Understanding How CBD Suppositories Help Menstrual Cramps

Medically known as dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps and period pain are a direct result of your uterus contracting to expel the excess tissue and lining. These contractions are triggered by prostaglandins and other hormone-like substances that are involved in pain and inflammation. The higher the prostaglandin level, the more severe and painful the cramps.

For some, menstrual cramps can be a bearable annoyance. For many others, these cramps can be truly debilitating and interfere with everyday activities every single month.

CBD suppositories are simply pill-sized forms of CBD designed to be inserted into the vagina or rectum, where they dissolve and distribute CBD into the bloodstream to be received by the body’s cannabinoid receptors. The vaginal wall is highly porous, so any medication taken intravaginally can get absorbed directly into the bloodstream within a relatively short amount of time.

Unlike orally administered CBD, suppositories are much more direct and faster acting. When delivered via a tincture, capsule, or edible, CBD needs to be processed by your digestive system, which takes time and results in a small amount of CBD being destroyed by digestive enzymes. As suppositories are inserted internally, CBD is absorbed directly into bloodstream in its entirety, delivering fast-acting, targeted relief to the affected area.

Along with relieving period pain, vaginal CBD suppositories may help with fungal infections and vaginal dryness.

How CBD Can Help Menstrual Cramps

Research on CBD’s effects on menstrual cramps is still limited, but given what we already know, CBD shows promise as a solution for period cramps.

• Anti-inflammatory properties – Studies show that CBD may help to reduce inflammation by down-regulating cytokines, chemokines, and other pro-inflammatory compounds.
• Pain relief – Other studies also suggest that CBD may help to relieve both acute and chronic pain in all forms.
• Inhibits prostaglandins – One of the most noteworthy studies found that cannabidiolic acid, a precursor to CBD, effectively inhibits cyclooxygenase, a prominent prostaglandin. Remember, prostaglandins are a big part of why you have menstrual cramps (and other period-based symptoms) in the first place.
• Muscle relaxation – Menstrual cramps are caused and exacerbated by contracting muscles lining your uterus. CBD and other cannabinoids are known to relax muscles and prevent spasms, which can further help to ease your cramps.
• Improved blood flow – The relaxation of muscles can also support improved blood flow, allowing for more oxygen and nutrients to your uterine tissue.

After using a CBD suppository, you can expect reduced severity of and general relief from the dull aches, stabbing pains, and cramps characteristic of period pains. The duration of pain relief can vary based on you and the concentration of CBD in the suppository, but larger amounts of 100 milligrams should offer relief for at least six hours after insertion.

Are CBD Suppositories Safe?

While most health professionals advise against inserting creams, gels, or other substances into your vagina, CBD suppositories are generally considered safe. The concern has to do with pH levels. Your vagina has a sensitive pH, and even the slightest alterations to pH levels can increase your risk of bacterial or fungal infections.

Thankfully, most CBD suppositories are made using coconut oil. Coconut and other natural carrier oils are neutral and shouldn’t cause any chemical interactions that result in sudden shifts in vaginal pH.

How to Use a CBD Suppository

As mentioned, CBD suppositories can be used both rectally and vaginally. Prior to insertion, place the suppository in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, which allows the oil to solidify, allowing for easier insertion. If you regularly experience period pain, plan ahead and place the suppository in your freezer leading up to your period or at the first sign of period pain. Many manufacturers suggest inserting the suppository while lying on your back with your knees up to your chest, which keeps you comfortable as the suppository begins to melt soon after entering the body. However, if lying down is not practical or feasible, suppositories can be inserted seated or as you would a non-applicator tampon. Due to the lack of research, there isn’t a standardized amount of CBD in suppositories, and the exact concentration of CBD you need isn’t known. A 100 mg CBD suppository should dissolve and provide relief within 20 minutes after insertion. Let the suppository dissolve completely before you insert a tampon. The best time and frequency to use a CBD suppository varies based on your cycle, but we recommend using a suppository as soon as you experience your first signs of pain. Most users can safely administer a suppository every three to four hours until pain subsides.

CBD suppositories, like Endoca’s 50 mg hemp CBD suppository, can provide immense relief for your cramps and other menstrual symptoms. Consult your doctor or Ob/Gyn prior to using a CBD suppository, and if you experience any discomfort, stop use right away.

