By now, you’ve probably heard of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and cannabidiol (CBD). But you may not understand how they work together in achieving homeostasis in your body. We’ll walk you through the basics of the ECS and outline how CBD supplementation can help maintain a healthy balance.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The ECS plays a key role in important biological processes responsible for pain, mood, sleep, memory, and more. It can be considered the bridge between the brain and the body. So, why didn’t we learn about such an important system when we learned about the other biological systems? Because it wasn’t discovered until somewhat recently. Its discovery and namesake stemmed from research on the effects of cannabis, specifically THC.
Discovering the ECS
In the 1980s, scientists discovered that THC (one of many cannabinoids) fit perfectly into receptors they aptly named cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are CB1 (found predominantly in the brain) and CB2 (found throughout the body.) Considering the network of receptors was so wide-reaching, scientists surmised that they must play a considerable role in how the body functions. What they didn’t know at the time, is that our body creates its own form of THC.
In 1992, a research group in Jerusalem discovered a naturally occurring neurotransmitter, which they named anandamide. Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that locks into the receptors of the ECS, increasing feelings of joy and happiness (endo meaning “internally produced”). The discovery of this crucial neurotransmitter unearthed a system that had previously flown under the radar.
A second endocannabinoid, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), was discovered several years later and is much more prevalent than anandamide, having specific effects on immune function, inflammation, and vascular health.
Where does CBD fit into this picture? CBD was discovered many decades ago, but it has only recently been appreciated for the breadth and depth of its benefits. It can increase our well-being through its regulatory effects on sleep, stress, inflammation, and pain, all without significant side effects.
CBD is one of many phytocannabinoids found in the plant kingdom (phyto meaning “from plants”) and unlike THC (also a component of cannabis), it has no psychoactive effects. Cannabidiol appears to be the closest thing to our native chemistry that has been found so far. That makes it uniquely qualified to fill the need we are sometimes unable to satisfy.
Of course, this begs the question: Why are endocannabinoids in such short supply and how do
Where does cannabidiol (CBD) fit in?
When our bodies aren’t producing an adequate supply of endocannabinoids the ECS can no longer maintain homeostasis. During these times, CBD supplementation can help fill in for the missing endocannabinoids.
CBD is one of over 100 constituents of the cannabis plant. It was discovered many decades ago, but it has only recently been appreciated for the breadth and depth of its benefits. It can increase our well-being through its regulatory effects on sleep, stress, inflammation and pain, all without significant side effects. Although more research needs to be done, it has shown very promising results.
CBD is one of many phytocannabinoids found in the plant kingdom (phyto meaning “from plants”) and unlike THC (also a component of cannabis), it has no psychoactive effects. Cannabidiol appears to be the closest thing to our native chemistry that has been found so far. That makes it uniquely qualified to fill the need we are sometimes unable to satisfy.
Of course, this begs the question: Why are endocannabinoids in such short supply and how do we encourage our system to produce them without supplementation? That will be discussed later in this series.
we encourage our system to produce them without supplementation? That will be discussed later in this series!
References
Alger BE. Getting high on the endocannabinoid system. Cerebrum. 2013;2013:14. Published 2013 Nov 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997295/
About the Author
Joel Hall
