Does CBD Affect Hormones?

You have probably heard how CBD may interact with your brain and the central nervous system to produce some desired results ranging from assisting with mood imbalance to aiding with physical discomforts.

But how may CBD affect your body’s endocrine system?

The endocrine system is a network of glands responsible for producing hormones, which in turn control everything from sleep to hunger to sexual function.

In this article, we will share with you all you need to know about CBD and the endocrine system, as we answer the question, how may CBD affect your hormones?

But first,

What Are Hormones?

For us to understand how CBD oil may affect hormones, we must have basic information about what hormones are and their role in the human body.

Think of hormones as chemical messengers that tell your body organs and systems what to do. They are produced by a series of glands located throughout the human body.

Some of these glands include the thyroid, hypothalamus, pineal gland, pancreas, testes, etc.

Experts think that hormones may assist in regulating vital body processes such as hunger, sexual desire, mood, metabolism, growth, blood pressure, etc.

Hormone Imbalance; What is it?

Your body experiences hormonal shift constantly throughout the day.

For instance, when your body senses danger, your adrenal glands produce the hormone adrenaline to push you to act quickly.

When you take lunch or supper, the hormone insulin is produced to help with blood sugar regulation.

What about when you want to enjoy some sleep? The pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin to assist with this.

But what happens when one of the endocrine glands stops producing hormones? Or produce too much or too little hormones?

This is what we’re referring to as hormone imbalance.

Health conditions such as tumors of the endocrine glands, Addison’s disease, Polycystic ovary syndrome, and diabetes can cause hormonal imbalances which  may be characterized by symptoms such as:

• Weight gain or loss
• Mood imbalance symptoms
• Fatigue and sleeplessness
• Headaches

While CBD will not cure hormonal imbalance, anecdotal evidence suggests that it may assist in controlling some of these symptoms.

These are claims we can’t make here at Zatural.com until more evidence showing exactly how CBD oil may assist with hormone imbalance is available.

However, given how it may react with the endocannabinoid system, here are some of the ways CBD is thought to affect your hormones:

CBD, the Endocannabinoid System, and Hormones; Where Is the Link?

Research suggests that there may be a link between endocrine processes and the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

ECS is a complex cell-signaling system involved in managing physiological functions, including mood, pain, appetite, immune system response, and others (Read: It may assist maintain a state of balance in the body’s internal environment).

Experts suggest that ECS may aid in regulating endocrine processes by activating receptors that directly influence activities in pineal, pituitary, and thyroid glands.

This means that by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD may assist control hormone levels.

Here are some of the major hormones that CBD is said to affect:

CBD Oil and Cortisol

Also known as the stress hormone, cortisol controls your natural ‘flight or fight’ response.

Apart from managing our stress, cortisol is also said to assist control metabolism and memory.

However, too much cortisol may put you in a ‘constant’ state of stress and may lead to severe symptoms, including mood swings, mental health issues, and weight gain.

Can CBD assist in any way?

Although Zatural can’t make this claim, this study suggests that CBD oil may have anti-catabolic qualities. This means that it may assist in regulating the amount of cortisol produced by the endocrine system.

CBD may aid reduce stress as well as other cortisol-related symptoms such as weight gain, and mood swings.

CBD Oil and Insulin

Your endocrine system manages metabolism by releasing hormones such as somatostatin, glucagon, and insulin.

Insulin is a vital hormone that assists your body to absorb and store nutrients.

In other words, it makes it possible for the sugar in your food to pass from the bloodstream into individual cells.

While too much insulin may lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), too little insulin may lead to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)- two deadly conditions.

Insulin imbalance has been linked to several health conditions, including diabetes.

This is a claim Zatural.com can’t make until the FDA has approved CBD oil as a form of treatment, but in this 2006 study, Cannabidiol might have assisted lower the incidences of diabetes in rats by at least 50%.

Studies also suggest a link between pancreatitis (chronic inflammation of the pancreas) and insulin imbalance.

According to a study, CBD might have assisted lower inflammation symptoms in mice suffering from acute pancreatitis.

Because of CBD’s potential ability to assist with pancreatitis, experts believe that there’s a chance it can aid boost insulin production.

CBD Oil and Melatonin

Melatonin hormone, from the pineal gland, is thought to regulate your sleep cycle.

As you already know, sleep is essential for both mental and physical health.

How may CBD oil assist with sleep?

Research suggests that the endocannabinoid system may activate CB1 receptors, which may affect not only how fast you fall asleep but also your sleep stability and melatonin levels.

By interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD may assist in regulating melatonin levels, ensuring you get a relaxing, healthy sleep.

Yes, Cannabidiol may not be sedative, but it may have soothing and anxiolytic qualities that may assist promote relaxation and sleep.

CBD oil may also assist with sleep by aiding with underlying conditions such as mood imbalance symptoms and physical discomfort symptoms (think back pain, muscle strain, joint pain, etc.) that may be causing the lack of sleep.

Should I Use CBD Oil for Hormone-Related Issues?

If you suspect you suffer from hormone-related symptoms, you may consider using CBD oil products such as our CBD Honey or CBD Softgels With Curcumin instead of pharmaceutical drugs, which may have far-reaching side effects.

However, remember that CBD oil is not a cure, and therefore will not treat, prevent, or reduce symptoms.

It’s also important that you consult your doctor before taking on CBD oil (or any other supplement) because of a possible drug interaction. This is especially crucial if you’re already on other medications.

Does CBD Affect Your Hormones? - Take Away

CBD is thought to have a positive interaction with the endocannabinoid system, a system of receptors thought to influence vital body processes and systems, including the endocrine system.

The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones, which act as chemical messengers and control everything that happens in our bodies from sexual function to mood swings to sleep.

By interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which is said to influence the endocrine system, CBD oil may affect your hormones.

Think of it as a natural supplement that may assist in maintaining your body’s internal environment at optimal levels.

This article should not be taken as medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.

Always consult your doctor before using CBD oil for any health condition.

If you have any questions regarding CBD and other hemp products and how they may assist you, talk to us today.

 

 

This blog post is for educational purposes only.

*FDA DISCLAIMER -These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

By Vee Popat