Sources:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/menstruation

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938

https://globalnews.ca/news/4464815/cbd-vaginal-suppositories/

https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/what-does-cbd-do

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/cbd-suppositories-period-menstrual-cramps-pms

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Tips to Control Back Pain

Studies suggest that, if your back pain continues for more than a few months and different treatments have not shown any benefits, it is better to focus on becoming more active than on trying to reduce the pain.  Becoming more active improves your body functions and quality of life, which ultimately reduces your back pain.  Start increasing your activity level slowly, and expect your body to feel worse in the beginning before it gets better.  Here are some tips to help you in becoming more active while suffering from persistent back pain:

1. Exercise – Begin with simple stretching and cardiovascular exercises like walking, and slowly build up to more advanced strengthening exercises like weightlifting.
2. Resolve conflicts – Resolve any family or social conflicts as these can increase your stress level and delay your recovery.
3. Continue working – Stay working, because studies have shown that work gives you a purpose in life and reduces your focus on your back pain.
4. Avoid relying on medicine – Taking medicine for pain relief can be helpful in getting you to move, but it can make recovery harder as you might begin to rely too much on medication and less on becoming more active to reduce the pain.
5. Rest and relax – Be sure to take frequent breaks during your activities, get enough sleep, and relax by doing breathing exercises.  Relaxing is important, because it can trigger your body’s natural pain-relieving responses.
6. Work through the pain – Understand that pain flare-ups are likely to happen, but do not let them slow your activity level.  Continue to work, play sports, exercise, and do household chores to relieve and recover from your back pain.

References

1. https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/causes-back-pain#1

2. https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/understanding-back-pain-symptoms

3. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/back-life-how-beat-misery-8716581

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When you think of inflammation, images of a swollen stubbed toe might come to mind. This is known as acute inflammation and is actually something that is good for your body. In this case, the immune system is doing its job, and the body’s natural defense system is running smoothly.

There is, however, another type of inflammation that isn’t good for the body. Known as chronic inflammation, this very undetectable condition is linked to a number of different health problems including cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Chronic inflammation is actually a signal that the immune system isn’t working properly. The body’s response to this comes in the form of a number of different ailments and can take a heavy toll on someone’s health. Knowing what causes chronic inflammation, however, can help one take the steps to take control of one’s health.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?

While scientists are still figuring out how inflammation works, they do know that it all begins with the immune system. When we become sick or get injured, the body sends out a fleet of white blood cells to take care of business. White blood cells help to speed along the healing process and get rid of infection. This is all a very natural and healthy process the body goes through when distressed.

However, when our immune system receives a false call, it will send out the army of white blood cells anyway. There isn’t anywhere for these cells to go, and they end up sticking around in the body for long periods of time. They eventually start doing internal damage, wreaking havoc on your health and resulting in chronic inflammation.

What causes chronic inflammation, though, and what’s making your white blood cells perpetually poised to attack something even when you aren’t sick or injured? There are a few different reasons as to what causes chronic inflammation, and knowing what they are can make a huge difference in the way you feel.

5 Causes of Chronic Inflammation

• Diet

Your diet and the foods you eat can be linked to a number of different health problems, chronic inflammation included. There are certain foods that make the body think it’s under attack, and, when these are consumed over a long period of time, the immune system begins to send out white blood cells to take care of it. Foods that are thought to have a lot to do with what causes chronic inflammation include:

• Sugar
• Refined Carbs (think white bread and pasta),
• Trans Fats (hydrogenated oil is a HUGE one),
• Excess Alcohol Consumption
• Excess of Omega 6 Fatty Acids (corn, soybean and sunflower oils, butter, and margarine)
• Gluten
• Factory-Raised Animals and Dairy Products.

• Candida

Chronic inflammation is most often associated with gut health. Candida is a fungus (a form of yeast) that lives in the intestines and helps out with digestion and your body’s natural ability to absorb nutrients. When the body produces too much candida, however, the walls of the intestine begin to break down and release nasty toxic byproducts into your bloodstream. The body perceives too much candida as a threat, resulting in inflammation.

