptoms of PMS and periods, so that you can remain mood balanced and pain free throughout the reproductive cycle.
For Mood Swings
A combination of Northern Lights, Haze and Skunk, Silver Haze is a long-lasting strain of cannabis has a reputation for producing a calm and uplifting high for days when you want a chill day at home with small tasks. It eases pain and produces a serene, positive high and is great for addressing any mood related issues during your cycle.
For Nausea and Lack of Energy
Everyone knows life doesn’t stop just because of your period. Sour Diesel is a well-known sativa strain that’s perfect if you want to treat your symptoms and go about your day. Sour Diesel is often used to increase appetite and relieve depression and nausea. It starts off as an energizing high but, mellows out later so while it could help you operate at high efficiency; it might be better to use at night as a sleep aid.
For an Overall Boost
?Peach Diesel is a sativa-dominant hybrid strain that has a sweet flavor with a creamy effect that produces an immediate burst of energy, making it a strong choice for focused tasks and to combat lethargy for overall period support.
For Backaches and Cramps
Blue Dream is considered a cannabis staple and an excellent choice for individuals who are new to marijuana. It’s fast-acting without heavy sedative effects, making it good for daytime use. It balances full body relaxation with a cerebral high and is popular for use in treating pain and nausea.
For PMS
White Widow is a balanced Indica-sativa hybrid is commonly used for pain relief, headaches, stress relief and easing symptoms of depression, making it perfect for PMS. The mood boosting high can create a cerebral, creative experience, making you feel creative and like you’re operating with high effectiveness.
