Say Goodbye to Pain: Best Weed for Period Cramps

• • Menstrual cramps are a monthly nuisance for the majority of people who menstruate. For some, like those with endometriosis, they can seriously inhibit daily life.

• • Over-the-counter pain relievers and hormonal birth control can reduce pain, but these aren’t an option for everyone. Cannabis is a natural, holistic alternative that targets physical pain as well as mental symptoms like brain fog, sadness, and anxiety.

• • Several indica, sativa, and hybrid strains are particularly effective at reducing inflammation, boosting mood, promoting sleep, and, most importantly, relieving menstrual cramps: Purple Kush, Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, and more.

Great—it’s that time of the month again. (Did you catch our sarcasm?)

For people who menstruate, monthly periods can trigger a host of unpleasant symptoms like mood swings, fatigue, and headaches. But what is the symptom that takes the cake in causing pain? Menstrual cramps.

Cramps can disrupt daily life for hours and even days if not managed effectively. Yet people frequently overlook them or don’t seek help when they need it.

You don’t have to soldier on through your day when menstrual cramps are warring inside you.

Cannabis may be the natural, holistic pain treatment you need to fight menstrual cramps. Sativa, indica, and hybrid strains alike all offer blissful reprieve from period pain—and they can help with the emotional side of things, too. TeleLeaf has the details on the six best strains below.

Menstrual Cramps: A Monthly Battle with Pain and Discomfort

People who menstruate experience both physical and mental symptoms before and during their period, also known as premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Common PMS symptoms can include:

• Menstrual cramps
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Tender breasts
• Mood swings
• Fatigue and sleep issues
• Irritability, depression, or anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating

Cramps are one of the most prevalent period symptoms; they affect about 60% of people who menstruate.

Cramping occurs when your uterus contracts in order to shed its uterine lining, A.K.A. your period. You may feel pain in your lower abdomen that radiates out to your back, hips, or inner thighs. Cramps typically begin within a day or two of your period and last for a day or two after it starts.

While most cramps are a natural part of the menstrual cycle and usually don’t require medical attention, they can cause enough pain to inhibit your normal routine and impact your work, sleep, and physical activity.

Signs of Underlying Issues

Most people who experience menstrual cramps only feel mild pain. However, for 5–15% of people (or more), the pain is severe and even debilitating.

Severely painful periods are not normal; they often indicate that you have an underlying medical issue affecting your reproductive organs, such as:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids (benign uterine growths)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• A congenital condition

Endometriosis occurs when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, which causes extreme pelvic pain during periods as well as during sex or urination. And it’s more common than you’d think—it impacts about 1 in 10 people who menstruate.

Managing Menstrual Cramps
Whether you experience mild menstrual cramps or severe period pain, relief is possible.

Currently, there are a few traditional medications used to manage menstrual cramps, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen and naproxen
• Acetaminophen
• Hormonal birth control like “the pill,” “the patch,” or “the ring”

While these treatments are effective for pain relief for some, they don’t work for everyone.

Fortunately, there’s a natural, holistic alternative: cannabis.

How Cannabis Controls Period Pain and More

Cannabis contains many natural chemicals, including dozens of compounds known as cannabinoids. You’ve probably already heard of two: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

These cannabinoids are nearly identical to the cannabinoids in your own body (called endocannabinoids), which help regulate essential internal functions like pain perception, inflammatory responses, mood, and appetite.

When you use cannabis, these cannabinoids flood your endocannabinoid system (ECS) and interact with ECS receptors, triggering physical and emotional changes that can relieve PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps.

While you feel relaxed and euphoric, these cannabinoids are hard at work reducing pain. Cannabis relieves period cramp pain in two ways:

1. It reduces the inflammation triggered by uterine contractions
2. It minimizes your perception of period pain

Not only does cannabis target the physical symptoms of PMS, it can also manage the mental and emotional ones. Cannabis can:

• Uplift your mood
• Alleviate stress and anxiety
• Improve focus
• Promote sleep

Can you say the same for traditional pain relievers?

Cannabis can’t be prescribed like a normal medication, however. In states where cannabis is only allowed for medical use, you need a medical marijuana recommendation from a licensed physician in order to access it.

Unfortunately, period pain and endometriosis aren’t conditions that qualify for medical marijuanas cards, at least explicitly. However, there are several states, like Louisiana, where your physician can recommend marijuana use if you have a debilitating condition they believe can be treated with cannabis.