• Environmental Toxins and Free Radicals

There are a number of environmental toxins that cause the immune system to go haywire and result in unwarranted inflammation. From the polluted air many of us breathe to the various air fresheners, household cleaners, and plastics we all use on a daily basis, there are many different toxins and free radicals floating around that can quickly lead to inflammation. Being subjected to these toxins for a long period of time can cause the development of chronic inflammation.

• Excess Weight

Carrying excess weight on the body (in the form of fat) is extremely stressful and is the cause of a myriad of different health problems including chronic inflammation. The stress this extra weight causes ultimately leads to damage, and, in turn, the immune system wants to repair this damage. Fat cells themselves (particularly those in the abdomen) produce an excess of inflammatory chemicals. Being overweight is another direct cause of chronic inflammation.

• Certain Nutrient Deficiencies

  • Vitamin D

A vitamin D deficiency can not only result in chronic inflammation but can cause depression, decreased immunity, IBS, pain, and a number of different autoimmune diseases.

• • Vitamin B (especially B6 and B12)

If you’re not getting enough of your B vitamins, this can be a direct cause of inflammation. A deficiency in your B vitamins can also be a result of inflammation. Good health (mental and physical) is strongly connected to a balance of B vitamin intake.

Coping with Chronic Inflammation

Knowing what causes chronic inflammation can help you better manage symptoms when they appear. Diet is an extremely important factor in taking control of chronic inflammation. Replacing the foods you know are responsible for chronic inflammation with foods that help reduce inflammation is central to managing your symptoms.

Getting a wide variety of different colored fruits and veggies is excellent. They’re packed with the anti-inflammatory essentials your body needs. You’ll also want to up your intake of omega 3 fatty acids, which are widely known to be great for your nervous system and heart. Omega 3s (found in salmon and other fatty fish, flaxseeds, and hempseed oil) can play a significant role in reducing chronic inflammation because they reduce the number of white blood cells going haywire in the body.

Making time to exercise and getting your body moving is another way to significantly help you reduce inflammation in the body. Exercising 45 minutes a day at least 5 days a week will not only make you feel amazing but also help in reducing chronic inflammation. Remaining stagnant is one of the major causes of inflammation. When you exercise, you’re also burning fat, which helps reduce fat cells in the body and puts less stress on the immune system.

Beyond all that, taking the time to decompress every day can also be extremely beneficial when it comes to coping with chronic inflammation. Stress is thought to be a contributing factor to chronic inflammation and should be addressed. Make time to relax at the end of each day, and learn different ways to manage stress and anxiety. There are a number of different ways to improve your mental and emotional health, and doing so will help decrease the signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation.

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However, we all know that pain is a very unpleasant experience, whether it is from an insect sting, a cut, or illness. For many people, pain is something they have to live with, and they must find ways of managing pain.

Pain has many causes, and people respond to it differently. Although everyone experiences pain differently, pain can be categorized into different types.

In this article, I will discuss different types of pain, what are the causes of pain, the symptoms of pain, and seven strategies for managing pain.

Types of Pain

While pain can be categorized in a variety of ways, the most common categories are acute or chronic pain. Acute pain happens without notice and lasts for a short period. It is usually the result of damage to your skin, bones, muscles, or internal organs. Remember the pain you felt when you cut yourself accidentally or hit your finger with a hammer? That’s acute pain.

Chronic pain continues much longer than acute pain and is typically harder to treat. Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans and can be defined as pain that extends for over six months. This type of pain is usually linked to an ongoing disease like osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. If you experience chronic pain, the pain signals can last in your body for months or years, and this can be physically and emotionally debilitating.

Causes and Symptoms of Pain

Since chronic pain affects so many people and can be so devastating, I will focus on the causes of chronic pain. While there can be a variety of reasons for your chronic pain, the most common cause is the normal aging process that is affecting your bones and joints. For example, arthritis is a common age-related disease that develops naturally in many people. Chronic pain can also develop from nerve damage due to injuries that did not heal properly.

Constant pain can also be caused by diseases that are not age-related such as AIDS, cancer, ulcers, and fibromyalgia. Recurring pain, however, can be difficult to a point that it is impossible to pinpoint its cause. Sometimes, it develops from an illness or injury, but the pain continues with a psychological origin after the cause has healed physically.  This makes developing a treatment plan problematic for medical providers and is why it is necessary to try different strategies for managing pain.

