CBD for Period Pain

Struggling with period cramps and period pain? Taking CBD – between 20mg to 70mg daily – can help as CBD has been proven to relieve pain. In this guide (UPDATED 2022), we tell you everything abut CBD for period pain and handpicked the 12 best CBD products for menstrual cramps.

CBD for Period Pain | 12 Best CBD Products

Most women have experienced period pain and period cramps at some point in their life. The cramping, which usually starts in the lower abdomen 24 to 48 hours before menstrual bleeding starts, peaks after 24 hours and may last for a further two or three days, resulting in period pain lasting anything between 2 and 6 days.

Period pain can be accompanied by various other symptoms including additional pain in the lower back or thighs, as well as nausea, dizziness and an upset stomach.

Period pain is common and a normal part of your menstrual cycle.

Whilst some women experience little to no menstrual pain during their cycle, others suffer from regular period cramps which can be physically debilitating and seriously affects their ability to carry on with regular day-to-day activities.

According to Women’s Health Concern and Healthline, it is believed that:

  • Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime
  • The average female will have their first period between ages 11 and 14
  • 5% to 10% of women the pain is severe enough to disrupt their life
  • If your mother suffered period pains, you are more likely to suffer too
  • Periods will continue regularly (usually monthly) until menopause, or about age 51
  • In 40% of women, period pain is accompanied by premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating, tender breasts, swollen stomach, lack of concentration, mood swings, clumsiness and tiredness.

But while menstrual bleeding and menstrual pain have become part of our monthly routine, what actually causes period cramps and why, although incredibly painful, are they a necessary as part of our cycle?

What Causes Period Pain?

You may not believe this but mild contractions in your womb are a normal occurrence, yet they are often too mild to even be felt by women.

However, period cramps – medical term: Dysmenorrhea – are different in that they happen when the muscular wall of the womb contracts more vigorously than usual in order to help the womb lining shed as part of your period.

These on-going contractions of the wall of the womb compress the blood vessels lining the womb, resulting in a temporary cut-off of the blood and oxygen supply to your womb. This lack of blood and oxygen triggers a natural response from the tissues in your womb which start releasing chemicals that trigger pain.

At the same time it releases these chemicals, your body also starts producing a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins, which essentially encourages the muscles in the womb to contract even more to shed its lining, resulting in your period and sometimes painful period cramps.

Why Are My Period Cramps So Bad?

Not all women are born equal and it is not yet known why some women experience more severe period cramps during their menstrual cycle than others.

One assumption is that certain women may have higher levels of prostaglandins or a build-up of prostaglandins, which would result in them experiencing more severe menstrual cramps.

In most cases, period cramps are a sign of a healthy body reacting to the natural shedding of the uterus wall. However, and whilst this is not a common occurrence, it is also worth noting that period pain can also be caused by an underlying medical condition. This is more often the case for older women between the ages of 30 and 45 years old.

5 Medical Conditions To Be Aware Of

A number of medical conditions can also aggravate menstrual cramps and make periods even more unpleasant. These include:

+ Endometriosis – Where cells that normally line the womb grow in other places, especially in the fallopian tubes and ovaries. These cells can cause intense pain when they shed. The main symptoms of endometriosis are pain in the lower tummy or back (known as pelvic pain), pain during or after sexual intercourse, pain when going to the loo during your period, feeling sick, being constipated, having diarrhoea or blood in your pee during your period. Finally women with endometriosis may also experience heavier periods, resulting in them using a larger quantity of pads and tampons. Endometriosis can be incredibly painful and unpleasant, leading to the inability of having a normal life during your period and feeling depressed.

+ Fibroids – Sometimes, non-cancerous tumours grow in or around the womb. The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size. They’re sometimes known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas. Whilst these are and can make your periods heavy and painful, a lot of women are completely unaware that they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms. For those that do experience symptoms, these vary from heavy and painful periods, to lower back pain, a frequent need to urinate, constipation or pain during or after sexual intercourse.

+ Pelvic inflammatory disease – Also known as PID, it is a common condition where your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries become infected with bacteria, causing them to become severely inflamed. Most women suffering from PID have very mild symptoms, which may include pain in the pelvis and lower tummy area, pain during or after sexual intercourse, pain when urinating, heavy and painful periods or unusual vaginal discharges.

