If you’ve ever experienced a Urinary Tract Infection, you are well-versed in the symptoms that come with it. The burning, stomach pain and, of course, the embarrassment.
Urinary Tract Infections are one of the most common bacterial infections that Women will get over their lifetime, accounting for 25% of all infections. More than half of women will develop UTI’s and are eight times more likely to develop a UTI than men.
Why are Women more likely than Men to develop a UTI?
There are several risk factors that contribute to developing a UTI, including some birth control, menopause, and suppressed immune system. Anatomically speaking, the urethra in females is shorter than in males, therefore bacteria can enter into the bladder more easily.
When diagnosed with a UTI, most women are put on antibiotics to clear the infection. Some women are more prone to getting UTIs more frequently than others, which makes treatment more difficult as frequent antibiotics can do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics too often can actually change bacteria so much that antibiotics stop working against them. This is referred to as antibiotic (bacterial) resistance.
So, what can you do if antibiotics aren’t an option?
In 2010, a study published in the Indian Journal of Urology, looked at the role of cannabinoid receptors in the urinary bladder. It was found that “the growth-inhibiting action of cannabinoids acting on these receptors expressed on transformed cells might be useful for the management of malignancy in the bladder.” In addition, a 2018 study published in Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience stated that there is a potential of cannabinoids when controlling bladder pain. Recently, many women Medical Marijuana patients have discovered that Cannabis has helped control the symptoms that come with UTIs, making the infection shorter-lived and all-in-all, less painful. CB1 and CB2 receptors are expressed in the bladder, which means that the Endocannabinoid System plays an important role in modulating bladder inflammation and pain. A study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that THC improved urinary incontinence by a whopping 25%.
If you’re considering trying out THC and CBD for your UTIs, here are some common strains and information that many patients have found helpful.
CBD dominant strains are known for managing pain relief and if you’re not wanting the psychoactive effects of Cannabis, strains like Very Cherry Berry that contain more CBD than THC are a great option.
RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, delivers concentrated doses of cannabis plant compounds and has been seen to help control cancer, pain, and inflammation.
THC/CBD salves or lotions can be used topically on the lower abdomen by the bladder to promote blood circulation and reduce inflammation.