From age 11, model and interior designer Simona Mockute has suffered with period pain so debilitating that it often stopped her from living her day-to-day life. Now aged 24, Simona claims that CBD oil has drastically helped to alleviate her period pain and given her a new lease of life.
Before CBD “a prisoner in my own body”
While Simona relied on traditional painkillers for years, they “barely scratched the surface” of her period cramps, which also came with chronic headaches, and trouble breathing normally.
Simona suffered so badly that her chronic pain made her feel like a “prisoner” in her own body.
“My period pains were insane. I often couldn’t go to school, or university or work because of the pain. I would have to leave in the middle of the say and it really affected my quality of life. I’d be crying from the pain. I couldn’t stand up or breathe normally. It was horrible.”
Photo via Facebook.com/smSimonaMockute
Things changed for the better when Simona started experimenting with CBD oil, after many failed attempts at finding a solution with her GP. “He’d give me pills for the pain, but it didn’t sort out the root of the problem. Sleeping was also an issue, because the pain was so intense I’d wake up at night”.
Feeling like she had nothing to lose, Simona tried out CBD oil from a leading UK company CBD Armour, and in just a few weeks of using a CBD oil tincture she noticed a huge improvement in her symptoms.
Her menstrual cycle is more regular, her periods are shorter, and she doesn’t experience any crippling pain or cramps anymore. CBD has also improved her quality of sleep, and put a stop to her nasty headaches.
While there is currently no research on how CBD can help menstrual pain, the popularity of companies like Foria Wellness show just how many women rely on CBD products during their period to relieve menstrual cramps.
How do period pains happen?
During menstruation, the body releases hormones called prostaglandins, which causes the muscles in the uterus to contract. This helps the womb shed the lining that has built up throughout the menstrual cycle in preparation for an egg. When the walls of the womb contract, it squeezes the blood vessels in the uterus which briefly cuts off the oxygen supply to the womb, which causes the tissue in the uterus to release pain-triggering chemicals.
This combination of pain-triggering chemicals and prostaglandins results in period pain and cramps, which can range from a dull ache or mild discomfort to debilitating chronic pain. It is not known why some people experience substantially more period pain than others, but one possible explanation is that some people experience a build-up of prostaglandins which results in stronger uterine contractions.
Ending Period Stigma
By coming out with her story, Simona hopes that she can help further the public discourse on menstruation and help to bring an end to period stigma.
“I try to educate as many people as possible that periods are nothing to be ashamed of. They are part of life.”
She even admitted that some of her friends think periods are so “gross and embarrassing”, it stops them from using more sustainable sanitary products like menstrual cups instead of traditional methods like tampons and pads, which are not environmentally friendly.
“I feel for women who think they need to hide it and suffer in silence. Let’s hope they soon won’t have to suffer this anymore.”
