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For the Female Patients out there

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There are very few acronyms that effect our lives as much as the one that torments women monthly, PMS.  Premenstrual Syndrome is something that will effect most women at some point throughout their lives.  On a far lesser scale, men can also be impacted by PMS, especially if they are concerned with providing relief for their loved ones.  So how is it that this syndrome which can cause such discomfort and pain to so many people is still left to pharmaceutical treatments with such mixed results that many women often don’t know where to turn?  The problem is  for over a century doctors have turned a blind eye to the herbal remedy which has helped so many women.  For hundreds, if not thousands of years women have used the cannabis plant to help alleviate the symptoms of PMS.  It varies in symptoms and intensity from patient to patient, but often includes headaches (even migraines), cramping, bloating, pelvic pain, breast pain, sleep difficulty, irritability, anxiety, depression, and inability to concentrate.  Most men have difficulty understanding it, and just opt to keep their distance.  Perhaps giving herbal-infused chocolates as a gift would be a more helpful approach.

As doctors’ understanding of the female biology has increased, they have prescribed numerous pills to help ease women’s suffering.  For those who endure mood swings, irritability, depression or anxiety they have offered Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) as antidepressants.  These may include Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil or many others.  Unfortunately they do not always work and carry a long list of side effects that can be much worse than the PMS itself.  Also, these drugs take time to come to full strength in the body, so they must be taken over periods of time. So, patients must take a potentially dangerous drug for long term, even though it is only to treat symptoms that effect them for just a few days per month. For pain relief, doctors offer Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Midol.  These are better because women need only take them as symptoms occur.  But these also have a potential to cause harm, from intestinal bleeding or renal damage.  They may also interact with other drugs for other dangerous effects.  For those with trouble sleeping, physicians recommend Ambien, but that leaves users very groggy, and has instigated many scary sleep-walking stories.  Once again, modern science offers a glimmer of hope, but casts a long shadow uncertainty.

Luckily, for all the women there exists a natural-occurring remedy that can treat any or all of their symptoms with minimal side effects, none of which can be called dangerous.  Before marijuana prohibition went into effect, cannabis was a standard item in doctor’s tool bags, and often prescribed to females.  One doctor answered to the highest (pun not intended) woman in the world.  In the 19th century Sir Russell Reynolds was the Royal Physician for Queen Victoria of England.  As many women before her, she suffered from painful menstrual cramps.  So he dug into his black bag and offered tincture of the Indian Hemp plant for her relief.  He even included it in the first issue of The Lancet (a foremost medical journal) writing, “When pure and administered carefully, [cannabis] is one of the most valuable medicines we possess.” As many states have passed compassionate use laws, doctors are willing to again utilize this plant for treatment.

Dr. Breen, of Medical Cannabis of Southern California, sees many women everyday who come to him for help with their PMS suffering.  Many have tried pharmaceuticals for years without satisfactory treatment.  He prescribes cannabis because it is safe and effective.  He counsels his patients that while it may not be the right fit for every woman, it is worth trying out.  It can treat the headaches and pains, bloating and cramping.  It helps mellow out those mood swings, and can assist with sleeplessness.  It also can aid flagging libido (exactly opposite to the effects of SSRIs).  And finally, it is safe and has short term effects.  When it works for a patient, she can self-medicate as she sees fit.  For those who do not receive any benefit from it, or if they don’t agree with the “high” feelings associated with smoking, they can discontinue its use without any fears.

So, for all the female patients out there who are dealing with such discomfort, there is something out there that can help with the pain.  Next time you are sifting through ineffective pills at the pharmacy, remember the remedy that has been used for far longer and with greater success.

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