Look for these symptoms if you think you have chronic pain:

• Light to intense pain that does not stop
• Feeling a burning, sharp, or aching type of pain
• Having a general sensation of being tight, stiff, or sore
• Feel tired, weak, and lack of sleep
• Being depressed, anxious, fearful, and irritable

Ways to Manage Pain

While you cannot eliminate chronic pain, there are coping techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine to lessen the pain. The following are seven strategies you can start doing today to manage your pain:

1. Reduce the amount of stress – When you have too much stress in your life, your chronic pain feels worse. Your body becomes more sensitive to pain when you are depressed, anxious, sad, or stressed. Learn to control the stress in your life by relaxing and listening to soft music. Listen to CDs designed to relax your state of mind. Try using mental imagery, which is a type of mental escape that requires you to create a calm and peaceful picture in your head. Another way to relax is to use muscle relaxation techniques.

2. Meditate or do deep breathing exercises – Most meditation techniques involve concentrating on your breathing, clearing your mind of any thoughts, and repeating a phrase continuously. This type of meditation is claimed to release the tension from your body and allow your muscles to relax. A deep breathing technique you can try is to sit in a quiet spot, close your eyes, and focus your thoughts on an area underneath your navel. Breathe into this area, and fill your stomach with air. Slowly breathe out, and deflate your abdomen like releasing air from a balloon.

3. Document the amount of pain and activities you do – Between visits to your doctor, show him or her how you are managing your pain and the activities you do so that he or she can treat your pain better. Get a notebook, and write down your pain score every day. The pain score can be based on a pain scale from 1 to 10 with 1 for the least pain and 10 the most. Also, write down the activities you completed every day. Show your doctor this journal during each visit so that he she can understand whether your pain level is improving, whether the pain is affecting your physical abilities, and what more can be done to treat your pain.

4. Eat healthy foods – Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet is important if you are living with chronic pain. Healthy eating will help in the healing process and make you feel and look better. In this way, your constant pain will not be as apparent to you. Also, eating healthy foods reduces your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Choose low-fat and low-sodium foods like whole-grain bread, low-fat milk and cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean meats.

5. Exercise regularly – Exercise helps with chronic pain because, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are brain chemicals that block your body’s pain signals while also making you feel happier and stronger. Exercise also improves your health by reducing your weight and your risk of developing heart disease.

6. Participate in a support group – Meeting other individuals with chronic pain helps you to feel less isolated. You also learn from others what they are doing to manage their pain. Additionally, you should meet regularly with a medical professional to talk about your experience with pain.

7. Get a massage regularly – A good massage will help to relieve your body of excess stress and tension. An effective massage will also improve the blood circulation in your body and reduce the amount of pain you feel.

Conclusion

All of us have experienced pain at different levels of intensity and duration. Acute pain can sometimes have the highest intensity, but its duration is short. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can have low to medium intensity but a long duration. If you have chronic pain, the best way to manage pain is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that will reduce the stress you feel. This includes exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, meeting others with the same problem, and seeing a medical professional.

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Causes of Inflammation

If you cut or bruise yourself, inflammation is a healthy and natural bodily response to prevent infection and promote healing. Your body’s lymphatic or immune system responds to an injury by sending white blood cells to the affected area through increased blood flow. Your body’s response to the injury also brings swelling, pain, and redness to the affected area.

Your immune system, however, can overreact and attack healthy tissues, which can cause inflammation in otherwise healthy parts of your body. This is referred to as an autoimmune disorder and occurs in diseases like arthritis, celiac, and fibromyalgia. In cases where autoimmune dysfunction is not the cause, inflammation can happen when your body attempts to heal itself. For example, people with asthma often have airways in their lungs that are inflamed and swollen. Indeed, many common diseases like arthritis, diabetes, depression, cancer, and Alzheimer’s are associated with chronic inflammation.

Symptoms of Inflammation

The symptoms of inflammation include reddening, pain, and swelling of the tissues in your body due to your immune system responding to an infection or injury.  Inflammation is a common condition that almost everyone has or will experience in some form or another.

