Posted by veriheal on 12/19/2023 in Ailments and Conditions
As positive cannabis reform sweeps across America, more people are starting to ask valid questions about cannabis consumption. Questions such as, can cannabis consumption lead to a hormonal imbalance? Years ago, people would have responded to questions like this with hearsay and opinions. Today, however, it’s a different story. Don’t get me wrong, we still have hearsay and opinions, but we also have some research to turn to help us better evaluate how cannabis may affect our hormones.
Cannabis legalization has led to a broader understanding of cannabinoid science as a field once hampered by federal laws is moving past these archaic and draconian hurdles that previously were in the way of research. Let’s explore the subject of hormonal imbalance and cannabis consumption together to learn what hormones are, how hormonal imbalances affect us, and if cannabis consumption plays a role in hormonal imbalances.
Hormones are abundant in our body. We have them from birth. As we age, our hormones change with us. It’s common to deal with hormonal teenagers, but it’s not just our hormones that can make us feel that way. Substances that are not inherently hormones can transform or mimic hormones, challenging what was once the accepted definition of a hormone.
“Starling’s original definition of a hormone from 1905 was, “A hormone is a substance produced by glands with internal secretion, which serve to carry signals through the blood to target organs.” Today, this definition is understood to be lacking, but newer definitions also do not encompass the entire meaning of hormones as specific carriers of information. One main problem is that there is no delineation between hormones and other signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth factors, or autacoid compounds. It seems that a precise definition is not even possible, since some cytokines and growth factors, such as the cytokines erythropoietin, lipocalin-2, and asprosin or fibroblast growth factor 23, act as hormones under certain conditions.” –NCBI
By definition today, hormones are chemical compounds produced by the body that work with the endocrine system to mitigate a variety of functions. John Hopkins Medicine says, “The endocrine system uses hormones to control and coordinate your body’s internal metabolism (or homeostasis) energy level, reproduction, growth and development, and response to injury, stress, and environmental factors.”
When our hormone levels become imbalanced, having too much or not enough, it affects our body. Hormonal imbalances are a real thing, and they can greatly alter our lives.
Common Hormones:
A hormonal imbalance occurs when our body produces too little or too much of a certain hormone. Angry men are commonly referred to as having too much testosterone. When a woman’s monthly visitor comes around, it can cause hormonal feelings. Some symptoms of hormonal imbalance are as follows:
Many of these issues are ones that cannabis can help with. A variety of different factors can contribute to a hormonal imbalance, and everyday life is often the culprit. Finding a balance is what most people find to be difficult. Research shows us that the following issues can contribute to a hormonal imbalance:
Medical News Today says, “Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the blood. Symptoms depend on which hormone is out of balance and the person’s natal sex. Common symptoms include weight changes, lower sex drive, and acne. Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system.”
There are two types of hormonal imbalances: chronic and temporary. Temporary is, of course, a short-lived or easily correctable hormonal imbalance, whereas a chronic hormonal imbalance is much more serious and difficult to treat. Doctors use various prescription drugs and therapies to treat and manage hormonal imbalances.
These may include:
Medical treatment isn’t always needed to correct a hormonal imbalance. There are things a person can do to help correct a hormonal imbalance, such as eating a healthy diet, partaking in light to moderate exercise, and developing healthy sleep habits. These smart lifestyle choices can help correct or even prevent a hormonal imbalance. Additionally, many people look towards natural ways to help control hormonal imbalances.
People often seek out green tea, mushroom teas, yoga, essential oils, etc., as homeopathic methods to control hormonal imbalances. Another natural way to help hormones may also be found in medical marijuana. The many therapeutic terpenes and cannabinoids present in cannabis hold all kinds of opportunities for people who embrace them. Let’s explore cannabis and hormones.
Cannabis may or may not affect hormone levels, depending on who you ask. In this writer’s opinion, they most certainly affect hormone levels–fortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean they change for the worse. You can be as mad as a hornet, and a few puffs of some funky stuff can change your mood and improve your attitude. Cannabis’s known effects include enhancing sexual experiences for both men and women by promoting arousal and relaxation, and it can help with eating disorders, stress, diabetes, and more.
In men, the NCBI says, “Marijuana affects a variety of hormones that are regulated by hypothalamic function, and it appears that the psychoactive ingredient, THC, is the major compound responsible for this action.”
In women, research suggests, “Overall findings from human and animal studies suggest that acute Δ9-THC suppresses the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus, preventing these hormones from stimulating the release of prolactin and the gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), from the anterior pituitary.”
Outdated federal cannabis laws, which categorize this medicinal plant as a Schedule I Drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for addiction and abuse, limit scientific research. Most studies have primarily involved animals. According to the National Centers for Biotechnology Information, “Animal models have demonstrated that cannabinoid administration acutely alters multiple hormonal systems, including the suppression of the gonadal steroids, growth hormone, prolactin, and thyroid hormone and the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.”
Cannabis can most certainly affect hormone levels, but so can pretty much everything else in life. Finding a balance is a good goal for anyone looking to live a more fulfilling lifestyle. Cannabis may help you find that balance, but it won’t help you achieve or maintain it alone, so make smart, healthy decisions when you can. If you think you have issues with hormone levels, talk with your doctor. If left unchecked, they could lead to serious health complications.
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