+ Adenomyosis – where the tissue that normally lines the womb (also known as the endometrium) breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus (the myometrium), making periods particularly painful. The most common symptoms of adenomyosis are painful menstrual cramps, lower abdominal pain or pressure, heavy periods and a bloating feeling just before your menstrual cycle.

+ Contraceptive Devices – For women using an intrauterine device – also known as IUD – a type of contraception made from copper and plastic that fits inside the womb, more severe period pain may be experienced during their menstrual cycle. This is particularly true in the first 3-6 months after the IUD is inserted as the body is not yet used to this foreign object. If it doesn’t get better over time, be sure to speak to your GP to ensure the device has been inserted properly or that you are not suffering from any of the above medical conditions.

Can CBD Help With Period Cramps?

Many women who have tried CBD oil before and during their periods say that they’ve benefitted from CBD in several ways. CBD has been proven to help reduce unpleasant period-related symptoms such as pain, cramping, poor sleep, nausea and anxiety.

The main benefits of CBD oil when it comes to periods are:

  • Pain Relief: CBD has analgesic (pain relief) properties and can help with both the pain and cramping experienced in the lower abdomen during your period.
  • Antiemetic: CBD oil is knows to have antiemetic properties which means it can prevent you from feeling nauseous or wanting to vomit during your period.
  • Sleep: CBD has a calming effect on both the mind and the body, allowing people to fall asleep more easily and stay asleep throughout the night. This is particularly helpful as periods can sometimes disrupt our nights resulting in poor sleep or lack of refreshing sleep.
  • Anxiety: CBD has both anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties, and can help you feel more relaxed before and during your period.

Please note: The views and opinions in this guide to the best CBD oils for period cramps is based on perspective of the CBD Unboxed team and women who have used CBD to lessen their symptoms. CBD Unboxed does not validate any medical claims that may be present in this article. Everyone’s experience with CBD products is different and we would always advise doing more research and speaking to your health practitioner before using CBD products.

Best CBD Products for Menstrual Cramps

The CBD Unboxed team has tested over 150 CBD products and handpicked the best CBD oils, capsules, gummies, topicals and vape pens for period pain and period cramps. Products were ranked based on five factors including:

  • Product effectiveness
  • Brand reputation
  • Customer reviews
  • Transparency of lab reports
  • Value for money

As there are many different types of CBD products on the market, we’ve selected products across four different categories and at different price points to suit every need and budget.

The products selected are varied and can help manage the symptoms of period pain in different ways. Some are more fast acting, whilst others can be applied to a specific area.

+ CBD Oils (Best Overall): CBD oils are taken sublingually and are by far the best CBD product for period pain as you will usually feel the effects within 20 to 30 minutes. As CBD oil left under the tongue for 30-60 seconds and gets absorbed into the bloodstream, it is much more bioavailable than products which have to go through the digestive tract such as CBD capsules and gummies. For those reasons, CBD oils tend to work well to relieve period pain and cramping.

+ CBD Capsules (Most Convenient): CBD capsules are one of the most convenient way of taking CBD as they can be taken anywhere and at any time. However, as they need to go through the digestive system first, you will usually need to wait about an hour before feeling the effects of CBD. CBD capsules are perfect if you have your period during a trip as they are very convenient and discreet.

+ CBD Topicals (Targeted Relief): CBD topicals such as balms and creams can be rubbed directly on the problem area and should provide relief within 30 minutes to an hour. However, as skin absorption remains weak, we would recommend combining a CBD oil and a CBD balm for maximum relief.

+ CBD Vapes (Fast Acting): CBD vapes are a great way to get immediate relief as vaping allows for rapid absorption through the lungs.

CBD has many benefits when it comes to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Not only can CBD help with period pains and period cramps, but it can also alleviate other period-related symptoms such as mood swings, back pain and headaches.

