15 - The Hormone-Cannabis Connection: Dosing with Body Literacy with Kyla de Clifford.

Today we’re diving into a question every canna-curious woman has either wondered about, or learned the hard way: How do I actually dose cannabis? And what does my cycle have to do with it?

If you’ve ever taken an edible and suddenly found yourself narrating your life like it’s a David Attenborough documentary or if you’ve avoided trying again after a not-so-great experience, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How to find your personal sweet spot
• What to do if you overdo it
• Why estrogen, ovulation, and the luteal phase can change your THC sensitivity
• How to work with your cycle (instead of against it) using intentional, layered dosing

We’ll walk through what a low dose actually looks like, how to track what’s working, and why body literacy is your best friend when it comes to plant medicine. Plus, I’ll break down each phase of your menstrual cycle and how it can impact your cannabis experience from microdosing for cramps to titrating carefully during PMS.

Whether you're new to this space or looking to deepen your relationship with the plant, this episode gives you the tools to tune in, track wisely, and dose with confidence.

Download Your FREE Dosing + Cycle Tracker Here: https://cannacurious.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/gold-leaf-cycle-trader-one-page.pdf

References + studies mentioned are also listed below:

1. Craft RM, Wakley AA, Tsutsui KT, Laggart JD. (2012).
    Sex differences in cannabinoid pharmacology: A reflection of differences in the endocannabinoid system?
    Life Sciences, 92(8–9), 476–481.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2011.09.017
2. Cooper ZD & Craft RM. (2018).
    Sex-dependent effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: A translational perspective.
    Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 34–51.
   https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.140
3. Cuttler C, Mischley LK, Sexton M. (2020).
    Sex differences in cannabis use and effects: A cross-sectional survey of cannabis users.
    Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 5(4), 252–262.
   https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0078
4. Sinclair J, Oudshoorn E, et al. (2024).
    Cannabis Use for Menstrual Health and Symptom Management: An Observational Survey of Australian Women.
    (Forthcoming – presented at the International Endometriosis and Cannabis Symposium, 2024)
   Note: This study is not yet published in a journal but was presented at a medical conference. Check back on the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics or cannabisresearchaustralia.org for publication updates.
5. Ross M. (2020).
    Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Preven

Transcript

Hello friends, Kyla here and today we are getting into something every kind of curious woman has either wondered about or maybe learned the hard way. How do I actually dose cannabis and what does my cycle have to do with it? So if you've ever taken an edible and suddenly found yourself narrating your life like it's a David Attenborough documentary, or if you've been afraid to try again after a not so great experience, then this episode is for you. I'm going to walk you through how to find your personal sweet spot, what to do if you overdo it, and how estrogen, ovulation, and your luteal phase can...

totally change your sensitivity. Let's spark up the conversation. So I thought we would start at the beginning. That's always a good place to start, isn't it? So we'll start with the golden rule. Start low, go slow, stay curious. This is the most

Boring but useful advice and it works across nearly every method of consumption. Thought I'd talk through milligrams and dosage like so what is a low dose? So a low dose of THC is usually around one to two and a half milligrams. A standard dose is around five to ten milligrams and anything sort of outside of this is a higher dose.

Now, some women, even two and a half milligrams can feel intense, especially if you are new. Or you might be using a fast acting product or if you're in a sensitive hormonal phase. So for CBD, you may need more. So around, you know, anywhere between 10 to 40 milligrams, like depending on your body goal and product.

Personally, for me, I actually go higher with CBD. There is research out of the States saying that these higher doses, over 500 milligrams can be helpful. So I'll put these in the show notes. But most people, they don't track what they take. They eat half a gummy, feel nothing after 20 minutes or half an hour and then take the other half and 90 minutes later, boom, laying in bed wondering if their cat is.

Angry at them. Does that sound familiar? So taking too much THC doesn't usually cause harm, but it can be so uncomfortable. It's awful. So your common symptoms are dry mouth, racing heart, paranoia, intense introspection, hello shame spiral, and feeling like time has stopped.

So what do you do in this situation? Your emergency come down kit should have in it some CBD. So if you've got CBD only, if you put that under your tongue, hold for a minute. Usually within a half an hour, that can buffer some of those negative effects. You're not going to go back to base, but you will feel like you're not going to die like some people do. Black peppercorn. So pepper has beta-caryophyllene in it. You'll hear me bang on about beta-caryophyllene. It's such an amazing terpene. And it's the only terpene that plugs into your endocannabinoid system. Lemon juice. Lemonine can just help with the mood regulation.

