Could marijuana really help cure period pain? New York state thinks so

Many capsules and balms are being used to ease period pain. Photo / Getty

Women in New York could soon be allowed to use cannabis to treat period pains.

Lawmakers in the state, which has already legalised medical marijuana, are poised to add menstrual cramps to the list of conditions that warrant taking the drug. Currently the list includes HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

According to the Daily Mail the idea is hardly groundbreaking in the world of medical weed.

Last year Whoopi Goldberg made headlines launching her own line of cannabis-infused products to treat period pains - a sipping chocolate, a balm, a bath soak and herbal tinctures.

Her products join the burgeoning market of cannabis products for that time of the month.
But does it actually help?

According to Dr Lauren Streicher, a leading gynaecologist, there is not enough research on the subject.

"Patients ask me about it all the time. It could be that in five years it's the first thing I recommend. But right now we need a trial into it. There simply isn't enough research to say one way or the other," Dr Streicher told Daily Mail Online.

Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen.

During a woman's menstrual period, the uterus contracts.

Hormone-like substances, known as prostaglandins, involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions.

The higher the level of prostaglandins, the more severe a woman's cramps will be, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Severe contractions can constrict the blood vessels serving the uterus, which interrupts the blood supply to the womb and triggers the pain.

The idea is that CBD - the relaxing component in marijuana - can ease the muscle contractions. However, some products mainly use THC - the psychoactive element.

There are a number of products hitting US shelves that promise to do that.

Last February a cannabis-infused vaginal suppository went on sale in the US, claiming to ease the agony of period pains.

The tampon-shaped capsule is said to harness the pain relieving properties of marijuana "without a psychotropic (high) effect".

A new cannabis-infused vaginal suppository has gone on sale in California and Colorado. Photo / Getty

Women in California and Colorado - where cannabis is legal - are able to purchase packs of four FORIA Relief capsules for $44.

But, while the product is available on sale, it has not yet been evaluated or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which regulates medications.

A statement on the Foria website, says: "Our intention is to share the powerful medicinal properties of this plant while utilising modern extraction techniques to standardise purity and potency, thereby ensuring a safe and accessible experience for all women."

The suppositories contain 60mg of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects.

In addition the product contains 10mg of cannabidiol, another active ingredient in the drug, and cocoa butter.

The manufacturers claim THC helps to block pain while the cannabidiol works with the immune system to reduce inflammation.

"Through the use of a suppository theses antispasmodic and pain relieving properties go directly to the area in need of relief," the Foria website adds.

"The plant medicine works with your body to gently, yet profoundly, shift your unique experience in a holistic and natural way."

But does the product actually help relieve the monthly pain endured by millions of women?

One woman, who reviewed the product for Broadly, said: "Within 20 minutes, my cramps totally disappeared."

Meanwhile a testimonial on the Foria website, by Megan C, 35, said: "Normally, pain is unbearable.

"I was able to use this and have it prevent the worsening pain and cramping and piercing pains in my vaginal canal."

And Stephanie P, 41, added: "This product was more effecting than taking modern, over the counter drugs.

"I can confidently say, my symptoms went away entirely."

However, experts have moved to urge caution.

Dr Helen Webberley, of the Oxford Online Pharmacy, told the Huffington Post, she is very concerned about women using the product, given it has not been approved by the FDA.

She said: This capsule has not even been studied yet. The assumption is that, as cannabis can cause muscle relaxation, it may help to ease period pains.

"I would be very worried about women using this product before it has been fully evaluated."