CBD for Period Pain & Period Cramps

3 Best CBD Oils for Period Cramps

1. Provacan CBD Oil (Best Full-Spectrum)

Provacan CBD oil 1200mg is classified as full-spectrum CBD oil and contains no artificial preservatives, no GMOs and no pesticides. As a full-spectrum product, their CBD oil has all the natural hemp extracts such as Cannabidiol (CBD), CBDv (Cannabidivarin), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene) and CBT (Cannabicitran), as well as the naturally-occurring terpenes, flavonoids, and Omega acids. Provacan CBD oil is vegan friendly, gluten-free, organic, lab tested and contains only trace amounts of THC, CBN & THCV (under the 0.2% UK limit ) ensuring you get the purest CBD possible.

Their CBD has been developed in collaboration with scientists and research leaders in Israel, the epicentre of cannabis R&D.

Their products are all derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in the Europe and the company use a CO2 extraction process to produce their CBD oils.

This is a great CBD oil for stress as it maximises the entourage effect and will therefore bring you all the benefits of the hemp plant.

Their full-spectrum CBD oil is available in four different strengths and come in 10ml bottles:

CBD (mg) % CBD / Drop*
300mg 3% 1.5mg
600mg 6% 3mg
1200mg 12% 6mg
2400mg 24% 12mg

*Amount of CBD oil per drop = 0.025ml

Their 300mg CBD oil retails at £24.99 (£0.08 per mg of CBD), their 1200mg oil at £69.99 (£0.06 per mg of CBD) and their 2400mg oil at £119.99 (£0.05 per mg of CBD).

When comparing the price and strength of their CBD oils, going for a higher potency works out cheaper in the long run as a person using 20g of CBD per day will spend £1.66 per day using their 3% CBD oil and £1.00 per day when using their 24% oil, a saving of 40% when going for the higher potency oil.

+ Size: 10ml Bottle
+ CBD: 1200mg (12% concentration)
+ Type: Full-Spectrum
+ Flavours: Unflavoured
+ Quality: 100% Organic & Free of Additives
+ Great For: Period Cramps & Period Pain
+ Price: £69.99

2. Bud & Tender CBD Oil (Best THC-Free)

Bud & Tender CBD oil 1000mg is made of broad-spectrum CBD and contains no artificial preservatives, no GMOs and no pesticides. Their Hemp is grown in the US and they are one of the only company using both a CO2 and ethanol extraction process to produce their broad-spectrum CBD oil.

Bud & Tender is a member of the British Hemp Alliance, whose aim is to create a thriving domestic hemp industry, and is also the only CBD oil recommended to patients and members of the UK Cannabis Social Clubs, a not for profit Non-Government Organisation founded in 2011.

Price wise, their 10% CBD oil retails at £80.00 (£0.08 per mg of CBD), which makes it one of the most expensive CBD oils on the market, but also one of the most effective oils in the UK.

+ Size: 10ml Bottle
+ CBD: 1000mg (10% concentration)
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum
+ Flavours: Unflavoured
+ Quality: 100% Organic & Free of Additives
+ Great For: Period Cramps & Period Pain
+ Price: £80.00

3. VAAY CBD Oil (Cheapest)

VAAY CBD oil 1000mg is made of broad-spectrum CBD and contains all the natural hemp extracts such as Cannabidiol (CBD), CBDv (Cannabidivarin), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene) and CBT (Cannabicitran), as well as the naturally-occurring terpenes, flavonoids, and Omega acids. However it does not contain any THC.

Their products are all derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Europe and CBD extracts are produced using CO2 extraction. All their products are made in the Germany.

VAAY broad-spectrum CBD oil is hands-down the most tasteless and odorless CBD oil on the market, and just to be clear, this is a compliment! We’ve tried and tested over 100 CBD oils over the last few years and never have we tasted a CBD oil with a water-like flavour profile. VAAY CBD oil deserve a big 10/10 in the taste department!

+ Size: 10ml Bottle
+ CBD: 1o00mg (10% concentration)
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum
+ Flavours: Unflavoured
+ Quality: 100% Organic & Free of Additives
+ Great For: Period Cramps & Period Pain
+ Price: £64.90

3 Best CBD Capsules for Period Cramps

1. Provacan CBD Soft Gels (Best Soft Gels)

Provacan CBD soft gels are made of CBD distillate and contains no artificial preservatives, no GMOs and no pesticides. As a CBD distillate product, it has gone through an additional filtration process to remove the unwanted THC, to make these soft gels 100% THC free.

