Marijuana suppositories could be the key for painful period cramps
Period cramps. Are. The. Worst. And we’ve yet to find a magic cure for them. If you suffer from PCOS or endometriosis, then your period can totally put you out of commission for a day— or more. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably looked at and tried every method under the sun for making them (slightly) less painful— pills, heating pads, exercise, eating 6 pints of Ben & Jerry’s per hour. But I’d be really, really surprised if you’ve tried this before: weed tampons are now a thing. That’s right, weed you put up your vagina. And they’re here to help you with your period cramps.
OK, so they’re not really tampons. They’re suppositories, made with concentrated organic cocoa butter. And they come from Foria, the brand behind Foria Pleasure, which uses THC to enhance your sexual experience. But now they’ve developed Foria Relief and each suppository contains 60mg of THC and 10mg of CBD aimed at easing your period cramps. Intrigued? Interested in getting your vagina a little high? Here’s what you need to know.
It’s about medicine, not getting high
Firstly, it may involve THC and CBD, but this isn’t about getting stoned— well, maybe about getting your vagina a little stoned. But it’s for medical purposes. “FORIA Relief has been carefully crafted using a delivery system intended to maximize the muscle relaxing and pain relieving properties of cannabis without inducing a psychotropic ‘high’,” their site explains. “Cannabis has a long, cross-cultural history of use as a natural aide in easing symptoms associated with menstruation. Our intention is to share the powerful medicinal properties of this plant while utilizing modern extraction techniques to standardize purity and potency, thereby ensuring a safe and accessible experience for all women.”
But although the product claims to have no effect, some of the people who have tried it have said otherwise. Many of the users and reviews described themselves as not feeling stoned in the traditional way, but feeling a little “light body buzz”. Make of it what you will, but it’s definitely not like lighting up, so don’t use it expecting to be blazed.
Why does it work? It’s all about the muscles
Now, you may be wondering how a little THC can help with your period rather than, you know, giving your vagina the munchies. But it’s all about that relaxed feeling you can get while stoned— think about how relaxed your muscles feel. That’s basically what this product is offering.
“When a woman experiences menstrual cramps, the uterus is contracting," Beverly Hills urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman, one of the people who developed the product, told Broadly. "The muscle goes into spasm, and it releases inflammatory mediators that exacerbate pain. Cannabis, in general, works to relieve muscle spasms by increasing blood flow and decreasing muscle contractions. When you increase blood flow, you help to restore oxygenation to the tissue, thereby decreasing inflammation and lessening discomfort."
Which makes sense, as many of us can feel the actual spasms and muscle contractions during the worst pain of our periods. So, although we need to continue to contract a bit to shed our uterine linings, calming the muscles down can help relieve the intense pain. And the best part? Because you’re sticking it right up there, it can work quickly. "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," Dr. Berman said.
But here’s the bottom line— Do they work? Well, the reviews scream “Yes!”. “Within minutes, my cramps totally disappeared,” raved Vice, while She Knows said “Not only did my cramps ease up, but I felt good. Really good.” A quick scan of satisfied customers on the website seems to show that Foria Relief definitely delivers. Not only that, it’s fast-acting and long lasting, especially compared to your old-fashioned painkiller that you’ve been popping like Tic-Tacs.
They’re not widely available...yet
Now you’re probably dying to see what Mary Jane can do for you and your lady garden, but you have to hold your horses. Because there are obviously strict rules around anything with THC. Sure, we have seen decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in some states, but by no means all, and so the availability of Foria Relief is limited. According to Refinery29, they are currently only available in California and Colorado— and you’ll need a medical marijuana card. And of course, if you have any prior medical conditions (and just for general safety) you should talk to your doctor before trying any new medication. So even if you can get your hands on it, it’s always good to double check with a medical professional.
But, even if they’re still not available everywhere, it’s a great step. Periods cause so much pain to too many of us and, for a long time, even discussing them has felt like a huge taboo. So the fact that we can not only talk openly about the fact that we hemorrhage for a week every month, but also that we’re seeing innovations on how to combat all of that pain involved is a huge win. And weed tampons may just be the answer we’ve been looking for.
Oh and, last but not least, don’t ignore the fine print: “The efficacy of this product has not yet been confirmed by clinical or FDA-approved research and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,” the site says. “The information presented here is not meant as a substitute for, or alternative to, the information you may receive from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional before using this product, especially if you are taking any medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding or are under treatment for any disease”.
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