It can also help clear the liver. So if you can have a shot of lemon juice and olive oil, that can help things process faster. Also breathe, drink some water, lay down and remind yourself it will pass. It always passes. And probably, I guess that's not the time to start watching Black Mirror. So finding your sweet spot and your dose, it's not about quantity.

It's about context. So ask yourself, what's my intention today? Am I tired? Am I hungry? Am I emotional? Where am I in my cycle? If you can keep your method and your product consistent and change one variable at a time.

Tracking always helps. So, you know, you'll hear me bang on about that throughout this episode, but also I talk about it a lot because if you're not tracking, then it's really hard to see what's happening and also to help your healthcare professionals understand where you're at. So, you know, again, don't overthink it, just time, method, amount, your mood before and after and where you are.

in your menstrual cycle. And when you do this, you will start to see patterns. You'll learn what works. You'll feel much more in control and more empowered. So let's get into the part that can change everything. How your menstrual cycle can shift your response to the plant. So when we talk about your cycle,

Your hormone levels don't just affect your mood or your energy. They also shape how cannabis feels in your body. So if you've ever thought, oh my gosh, that gummy felt so much stronger than it did last time. It might not be the product. It actually could be your hormones. So estrogen can amplify THC's effects. Animal studies have shown this pretty clearly, like the one from Kraft in 2012, which found that rising estrogen levels increase CB1 receptor density in the brain. So that means you've got like, you know, your receptors, we'll call them like landing pads. You've got more landing pads for THC. So that'll make it feel stronger.

even at a lower dose. And while human research is still catching up, gender-based studies like from Cooper and Kraft in 2018 suggest that women are generally more sensitive to THC, especially around ovulation when estrogen is at its highest. On the flip side, during your luteal phase, that's kind of your PMS window. So from maybe day 15 to day 28,

Your progesterone's rising and it may dull your cannabinoid receptors a little bit. Some researchers like Dr. Michelle Ross talk about this as a kind of hormonal buffer that can make THC feel less effective, which may explain why you feel the urge to take more during that phase of your cycle. So I'm going to have a sip of tea. So cold today in Brisbane. Let's break it down.

week by week so we can see the patterns so phase one menstrual cycle so these are the days that you're bleeding the estrogen and progesterone are both relatively low as you start bleeding and many women feel crampy fatigued emotionally flat or raw so your plant strategy here go gently your system may be recalibrating

microdosing inhaled flour or a low oral dose, so we're talking one to two milligrams of THC with or without your CBD, can be enough to take the edge off cramps or mood shifts without flattening you. If you are sensitive to THC anxiety, lead with CBD and layer in very small amounts.

Track your symptom relief at 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes. So you can start to map out what actually helps your cramps versus mood. Survey data suggests menstruation is a common time when women self-select cannabis for symptom relief. So it's a good window to collect your own data points. And I think on your bleed on day one, ask yourself two things before dosing.

Is the discomfort sharp and localized or whole body and irritable? Because your answer there can guide you whether you reach for a topical and a light inhalation or a balanced, you know, edible or tincture. So phase two of your cycle, the early to mid follicular phase, this is post bleed and your estrogen begins to climb. Your energy rises. Woohoo! And some women report increased mental clarity during this time, but also increased sensitivity to stimulants, alcohol and, you know, and THC. Preclinical evidence links.

oestrogen with changes in CB1 receptor binding in brain regions tied to emotion and reward, which may help explain why smaller THC doses can feel a lot larger. So you might consider trimming your usual THC dose by 10 to 30% during your mid-cycle experimentation, just until you know how your body responds.

You know, you can push forward CBD ratios for daytime focus or your social settings. The animal work showing estrogen-related THC sensitivity suggests caution here, even though direct human proof is limited. Because your energy is up during this phase, it's a nice window to integrate.

your cannabis into movement or creativity rituals in really small amounts and track if microdoses enhance your mood without tipping you over into an intense phase now we're getting to ovulation now estrogen peaks luteinizing hormone surges and some you'll some women experience a dip and then a rebound

A lot of women tell me this is their most THC sensitive time of the month and preclinical estrogen data plus reported real world sensitivity makes this a prime time to stay light. So test tiny titrated doses. If you're experimenting with new products, if you usually take five milligrams, maybe try two or you could split your dose across time. One milligram, wait an hour and reassess.