These gold CBD soft gels are derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Europe and CBD extracts are produced using CO2 extraction, one of the cleanest extraction methods, resulting in a high-quality CBD capsules.

Provacan CBD soft gels are gluten-free, organic, lab tested ensuring you get the purest CBD possible.

When buying their CBD capsules, you will have the choice between their standard capsules or their gold soft gels. Standard capsules come with 30 capsules per bottle whilst a bottle of their gold soft gels contains 60 capsules per bottle:

CBD (mg) CBD / Capsule
180mg (Standard) 6mg
1200mg (Gold Soft Gels) 20mg
720mg (Standard) 24mg
2880mg (Standard) 96mg

Price wise, you can get their Gold Soft Gels 20mg for £59.99. When comparing the price of their Gold Soft Gels to the traditional 24mg CBD capsules, their soft gels cost £0.050 per mg of CBD whilst their 24mg capsules are substantially more expensive at £0.069 per mg.

+ Size: 1200mg Bottle
+ CBD: 20mg per Capsule
+ Type: CBD Isolate
+ THC: THC-Free
+ Vegans: Not Suitable for Vegans (fish gelatin)
+ Great For: Pain Relief
+ Price: £59.99

2. VAAY CBD Capsules (Cheapest)

VAAY 10mg CBD capsules are made of broad-spectrum CBD and as such do not contain any THC.

As with their CBD oils, their CBD capsules are derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Europe and CBD extracts are produced using CO2 extraction, one of the cleanest extraction methods, resulting in a high-quality CBD capsules. All their products are made in the Germany.

VAAY CBD capsules are vegan friendly, gluten-free, organic, GMO free and lab tested for purity and potency.

Price wise, you can get their 10mg capsules (30 capsules per bottle) for £34.90 which works out at £0.12 per mg of CBD.

+ Size: 300mg Bottle
+ CBD: 10mg per Capsule
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum
+ THC: THC-Free
+ Vegans: Suitable for Vegans
+ Great For: Period Cramps & Pain Relief
+ Price: £34.90

3. Love CBD Capsules (Best High Strength)

If the taste of CBD oil isn’t your thing – although Love CBD oil tastes delicious – or if you would prefer not to take CBD by using CBD oil sublingually, then check out Love CBD entourage capsules, as you will be able to experience all the benefits of CBD without the downsides of CBD oil.

When buying their entourage capsules, you will have the choice between 30 and 60 capsules per bottle, but be aware that the amount of CBD in each capsule will vary depending on which strength you go for:

CBD (mg) CBD / Capsule BUY
Entourage Capsules 600mg 10mg BUY NOW
Entourage Capsules 1200mg 20mg BUY NOW
Entourage Capsules 1800mg 30mg BUY NOW

Choosing Love CBD entourage capsules is a great way to get your CBD intake and it’s incredibly travel friendly, the ideal solution for those who are always on the go.

As with other Love CBD products, their capsules contain no pesticides, herbicides, solvents or chemical fertilizers, they are sourced from organically grown, non-GMO, pesticide-free hemp plants that have been grown in the EU. They have also been independently lab tested for potency and purity.

+ Size: 60 Capsules
+ CBD: 1800mg
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ THC: 100% THC Free
+ Great For: Period Pain
+ Price: £79.99

3 Best CBD Creams for Period Cramps

1. VAAY CBD Active Gel (Best Overall)

If you do not want to take CBD orally or do not enjoy the the bitter taste of hemp, then CBD balms and creams are a great options, especially if your aim is to reduce pain locally, improve muscle recovery post workout or treat an inflamed muscle / tendon.

VAAY CBD Active Gel is a great option to deliver CBD locally, by applying the desired amount of CBD to the target area, and gets to work quickly, usually within 15-30 minutes.

This gel contains warming cayenne extract with cooling eucalyptus and menthol. This combined effect helps to provide fast, effective pain relief.

This CBD infused gel from VAAY is derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Europe and their CBD extracts are produced using CO2 extraction.