Online medical marijuana recommendation services like TeleLeaf can help you find out if you qualify, risk-free. Learn more and schedule an appointment today.

Cannabis Strains for Period Cramp Relief

There are many different types, or strains, of cannabis. While each has special healing properties to offer, there are some that are particularly celebrated for relieving period pain and other premenstrual symptoms.

Cannabis strains are normally divided into three categories:

• Sativa strains – These are typically high THC, low CBD strains. They’re known to stimulate the mind, alleviate anxiety, and most importantly, reduce pain. If you want to banish period brain fog and relieve menstrual cramps, choose a sativa-dominant strain.
• Indica strains – Indica strains are often used as a deeply relaxing sleep aid, partially due to their higher CBD content. Where sativa produces a “mind high,” indica produces what some call a “body high,” perfect for soothing the aches and pains that accompany your period.
• Hybrid strains – When cannabis growers breed sativa and indica strains together, they create new strains known as hybrids. The THC and CBD contents vary between hybrids, which modifies their effects. Through hybridization, growers can produce unique strains tailored to target specific symptoms, including menstrual cramps.

These descriptions serve more as general guidelines; some sativa strains behave more like indica varieties and vice versa. Your experience with these strains may also depend on other factors, like your size, weed tolerance, and how much you consume.

Here are some superior period pain-relieving strains to look for at the dispensaries or pharmacy:

1. Purple Kush – Indica; 17–22% THC. This strain is known to soothe chronic pain and muscle spasms, which can come in handy when your uterus starts contracting. It also promotes deep relaxation and can be used to manage period-related sleep issues.
2. Blue Dream – Hybrid; 30% THC. This potent strain relieves PMS symptoms like a dream. It targets everything from pain, cramps, and inflammation, to brain fog and sleep troubles. Note the high THC content, though—it may be best suited for more experienced users.
3. Sour Diesel – Sativa; 20–22% THC. This sativa strain will put your pain to sleep while keeping your mind wide awake, minus any stress and anxiety you’re feeling.
4. LA Confidential – Indica; 16–20% THC. This strain is perfect for first-time cannabis users who want to relax and relieve period pain thanks to its lower yet effective THC content.
5. Pineapple Express – Hybrid; 23% THC. Hop on this citrusy train for reprieve from severe pain and period brain.
6. Do-Si-Dos – Hybrid; 21–30% THC. Despite the name, this indica-dominant strain will leave you feeling incredibly calm. It’s known to relieve both chronic and acute pain, so it’s perfect for menstrual cramps.

Non-Psychoactive Alternatives: CBD Products

Sometimes, you may want to relieve pain without getting high. You might have important tasks to accomplish that require total focus, or maybe you just don’t care for the feeling. If that’s the case, try CBD.

CBD products come in a wide variety of forms, such as:

• Edibles
• Vapes
• Oils and tinctures
• Capsules
• Topical lotions

While THC is the main pain-relieving cannabinoid in cannabis, CBD is also able to soothe pain and inflammation. And if you experience low moods or anxious thoughts leading up to your period, CBD can soothe those, too.

Explore Natural Pain Management with TeleLeaf

Not everyone wants to rely on birth control and ibuprofen to keep menstrual cramps at bay. Cannabis is a legitimate and effective treatment option for many people who menstruate. Could it be right for you, too?

You can find out if your condition qualifies you for a medical marijuana recommendation, all from the comfort and safety of a video call. TeleLeaf’s highly experienced, state-licensed clinicians will assess your symptoms and guide you on your personal path to healing. Don’t qualify? Don’t worry—you’ll receive a full refund, guaranteed.

Schedule your online appointment now and learn why so many patients trust TeleLeaf for our weed wisdom and compassionate service.

Sources:

Office on Women’s Health. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
https://www.womenshealth.gov/

Cleveland Clinic. Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps).
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/

World Health Organization. Endometriosis.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis

Healthline. A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system

Marijuana Policy Project. Overview of the Louisiana Therapeutic Marijuana Act.
https://www.mpp.org/states/louisiana/overview-of-louisianas-medical-cannabis-law/

Healthline. Sativa vs. Indica: What to Expect Across Cannabis Types and Strains.
https://www.healthline.com/health/sativa-vs-indica

Healthline. Cannabis 101: A Guide to Indica Strains.
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system

Healthline. Cannabidiol (CBD): What We Know and What We Don’t.
https://www.healthline.com/health/your-cbd-guide