A Holistic Guide to Women’s Wellness Across the Life Cycle

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Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS and Naturopathic Medicine, is a cannabis therapy consultant, founder and education director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. 

For thousands of years, cannabis has been a sacred ally in women’s health—used by ancient cultures to ease childbirth, soothe menstrual pain, support emotional wellbeing, and open channels of pleasure. As a holistic health practitioner and naturopath, I see this plant not only as a source of biochemical relief but as an intuitive, Earth-based medicine that supports the cyclical nature of womanhood from menarche to menopause and beyond.

Women experience complex hormonal fluctuations, deeply felt emotions, and physical changes throughout their lives. Cannabis, especially in its whole-plant form, offers multidimensional support when applied with knowledge and intention. Together we’ll explore how women are reclaiming cannabis for wellness, pleasure, and deep nourishment through both modern science and ancestral wisdom.

The Endocannabinoid System: Designed for Balance

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an intricate web of receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoids. It helps regulate nearly every physiological system in the body, from hormones to inflammation to mood. Estrogen plays a key role in endocannabinoid tone. This explains why cannabis often feels more potent or relieving at different phases of the menstrual cycle.

A 2013 study in Psychoneuroendocrinology found that estrogen increases the sensitivity of cannabinoid receptors. This may enhance the therapeutic effects of cannabis for women, particularly around ovulation and before menstruation. This insight allows us to tailor cannabis protocols with greater precision throughout each phase of a woman’s life.

Cannabis for the Menstrual Cycle: Soothing Pain, Stabilizing Mood

PMS and menstruation are common times when women turn to cannabis. Whole-plant medicine supports physical symptoms like cramping, bloating, and breast tenderness. It can also ease irritability, anxiety, and low mood.

Effective Application Methods:

• Tinctures and Glycerites (alcohol or glycerin-based extracts): Ideal for systemic support. Full-spectrum CBD-rich formulas combined with herbs like cramp bark or red raspberry leaf provide gentle endocrine and nervous system regulation.
• Whole-Plant Salves and Creams: Apply to the lower belly, inner thighs, and sacrum for localized pain relief.
• Vaginal Suppositories: Deliver cannabinoids directly to the pelvic area. THC and CBD-based suppositories have been reported to reduce uterine cramping and increase pelvic relaxation.

Cultivars to Explore:

• Harlequin—A high-CBD cultivar with mood-lifting effects and minimal intoxication.
• Lavender—Rich in linalool, this terpene supports relaxation and pain relief.
• Purple Punch—Sedative, antispasmodic, and grounding.

A 2019 survey published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that 84% of cannabis-using participants reported relief from menstrual pain, with inhalation and topicals being the most common delivery routes.

Intimate Use: Cannabis and Sensual Wellness

Cannabis is a powerful ally for women seeking deeper pleasure, intimacy, and connection. It enhances blood flow to reproductive tissues, increases sensitivity, and reduces anxiety or pain during sex. The ECS is highly expressed in reproductive organs. This makes topical cannabis applications uniquely effective.

Holistic Methods:

• Vaginal Oils and Lubricants: THC and CBD oils infused in coconut or cacao butter, optionally blended with herbs like damiana or rose, nourish vaginal tissues, support natural lubrication, and awaken erotic energy.
• Suppositories: Useful for both sexual and therapeutic purposes, helping with painful intercourse (dyspareunia), pelvic tension, or endometriosis.
• Sensual Salves: Apply externally to thighs, lower belly, or perineum before intimacy.

A 2020 study in Sexual Medicine found that women who used cannabis before sex were significantly more likely to report increased desire, satisfaction, and orgasm quality, along with decreased pain.

Recommended Cultivars:

• Mimosa—Uplifting, euphoric, and social.
• Wedding Cake—Calming and sensual with full-body relaxation.
• Blue Dream—Balanced, creative, and mentally clarifying.

Pre-Menopause: Supporting the Transition with Plant Wisdom

In the years leading up to menopause (often called perimenopause), women experience hormonal turbulence. This is marked by irregular cycles, anxiety, brain fog, and disrupted sleep. During this transitional period, the ECS often becomes dysregulated, and cannabis can offer gentle recalibration.

Holistic Tools:

• Daily Tinctures or Glycerites: High-CBD or balanced THC:CBD blends can ease mood swings, support adrenals, and improve sleep. When combined with adaptogens like ashwagandha or holy basil, the effects are synergistic.
• Whole-Plant Salves: Massage onto the lower abdomen and adrenals to reduce cortisol and ease tension.
• Suppositories and Oils: Can address vaginal dryness, shifting libido, and pelvic pain.

Cultivars to Try:

• Cannatonic—Balanced, anti-inflammatory, and grounding.
• Remedy—Very high in CBD, ideal for daytime use without intoxication.
• Blueberry—A calming cultivar that supports sleep and mood balance.

Post-Menopause: Aging Gracefully with Cannabis

After menopause, many women face new challenges such as joint stiffness, insomnia, dryness, and lowered vitality. Cannabis, when used regularly, may offer long-term support for inflammation, bone density, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.

A 2021 study published in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society revealed that 86% of cannabis-using women reported better sleep, and 78% noted reduced mood swings and irritability.

Integrative Support:

• Topical Salves and Creams: Whole-plant-infused formulas with additional botanicals (e.g., arnica, comfrey, calendula) can ease arthritic pain, dryness, and inflammation.
• Evening Glycerites: Especially those with THC, can promote deep, restorative sleep.
• Suppositories: Can support tissue elasticity, circulation, and sexual wellness.

Beneficial Cultivars:

• Granddaddy Purple—Sedative and pain-relieving.
• Jack Herer—Uplifting and motivating; great for focus and energy.
• ACDC—Calming, high-CBD cultivar ideal for reducing inflammation and anxiety.

Making it Sacred: Cannabis as Daily Ritual

One of the most empowering aspects of cannabis as women’s medicine is its ability to restore connection to our bodies, to our emotions, and to our cycles. It is not just a plant to consume, but one to commune with. When we approach cannabis as a ritual—setting intentions, breathing deeply, listening to the body’s cues—it becomes a ceremony of healing.

Here are some ways women can integrate cannabis into holistic daily practice:

• Self-massage with salve after a warm bath
• Evening tincture ritual with journaling or meditation
• Menstrual care altar with herbal steam, infused oil, and rest
• A sensual self-touch practice supported by infused oils and breathwork

The Whole Plant Matters

Whole-plant cannabis—infused into oils, creams, and tinctures—preserves the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and plant energy. This is known as the molecular synergy, which enhances therapeutic potential beyond what isolated compounds can offer. As holistic practitioners, we recognize that wellness is not achieved by reductionism, but by honoring the complexity of both plant and person.

Final Reflections

Cannabis is a deeply feminine plant—responsive, cyclical, intuitive, and powerful. She mirrors the rhythms of the women who work with her. Whether we seek relief from cramps, restoration of pleasure, emotional balance, or support through menopause, cannabis offers more than symptom relief. It offers reconnection.

Used wisely, with reverence and intention, cannabis becomes not just a medicine, but a guide—one that helps women reclaim their power, their pleasure, and their natural rhythm.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your cannabis-educated primary health care provider or trained cannabis therapy consultant before beginning any new lifestyle or dietary changes.