People have been using cannabis to treat pain for centuries. According to History.com, in the 1830s, Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy realized that cannabis extract was able to lessen the stomach pain and vomiting associated with cholera. Nowadays many people are using weed to alleviate pain. Seniors with chronic pain opt for cannabis and migraine suffers reach for cannabis to alleviate their pain. Women are also reaching for weed to alleviate their menstrual cramps too. Smoking weed is one way people alleviate cramps but have you ever heard of weed tampons? Here is everything you need to know about them.
Do Weed Tampons for Menstrual Cramps Actually Work?
For many women, they do. There have been talks of Harvard doing a study with 400 women in 2018 but we weren’t able to locate the results. However many women have documented their experience with weed tampons online.
In a review published by Vice, the author said, “Within 20 minutes, my cramps totally disappeared.”
In a Buzzfeed video, two women who usually have period cramps tried tampons with weed. One of the women who used it how it was intended, reported that it works and she is clear-headed. The other woman said she didn’t feel any pain and likened the experience to taking an Advil.
Another woman, wrote an article for She Knows sharing her experience with a weed tampon. She said, “Within half an hour, my cramps were gone. Not only were they gone, but my entire middle section felt gooey in the best possible way.” She continues, “my cramps didn’t return the next morning, as they usually do. When they’re bad, they’re bad — and they last for 24 hours. Yet I didn’t have to insert a second Relief suppository — the effect continued, and the cramps never returned”.
None of the women who just inserted the tampon with weed vaginally reported being high.
Review of CBD Tampons
Healthline reported on CBD-only tampons. There isn’t supposed to be any THC in these tampons but as you know trace amounts of THC are found in some CBD products. In case you’re wondering, Healthline said it is rare for that THC to show up on a test.
Since THC is useful in pain relief, you may be wondering if CBD tampons can be effective in pain management. According to the reviews of the CBD tampons, it appears that it can be but using a tampon is challenging for some people.
One user said in Healthline, “My cramps didn’t return the next morning, as they usually do. When they’re bad, they’re bad — and they last for 24 hours. Yet I didn’t have to insert a second Relief suppository — the effect continued, and the cramps never returned”
Another person with endometriosis said, “The CBD was really useful, and I don’t doubt its effects. The problem was with the application,” she says. “It’s well known that a lot of endo sufferers struggle with tampons due to pain, so the discomfort sort of outweighed the positive effect of the CBD. For me, I’m not sure if it was actually useful.”
How Do Weed Tampons Work?
There are several types of weed tampons and we’ll discuss a couple below. However, how they’re used is pretty universal; just insert it as with a normal tampon. Some are not really tampons and just suppositories with cannabinoids. In that case, you’ll still need to use another product to absorb the blood.
You may still be wondering how exactly they work. Well, according to Dr. Jennifer Berman, a prominent doctor, the cannabinoids are directly absorbed into the bloodstream. Dr. Jennifer Berman was quoted in Vice saying “When a medicine is delivered through the mucosa of the vagina, rather than orally or [as] a topical treatment, it is directly absorbed into the bloodstream.”
The article went on to say that cannabis relaxes muscle and since the uterus is a muscle it’s effective. According to Vice, THC is effective in blocking pain while CBD reduces inflammation by working with the immune system.
The Role of the Entourage Effect
There are still debates about whether or not the entourage effect is real. The CEO of Fiori, an American company that makes weed tampons says that the entourage effect is the reason why the product (and others made by the company) is so effective. The CEO whose name is Mathew Gerson was quoted in Business Insider saying, “We now know that the minute you break this plant apart into its component parts, you lose some of the magic. And that sounds like hippie speak – but this is proven out again and again in study after study that the entourage effect as we understand it is real.”
Are Weed Tampons Safe?
They definitely are but there are some things to bear in mind.
Before trying weed tampons, you may want to see a doctor about the pain if you can’t function normally. You could be suffering from fibroids, endometriosis, or another condition. There may be birth control changes, diet changes, or other things you may be able to do to help you.
Seeing a doctor is also a great idea to see if the weed tampon would interfere with any of your medication or condition like liver problems.
According to Healthline, “Inserting anything into the vagina can cause irritation and possibly infection”. Therefore, you should be aware of any changes as a result of the tampon. In addition to that, tampons can cause toxic shock syndrome and so you should seek a doctor if you start experiencing flu like symptoms after using it. Remember some weed ‘tampons’ are just suppositories and you’ll need to use an actual period product to absorb the blood.
Which Weed Tampon Should I Get?
Since weed tampons are not really regulated you’ll have to do some research. Rachna Patel, who is an expert in cannabis medicine was quoted in Healthline saying, “Here in the United States, a lot of these products haven’t been tested for contamination. So, pesticides and solvents that grow with the plants can also be absorbed into our system.” Opting for organic products mean there is a lesser chance of being exposed to those harmful compounds.
Patel suggests seeking medical advice as well as getting lab results. Remember to check where the product comes from, evidence of third-party lab testing, make sure the labeling is transparent, and that check the ingredients.
Whichever you pick, Healthline suggests starting with a low dose first. The perfect dose for you depends on how your body weight, body chemistry etc.
Conclusion
We’re waiting on science to do more research on weed tampons. However, based on the reviews, weed tampons appear to be an effective way to reduce pain from cramps without having to use other medications. If you’re interested in trying it, it’s a great idea to talk to a doctor about your period pain, possible interactions with medication, and other issues. You should also do research on the product before trying it so that you get a good quality product.