Inflammation can impact different areas of the body depending on the cause. For example, common symptoms of arthritis include inflamed and swollen arm, finger, or leg joints. Arthritis occurs when the tissues in your joints wear out, causing bare bones to move against each other. Your body attempts to heal itself by increasing blood flow to the affected area, which causes inflammation and pain.

Although inflammation can cause much discomfort and suffering, many experts say that it is part of the natural healing process your body must go through, and it should not be eliminated. However, some types of inflammation, such as those caused by arthritis, never heal and become chronic.

Foods That Increase Inflammation

The traditional treatment for inflammation is to use over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, but these drugs often have side effects such as dizziness, rashes, and nausea. Also, certain individuals cannot take them such as people with heart problems, pregnant women, and those with high blood pressure.

What is a good way to help control inflammation?  The answer is to eat fewer foods that tend to increase inflammation and eat more foods that reduce inflammation.

Foods that increase inflammation include those high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates. Other inflammation-promoting foods include carbonated beverages, red meat, and processed meats. To reduce inflammation, limit eating the following foods:

• Carbonated beverages (soda) and other sugar-sweetened drinks
• Refined carbohydrates like pastries and white bread
• French fries
• Margarine, lard, and shortening
• Red meat like hamburgers and steaks
• Processed meat like hot dogs

Foods That Help Reduce Inflammation

Foods that help reduce inflammation include those found in the Mediterranean diet. A Mediterranean diet consists primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables, foods high in omega-3s, and foods lacking in red meat, chemicals, or additives. Foods in the Mediterranean diet come from three food categories that are known to lower inflammation: antioxidant foods, minerals, and essential fatty acids. The following are foods found in the Mediterranean diet:

• Dark green vegetables – Research studies have found that vitamin E might help to protect your body from cytokines, which are molecules that promote inflammation. Dark green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and kale contain significant amounts of cytokines. Compared to lighter-colored vegetables, dark green vegetables also have large quantities of vitamins and minerals that are good for your body.

• Fatty fish – Eat oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel. They contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and help to lower inflammation. To get the most benefits, you should eat oily fish at least a couple of times per week, and you should cook it by baking or boiling it. If you are not too fond of fish, you can take fish-oil supplements. Hemp oil inflammation products also have amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. (We covered this extensively in our article “What is Linoleic Acid?”)

• Whole grains – Whole grains contain more fiber, and studies have shown that more fiber in your diet can lower inflammation. Eat more whole grains and fewer foods made from refined grains such as rice, pasta, and white bread. However, when looking for whole grain foods, make sure that whole grain is the first ingredient as some products labeled as “whole grain” lack sufficient amounts of the substance.

• Nuts – A major component of the Mediterranean diet, nuts contain high amounts of calcium, fiber, vitamin E, and antioxidants. Studies have shown these ingredients to help reduce inflammation and slow the aging process.

• Low-fat dairy – Dairy products contain casein, which has been shown to cause inflammation for people with low tolerance to it. However, for individuals who can ingest casein, low-fat dairy products are an excellent source of nutrients and probiotics, which can lower inflammation in your digestive system.

• Soy – Soy and soy products contain isoflavones, which have been found to decrease inflammation in women. Additionally, an animal study from 2007 found that isoflavones reduced inflammation in the bones and hearts of mice. When choosing soy, try to avoid highly processed soy and, instead, eat more tofu, soy milk, and boiled soybeans.

• Ginger – Commonly used in Asian and Indian foods, ginger is a vegetable that has high anti-inflammatory properties. It also has been shown to boost your body’s immune system and help cleanse your body of toxins. Ginger can be taken as a supplement as well as in a dried or fresh form.

• Garlic – Garlic is a powerful immune-boosting vegetable that acts like pain medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen. It works by closing pathways in your body that promote inflammation. It is also available as a supplement or capsule for those who want to avoid bad breath after eating garlic.

Conclusion

Inflammation is the result of typical responses of your body in fighting off infection and promoting healing after an injury or sickness. However, autoimmune and chronic inflammation are not healthy, and what you eat can either contribute to inflammation or reduce it.

Have you ever had inflammation because of a poor diet? Did you reduce your inflammation by eating some of the foods discussed in this article? Let me know in the comments.

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