CBD & Menopause

The menopause can be a challenging and confusing time, as the body goes through a series of chemical changes that come with emotional, physical and mental challenges. Amongst these changes, theres one that really stands out, and that is the drop in Estrogen levels.

As we will cover today, the ECS has an interesting part to play in regulating hormonal balance and the levels of Estrogen during menopause.

Studies show that fertility, reproduction, sexual appetite and menstrual cycles are all closely controlled by the ECS (1).

When taking a closer look, research has shown that the ECS actually acts as a gatekeeper controlling the secretion, sensitivity and degradation of hormones and hormonal responses including estrogen and progesterone (2).

Whats interesting is the link between the ECS and hormonal balance during menopause. If we take a close look, we can see that many of the symptoms of menopause are actually regulated by the ECS.

The ECS controls (4), (5), (6):

• Bone modelling (Osteoperosis)
• Mood swings (anxiety)
• Aches and pains (Inflammation)
• Thermoregulation (Hot Flashes)
• Sleep (Insomnia)
• Metabolism (body weight, energy)

You can actually find the ECS and cannabinoid receptors densely concentrated in areas that regulate the secretion of sex hormones like estrogen. The hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis (HPO) is where the magic happens, and it all starts in the hypothalamus.

The easy way to think of the ECS is as a gatekeeper that controls the flow of hormones in an effort to maintain continual equilibrium. Depending on what time of the month it is, the ECS will either open the flood gates on hormonal release, or rain it in. Its this cyclical process that helps keep hormones on the clock.

A perfect example is by what happens before ovulation, when levels of Anandamide are low, but rapidly increase during and after ovulation, which ends up pushing the alterations in levels of Estrogen and progesterone (3).

Its actually levels of Anandamide that are acting on the HPO axis to control the release of the above sex hormones, keeping them in equilibrium.

However, research has shown that when the menopause hits the ECS can become imbalanced, and lets slip as a gatekeeper of homeostasis allowing hormonal imbalances to creep in. Studies have shown that levels of Anandamide and 2-AG fluctuate around menopause, which cause a change in regular cycles (7).

As women make their way through menopause, the ECS is working double-time to find a new sense of balance. However, as it tries to do this there can be some nasty symptoms to deal with.

But, as we will soon see, there is plenty that can be done to help support the ECS and its balance.

Progesterone

Levels of progesterone can have an influence on levels of inflammation, mood and sleep when imbalances crop up. This interaction is because progesterone actually influences levels of Anandamide, which is a mood boosting, pro-sleep and anti-inflammatory endocannabinoid.

Progesterone does this by communicating to the ECS in bodily areas such as the ovaries and hypothalamus.

One study found that progesterone levels can be altered when CB1 receptors are activated or blocked in the hypothalamus, and the result is a change in sexual appetite in women (3).

This is exciting, because it means that one may be able to use cannabinoid like CBD to modulate the ECS in order to improve sexual appetite, theoretically.

Estrogen

Like progesterone, estrogen can also tap into the way the ECS works. It actually forms a communication loop within the ECS that revs up or dampens down its activity.

Estrogen can actually change the levels of CB1 receptors either up or down, which is different based on which brain area it is working on. Another neat interaction is that estrogen can prevent the breakdown of the bodies natural bliss chemical Anandamide (3).

So, essentially this indicates that when the ECS is out of balance, so is estrogen. So it very well might be that its actually the ECS thats responsible for a lot of the menopause symptoms though to be related to low levels of estrogen.

Get this, the perks of estrogen as an anti-inflammatory are partly because of its influence of Anandamide levels, which reduce the activity on T cells (3). Its also a similar case for the mood boosting effects of estrogen, which may actually be a result of increased anandamide levels, as well as its effect on CB1 receptor levels.

So when estrogen levels start to fall, so might some of the effects of Anandamide (anti-inflammatory, mood boosting and sleep enhancing).

This is a which came first situation, as levels of both hormones and endocannabinoids are dependent on each other. But whats evident is there are some close interactions.

Take 2-AG for example, its an endocannabinoid that has been shown to dramatically increase as women journey through menopause (7). Excessive levels of 2-AG are actually seen in metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity, which is the underlying culprit in metabolic dysfunction. This could be related to the weight increase, and blood glucose and cholesterol increases in menopause.

Anandamide also controls the equilibrium between bone synthesis and breakdown, via CB1 receptors found on bone forming and bone degrading cells (8). Hence, changes in estrogen and therefore anandamide may be involved in bone loss during menopause.

Another example is the interaction between estrogen, mood and sleep. Anandamide controls the activity of GABA neurones, which acts to calm brain, helping reduce nervousness and support sleep. So when estrogen declines, so does anandamide which loses then struggles to promote GABA responses.

CBD to The Rescue

CBD is effectively a means to buffer against ECS imbalances, by restoring the communication loops between hormones and the ECS and hormonal equilibrium.

In theory based on mechanistic research, CBD may help bolster estrogen and progesterone function by intervening downstream, at the levels of the ECS. There has been no research to my knowledge that has shown CBD to increase the levels of these hormones.

However, there is a good case to argue that many of the beneficial effects of CBD are due to increased levels of Anandamide (9), (10):

• Immune support
• Bone support
• Pain relief
• Anti-inflammatory
• Libido?
• Balanced mood
• Sleep support
• Bone support

Many of the benefits of CBD are through its ability to regulate the ECS. There’s a good case to argue that since many of the complications of menopause are similar to those of ECS imbalance, that some sort of ECS disequilibrium is involved in menopause.

CBD is a great candidate because it acts as an adaptogen, supporting balance across the ECS in ways that meet individual needs.

Check out some of CBD's other benefits.