Price-wise, this 550mg CBD gel retails at £34.90 which works out at £0.063 per mg, which is very good value for a CBD gel, especially given how well this product works for pain relief! One of our favourites for sure!

+ Size: 100ml
+ CBD: 550mg
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ THC: 100% THC Free
+ Great For: Pain Relief
+ Price: £34.90

2. Naturecan CBD Muscle Balm (Cooling Effect)

Naturecan Cooling Menthol CBD Balm is derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Oregon (US) and their CBD extracts are produced using Ethanol extraction. It is classified as broad-spectrum CBD and benefits from CBD Entourage Effect.

Instantly soothing, this CBD Balm has been created to help relieve pain, as well as ease minor skin irritations. Created with cooling menthol crystals, and infused with high-quality cannabidiol (CBD), the specially formulated cream offers you a fast and effective solution.

Price-wise, their CBD balm 1000mg retails at £39.99 which works out at £0.039 per mg, which is incredibly cheap especially given how well this product works for pain relief!

+ Size: 100ml
+ CBD: 1o00mg
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ THC: 100% THC Free
+ Great For: Pain Relief (cooling menthol)
+ Price: £39.99

3. Love CBD Balm

Love CBD muscle balm is a multi-purpose cannabis-infused skin balm that contains CBD extracts of cannabis, as well as hemp seed oil and terpenes, which all meld together into a wonderful, cannabis-rich CBD balm.

Other ingredients include coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, theobroma cacao, grape seed oil, rosemary, vanilla planifolia et beta caryophyllene. It is a great option to deliver CBD locally and helps with painful conditions such as period pain or arthritis.

This CBD balm from Love CBD is derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in Europe and their CBD extracts are produced using CO2 extraction.

Love CBD balm 1000 mg is classified as broad-spectrum CBD. In addition to the active CBD, their this topical contains other natural hemp extracts such as CBDv (Cannabidivarin), CBG (Cannabigerol), CBDa (Cannabidiolic Acid), and naturally-occurring terpenes, flavonoids, and Omega acids which helps increase the effectiveness of their CBD balms.

The balm comes in three different sizes, each with the same concentration of CBD (1%):

Price-wise, their CBD balm 1000mg retails at £59.99 which works out at £0.059 per mg. Not the cheapest CBD balm on the market, but definitely one of the most effective.

+ Size: 100ml
+ CBD: 1000mg
+ Type: Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ THC: 100% THC Free
+ Great For: Pain Relief (e.g. Menstrual Cramps)
+ Price: £59.99

3 Best CBD Vape Pens for Period Cramps

1. VAAY Disposable Vape Pen (Fast Acting)

The VAAY CBD Vape Pen (Mint) is a disposable CBD vape pen which offers an enjoyable and effective way of consuming CBD.

This vape pen from VAAY contains 250mg of pure CBD and will last for approximately 150 puffs. This is a great alternative to consume CBD as vaping allows for quick absorption by the body and provides almost immediate relief.

VAAY CBD vape pens use CBD extracts derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in the Europe and the company use a CO2 extraction process to produce their CBD.

This CBD vape pen is available in 4 delicious flavours:

Flavour CBD per Pen*
Mint CBD Pen 250mg
Fruit CBD Pen 250mg
Herbal CBD Pen 250mg
Lemon CBD Pen 250mg

* VAAY CBD Pen will last for about 150 puffs (1 dose 0f 10mg = 6 puffs)

You’ll get 150 puffs per vape pen, with each puff delivering approximately 1.5mg of CBD.

+ Content: 1 x Disposable CBD Vape Pen
+ CBD: 250mg of Pure Hemp Derived CBD
+ Flavours: 4 Different Flavours
+ Ingredients: CBD, terpenes and MCT oil
+ Solvent: 100% Solvent Free
+ THC Content: Naturally THC-Free
+ Price: £34.90

2. Orange County Disposable Vape Pens (Cheapest)

Orange County disposable CBD Vape Pen is one of the classiest way to get your hit of CBD as its design is very close to rechargeable vape pods. These disposable pens are made with Orange County award-winning broad-spectrum CBD and designed to emulate your senses thanks to 10 different flavours.

