Menstrual Pain

One of the biggest medical uses of cannabis in the 19th century was for the treatment of menstrual cramps and reduction of labour pain. Queen Victoria was prescribed cannabis for this reason by her physician J.R. Reynolds. Yet there is nothing mentioned in 20th century medical literature. Possibly we have a such a fear of the unborn child being harmed by its mother's drug taking that any research on this subject would leave the researcher open to attack. However studies in populations that use cannabis socially (Costa Rica and Jamaica) have shown that there is no negative effect on the unborn child. The studies that do show a negative effect need to be checked to make sure that it is not some other factor such as poverty that causes the effect. Also, most studies concentrate on people that take cannabis by smoking it. One must be careful to separate the effects of smoking from those intrinsic to cannabis. As well as the various tars and other by-products of smoking, smoking leads the user to inhale more carbon monoxide than they would otherwise. This reduces the ability of blood to transport the necessary oxygen to the fetus. As a result of these issues, several studies regarding cannabis have produced a result showing similar effects to those of tobacco smokers. Despite the controversy, many women have experimented with cannabis, and have found that it does control menstrual cramps, makes labour quicker and less painful and relieves the nausea (morning sickness) associated with pregnancy. If severe nausea is reducing the mother's food intake, then the child may be harmed by not taking cannabis