How CBD Can Support You During Perimenopause

Welcome to perimenopause. Population: you plus a rotating cast of symptoms that feel like they were selected by a committee with a dark sense of humor.

Hot flashes. Mood swings. Sleep disruptions. Random anxiety when you least expect it. It’s a lot. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all fix, there is growing clinical evidence that CBD may help support the nervous system, sleep, mood, and inflammation during this hormonal rollercoaster.

So let’s talk about it, with science of course. And a little bit of humor, because you deserve some levity!

First, What Is Actually Happening in Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause where estrogen and progesterone start fluctuating. Not declining in a neat, linear way. More like ✨chaotic jazz✨

These hormonal shifts impact:

• The endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate mood, sleep, and stress
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, aka your stress response system
• Neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA

Translation: your body’s internal “calm down” mechanisms are being tested.

Where CBD Comes In (And Why Researchers Are Paying Attention)

CBD, or cannabidiol, interacts with the ECS, which plays a key role in maintaining balance in the body.

A 2018 review in Frontiers in Immunology found that CBD has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which may help address systemic inflammation often associated with hormonal shifts.

A 2019 study in The Permanente Journal found that 66.7% of participants experienced improved sleep and 79.2% reported reduced anxiety within the first month of CBD use.

Another 2020 review in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research highlighted CBD’s potential to reduce anxiety through its interaction with serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors, which is particularly relevant during perimenopause when mood instability is common.

There is also emerging evidence that the ECS is directly involved in thermoregulation, which may explain why cannabinoids are being explored for hot flash support (!!)

So no, CBD is not a magic wand. But it is a well-studied tool that supports multiple systems being affected all at once. Sooo actually yeah kind of like a magic wand😃

The Supporting Cast: Herbs That Actually Pull Their Weight

Ashwagandha

An adaptogen that helps regulate the stress response.

• A 2019 randomized controlled trial in Medicine (Baltimore) found that ashwagandha significantly reduced stress and cortisol levels
• Another study showed improvements in sleep quality and anxiety in stressed adults

Helpful when your nervous system feels like it’s permanently set to “emergency mode.”

Lemon Balm

The herbal equivalent of “it’s going to be okay.”

• A 2014 study in Nutrients found lemon balm improved mood and cognitive performance under stress
• Clinical trials also show benefits for sleep disturbances and mild anxiety

Passionflower

Underrated. Underappreciated. Quietly effective.

• A randomized trial in Phytotherapy Research found passionflower to be comparable to oxazepam for generalized anxiety
• It works by increasing GABA activity, helping calm the nervous system

Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa)

Small seed, big resume.

• A 2021 systematic review found black seed oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
• Studies also show benefits for metabolic health, which can shift during perimenopause
• Some evidence suggests support for insulin sensitivity and weight regulation

Building a Ritual That Doesn’t Feel Like Another Chore

Because if one more person tells you to “just create a routine,” you might actually scream.

Here’s a low-effort, high-impact ritual using TONIC formulas that meet you where you are.

The O.G. TONIC

CBD + Ashwagandha

Your daytime “I would like to feel like a functioning human” support.

• Helps regulate stress response
• Supports mood stability and focus
• Ideal for morning or midday when cortisol is doing the most

Learn more about The O.G. TONIC

Chill TONIC

CBD + Ashwagandha + Lemon Balm + Passionflower

This is your nervous system exhale.

• Supports sleep onset and quality
• Helps reduce nighttime anxiety
• Great for winding down when your brain decides it’s brainstorming season at 11pm

Learn more about Chill TONIC

Flex TONIC

CBD + Black Seed Oil

For the physical symptoms that show up uninvited.

• Supports inflammation and joint discomfort
• May help with recovery, bloating, and general “why does my body feel like this” energy
• Helpful if perimenopause is coming with aches, tension, or gut shifts

Learn more about Flex TONIC

Chronic TONIC (Topical)

CBD + Essential Oils

Because sometimes you just want to apply relief directly and move on.

• Targets localized tension
• Supports muscle and joint comfort
• A good entry point if you’re new to CBD

Learn more about Chronic TONIC

TONIC Flight

Mini versions of O.G., Chill, Flex, Grounded, and Chronic.

For when you’re not sure what your body needs yet… because, fair.

• Lets you try multiple formulas without committing to a full size
• Perfect for dialing in what works best for your symptoms, since perimenopause loves to keep things unpredictable
• Can be used situationally: O.G. during the day, Chill at night, Flex when your body is feeling personally attacked, etc.
• Travel-friendly, because hormones don’t take vacations even if you do

Think of it as your perimenopause sampler pack. A low-pressure way to experiment, adjust, and figure out what actually helps, without turning it into a full-blown research project (you’ve done enough of those at 2am already).

Learn more about the TONIC Flight

The Real Goal: Feeling Like Yourself Again (Or At Least Adjacent to It)

Perimenopause is not subtle. It’s not predictable. And it doesn’t ask for permission.

But supporting your body during this time doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire life.

It can look like:

• Supporting your nervous system instead of fighting it
• Giving your body tools instead of expectations
• Laughing when possible. Crying when necessary. Applying CBD either way

CBD and herbs won’t eliminate perimenopause, but they can make the experience feel more regulated, supported, and slightly less like a chaotic science experiment happening in real time.

And honestly, that’s a win.

Sources

• Shannon et al., 2019, The Permanente Journal
• Blessing et al., 2015, Neurotherapeutics
• Atalay et al., 2019, Frontiers in Immunology
• Lopresti et al., 2019, Medicine (Baltimore)
• Kennedy et al., 2014, Nutrients
• Akhondzadeh et al., 2001, Phytotherapy Research
• Hadi et al., 2021, Journal of Herbal Medicine