This vape pen from Orange County contains a whopping 600mg of CBD and will last for approximately 700 puffs, and so can last up to 2 months if taking 10 puffs before going to sleep.

Orange County disposable CBD vape pens use CBD extracts derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in California (USA) and the company use a CO2 extraction process to produce their CBD.

+ Content: 1 x Disposable CBD Vape Pen
+ CBD: 600mg of Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ Flavours: 10 Different Flavours
+ Great For: Pain Relief, Relaxation
+ THC Content: Naturally THC-Free
+ Price: £24.99

This CBD vape pen is available in 10 delicious flavours:

Flavour Price BUY
Mimosa £24.99 BUY
Lemonade £24.99 BUY
Strawberry Kush £24.99 BUY
Gelato £24.99 BUY
Mango Haze £24.99 BUY
Wedding Cake £24.99 BUY
Banana Kush £24.99 BUY
Zittlez £24.99 BUY
Blueberry Muffin £24.99 BUY
Alien OG £24.99 BUY

3. CBDfx Disposable Vape Pens (Great Flavours)

CBDfx CBD Vape Pen is a disposable CBD vape pen which offers an enjoyable and effective way of consuming CBD.

It contains 500mg of pure CBD (Ceramic coil with 2mL of CBD liquid) and will last for approximately 800 puffs. This is a great alternative to get your daily dose of CBD as vaping allows for quick absorption by the body and provides almost immediate relief.

CBDfx CBD vape pens use CBD extracts derived from organic hemp plants that are grown under the highest agricultural directives in California (USA) and the company use a CO2 extraction process to produce their CBD.

+ Content: 1 x Disposable CBD Vape Pen
+ CBD: 500mg of Broad-Spectrum CBD
+ Flavours: 6 Different Flavours
+ Great For: Relaxing, Pain Relief, Nausea, Sleep
+ THC Content: Naturally THC-Free
+ Price: £24.99

This CBD vape pen comes in 6 delicious flavours:

Flavour CBD* BUY
Tropic Breeze 500mg BUY
Fresh Mint 500mg BUY
Strawberry Lemonade 500mg BUY
Blue Raspberry 500mg BUY
Pineapple Express 500mg BUY
OG Kush 500mg BUY

* CBDfx vape pens will last for about 800 puffs

Why Use CBD Instead of Pain Medication?

In the UK, GPs often view period pain as completely normal and are reluctant to offer prescription drugs.

Traditional Pain Killers

So whilst most women will use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), and take them the day before they expect their period to begin, in order to help control the pain of period cramps, they offer limited relief and can have side effects including drowsiness, an unbalanced gut micro-biome, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and headache.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

GPs can in some instances prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat such pain and discomfort. However, whilst NSAIDs are useful when treating headaches and uterine cramping, there is no efficacy on the treatment of the psychological symptoms that often occur during menstrual cycles.

It is also worth noting that NSAIDs do come with a number of warnings when it comes to side effects, including serious cardiovascular side effects such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, as well as gastrointestinal problems such as bleeding, ulceration and perforation.

On the other hand, alternatives therapies such as acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (known as TENS), herbal medicines such as pycnogenol and fennel or acupressure have not been studied enough to determine their efficacy in the management of menstrual pain.

Is CBD Legal in the UK?

As CBD is eaten, drunk or smoked it falls under “novel foods”, which means that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) oversees CBD products and they can therefore enforce new laws and regulations and they have recently done so.

Since the 31st of March 2021, all CBD products must be approved by the FSA in order to be sold in the UK. Failure to do so will result in the products being removed from the shelf. This request for approval means that the exact ingredients within a CBD will be known, making it safer for the general public.

CBD oil is legal in the UK as long as the plant which have been grown contain less than 0.2% of THC, the legal limit in the UK. The reason for this is that THC is known to be a psychotropic substance and limiting the amount of THC ensures that CBD is safe to consume and will not have any psychoactive effects. In other words, CBD won’t get you “high”.

You will not be arrested or fined for buying, consuming or carrying CBD products, anywhere in the UK, as long as it has less than 0.2% THC in it.