Because pleasure, arousal and social drive can be higher for some women at ovulation, this can also be a window for intentional intimacy sessions with CBD-rich topicals, if that's part of your practice. Observational data show women use cannabis for sexual comfort and mood regulation in cycle-related symptom windows, and though the research is still emerging.

Now, a note on safety here. If you are layering cannabis with alcohol at events during ovulation, remember your lower THC threshold. Alcohol can mask onset and increase impairment. So start with your plant medicine first in a known micro amount if you choose to combine.

My advice here is stay off alcohol. It is a poison to your body and, you know, it's not really as helpful as one may think for relaxing. Now we're on to phase four. So your luteal phase, PMS window, after ovulation, progesterone rises and later falls if there's no pregnancy. Many women experience bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, insomnia and increased pain sensitivity.

And some preclinical data suggests that endocannabinoid signaling intersects with progesterone production and luteal function, hinting that hormonal shifts could alter cannabinoid responsiveness, although direct THC dosing data in humans is sorely lacking. So this is the phase where many women report needing more support. You may find that your microdose is not touching your irritability or your sleep.

And a slightly higher THC amount or a slower, longer-acting edible may help. Desperation dosing is common in PMS. So, you know, maybe build yourself a ladder. So step one, your CBD, balance ratio. Step two, a small dose of THC. Step three, add your topical. This is layering. It is such a great practice for this time of the month.

By tracking this, you can avoid taking a double dose and the panic that happens from that. Real-world survey work in women self-medicating for reproductive pain conditions, including endo, shows multi-method use patterns and titration for symptom clusters. So if insomnia is your big luteal symptom, note onset time. Short-acting inhalation near lights out can help you fall asleep.

Well, an oral preparation taken 60 to 90 minutes earlier can help you stay asleep. So observe which combination reduces your night waking without having any next day fog. If you do have next day fog, take your CBD. It would be great if you were taking a CBD the next day and that will help you.

you know, lessen these symptoms the next day. And it's such a great anti-inflammatory. So putting it together, like I'm going to put a tracker into the show notes, but really each day just jot down your cycle day or which phase you're in, product type and the milligrams, the method. So whether you inhaled, whether it was a tincture, a topical, what your symptom target is.

And then your relief rating at 30, 90, 120 or 180 minutes and any side effects. And also make a note, would you repeat the dose in that phase? If you are keeping a record within two or three cycles, you'll start to see some clear pattern that matter more than population averages because that data is gold for when you go and speak to your healthcare professional because it shows what works for you.

clinical educators and researchers in the field consistently emphasize individual titration. And personally for myself, it is just so important to note down, you know, again, the timing, what you've eaten. 

Do I always need less THC mid-cycle? Not always. Hormones are one layer. You've got tolerance, product potency, your liver metabolism, sleep, debt, and all your other meds also matter. So some controlled human studies have failed to find large acute sex differences once dosing is normalized. However,

You know, I know from personal experience that the estrogen cycle definitely makes a huge difference to THC and how my body responds. And again, I've heard from other women. So instead of random trial and error, make your dosing a conversation with your cycle. Notice where small shifts help, where you need more support and where ritual alone is enough.

And bring your notes to your doctor or your naturopath or your prescribing clinician and co-create a plan that respects both evidence and your lived experience. That is plant medicine and body literacy. Okay, so we covered a lot in this episode. How to avoid a green out. Make sure you've got your CBD, your peppercorns, your lemon in on hand, your lemons. And phone a friend.

We've worked through how to find your sweet spot and how your cycle impacts your experience. So if you want help tracking your dose or tuning in with your cycle, I have put together a free dosing and cycle tracker. You can grab it in the show notes or make sure you signed up to the newsletter. That is what Canna Curious is all about, giving you the tools to explore plant medicine with confidence, curiosity and care. And if this episode helped,

I would love it if you left a review or shared it with someone who's just starting out. And I always want to hear from you. So DM me your questions or if you've got a story to share. The more we talk about this and the more stories that we share, the more we break down the stigma. So until next time, start low, go slow and stay curious.