Millions of women suffer from menstrual cramps, experiencing pain that can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that might interfere with work, life, and the general desire to do anything besides hug a heating pad and cry.
For most women staying in with a heating pad is not an option. We have to get up, grit our teeth, and keep functioning. And, doctors continue to downplay the severity of menstrual cramps, offering little more medical relief than popping a couple ibuprofen.
So it’s no wonder women have been self-treating their period pain with cannabis for centuries.
Marijuana has been known to provide pain relief and reduce inflammation as well as being an antispasmodic, and its applications for this particular condition are obvious.
With cannabis legalized to some extent in forty-six states and counting, the market is positively flooded with products designed to minimize or eliminate pain and get you back up and running. Here’s a look at the top six products that will tell your cramps to take a hike:
1. Papa and Barkley Releaf Soak – $20-$30
Some of you might rely on salt baths for cramps and other muscle aches already. The Papa and Barkley Releaf Soak takes all the goodness of hot water and salts and marries it with the pain relief of THC and CBD.
It comes in a high THC and a high CBC variety, and it’s packed with soothing essential oils like tea tree and lavender. Half a jar provides two to three hours of relief, and there are no psychoactive effects. The perfect way to end a long day.
2. Select CBD Pen – $45
This is a nice, quick and discreet option for microdosing CBD on the go. Each of these disposable pens will give you about 150 2.5 to 5 mg doses, and they come in fun scents like lavender, cinnamon, and spearmint. As a bonus, microdosing really allows you to zero in on exactly how much you need for your body.
3. Foria Relief vaginal suppositories – $44
Go straight to the source of the pain with these THC/CBD blend suppositories. Sometimes erroneously called “marijuana tampons,” suppositories are inserted directly into the vagina and coat the vaginal walls as it warms and liquefies.
These might well be your best option for pain relief, provided you have the time to lay back and let them do their thing. If you do need to get up just remember, what goes up must come down – and don’t wear your best underwear.
The better choice might be to rely on these just before bed. At $11 a pop, you really want to keep the medicine in you and get your money’s worth.
4. Love Your Lady Parts Skin Balm – $32
This might have earned a spot of this list for the name alone, but the balm really does work wonders for period pain.
It’s a topical marijuana product made from food-grade coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax – all low pH ingredients that won’t wreak havoc on your vaginal health.
Use it as a lotion for anywhere on your body that aches, rub it directly into your vulva or vagina, or scoop out a spoonful and use it as a suppository (we recommend cooling it a bit first for ease of insertion). It also functions as a massage oil and personal lubricant, if you’re looking for a different kind of relief.
5. Whoopi & Maya Savor – $14-$18
Because who doesn’t want to eat a spoonful of chocolate when they’re feeling crampy? Savor is cannabis combined with raw cacao and agave. It comes in a high THC variety or you can go for the high CBD version if you’d prefer to enjoy your chocolaty pain relief without the psychotropic effects.
Try it as a topping for ice cream or stir a scoop into a glass of warm milk with mini marshmallows for a hot chocolate that will really chase your blues away.
6. 4 Corners Cannabis CBD tincture – $60
Like the CBD pen, this is an excellent option for quick, discrete pain relief that won’t leave you potentially hampered by psychotropic effects. Tinctures are pricey, but highly concentrated. A few drops might be all you need to relieve your cramps. We like 4 Corners because it’s one of the higher purity tinctures on the market and one of the better tasting ones.
If these don’t float your boat, no worries. Check out our favorite edibles if you want to grab pain relief from tasty treats. Or, if you’re more into vaping variety, we can also recommend some of our favorites here.