What is illegal is to grow the hemp plant(s) yourself, at home. Growth for personal use is strictly prohibited by the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971. To do so, could result in up to 5 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

CBD Dosage for Period Cramps

CBD doesn’t have one-size-fits-all dosing and calculating a proper dosage of CBD can be tough as our bodies react to it differently.

CBD Dosage Table

We would first recommend using the above CBD dosage table to determine how much CBD you should consume on a daily basis.

The four major factors affecting your CBD dosage are:

  • Your weight
  • The condition being treated (i.e. depression, chronic pain etc)
  • The severity of your condition
  • The concentration of CBD oil

Most brands recommend customers start with the lowest dose and increase until they find the right serving size that fits their needs. The most common starting amount is between 10mg and 25mg. For anxiety and depression, the dose can vary from 20mg to 50mg or more.

As a rule of thumb, a person weighting between 10.5 and 17 stones (approximately 150 and 240 lbs) may need between 20mg and 40mg of CBD per day depending on the severity of their symptoms.

When using CBD for the first time, we would always recommend starting with one or two drops of the 10% to 20% CBD oil placed under the tongue (sublingual) and holding it there for at least 30 seconds so it can absorb into the bloodstream.

Taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to see how your body reacts to it is also recommended. If you are not seeing any major benefits with a single drop, increase your intake by a single drop every 2 or 3 days until finding the right balance to treat your personal symptoms.

Finally, as CBD remains a novel food, it is worth noting that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that healthy adults do not take more than 70mg a day, unless advised by a medical professional.

How Many CBD Oil Drops?

Whilst it may be confusing at the beginning, it’s incredibly simple to work out how many drops of CBD oil you need to take depending on your daily requirements and the strength of the product you bought.

Most bottles of CBD oil contain 10ml of product and come in strengths ranging from 300mg to 2,400mg – also known as 3% and 24% CBD oils. This simply means that in a 1ml drop of the 300mg bottle, you will have 30mg of CBD, whilst the same 1ml of the 2,400mg bottle will give you 8 times that amount for a total of 240mg of CBD.

So assuming you need to hit 25mg of CBD per day with, you will need:

CBD / Bottle* CBD / Drop # Drops
500mg 1.25mg 20 drops
1000mg 2.5mg 10 drops
1800mg 4.5mg 5.5 drops
2400mg 6.0mg 4 drops

*Based on 10ml bottles

As with everything, start with a small amount of CBD oil daily to make sure there’s no reaction, then increase slowly by a drop every 1-2 days until finding the right balance.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Most people do not experience any side effects when taking CBD as this is a natural product. However, as with everything, some people may experience mild side-effects from the hemp extract, including:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Drowsiness (a good thing to fall asleep!)

The best way to decrease adverse reactions is to simply lower your daily intake of CBD, or if taking CBD oil under the tongue, to mix it with your food and drink as it will be processed by the digestive system – which means slower absorption. The downside of mixing it with your food is a decreased bioavailability so CBD may not work as well for you.

More CBD Oils for Period Cramps

Whilst we believe the 12 CBD products recommended in this guide are some of the best for period pain and cramps based on their effectiveness, quality and value for money, below are additional product recommendations we’ve tried and reckon you’ll love.

CBD
LATEST ARTICLE

9 Best CBD Vape Pens for Migraines

 02 May 2022

9 Best CBD Vape Pens for Period Cramps

 30 Apr 2022

10 Cheap CBD Capsules UK

 30 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Autism

 18 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Depression

 18 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Back Pain

 16 Apr 2022

Best CBD Brand Reviews

If you are still unsure about the best CBD product for you why not take our CBD Quiz which has been designed specifically to identify the product and strength that is best suited to your personal needs. Alternatively, if you want to find out more about the CBD brands listed in this article, check-out our individual CBD reviews below:

CBD

Take the CBD Quiz

To see what CBD product is best for you.

CBD
LATEST ARTICLE

9 Best CBD Vape Pens for Migraines

 02 May 2022

9 Best CBD Vape Pens for Period Cramps

 30 Apr 2022

10 Cheap CBD Capsules UK

 30 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Autism

 18 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Depression

 18 Apr 2022

8 Best CBD Vape Pens for Back Pain

 16 Apr 2022