ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM (ECS):  THE MOST IMPORTANT PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING HUMAN HEALTH

The human body and mind are superbly complex and rely on the interrelationship of different systems operating in compatibility and balance. While the processes on many of the body’s systems have been known for quite some time, it was not until 1988 that a researcher uncovered a 600-million-year-old system that is now considered as an essential physiological process for building and maintaining human health. This system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), it is named after the cannabis plant that led to its discovery. It is now familiar that the ECS is important in regulating the conventional function of a wide range of body processes. Correctly, the ECS plays an essential role in the immune system, nervous system, digestive system, endocrine glands, blood vessels and cells, liver, brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, bones, spleen, muscles,  fat cells, and lymph cells.

Endocannabinoid

“Endo” means internal or within the body and “cannabinoid” highlights the role of the cannabis plant.

Because of the discovery of the ECS was due to the cannabis plant, this system has little to do with the psychoactive component, the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of one of the best marijuana strain, and more to do with compounds that the human body makes. The ECS occurred in nature before cannabis did, and thus can be affected by many more factors than just marijuana — including lifestyle and diet choices. The purpose of the ECS is to serve as a chief administrator, sending chemical messages and triggering biological responses throughout the body that are important to health and well-being. The result of this fragile balancing route is to create homeostasis — that inner drive within every cell in the body and brain to keep the balance and promote health within its internal environment, even when covered with external changes.

A closer look at Cannabidiol (CBD)

There are many potential applications of CBD. It reduces nausea and vomiting, suppresses seizure activity, combats psychiatric disorders, combats inflammatory disorders, combats neurodegenerative disorders, combats tumor and cancer cell growth, combats anxiety and depression.

Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis that affects the entire ECS. Consequently, it’s displaying great promise for enhancing overall health. Since CBD does not connect to CB1 receptors in the same way as THC, it doesn’t make people feel high. CBD decreases the euphoria produced by THC. Currently, there is an excellent focus on THC+CBD combinations. Cross breeding other strain of cannabis with the other to produce medical marijuana seeds. This combination can help in plenty of different health conditions, including schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory disorders. There are now many various forms of CBD on the market, including CBD oil, capsules, topical creams and balms, and vape liquid.

Role of the receptors

The ECS is presently known to include Receptor sites on cells called CB1 and CB2, compounds known as endocannabinoids produced in the body from dietary fats like Anandamide that bind to CB1 — widely expressed in the brain and CB2 — mainly expressed in the cell of the immune system and Enzymes that impact the production and metabolism of these endocannabinoids. Receptors send valuable information to cells, organs, and the nervous system, and are essential in supporting optimal health and homeostasis. In the human body, the ECS is considered to have more cellular receptor sites than any other receptor system.

The ECS regulates many vital aspects of humans’ physical, emotional, and mental health, including:

Appetite, digestion, and hunger

The release of hormones that promote the feeling of hunger will be triggered after the CB1 receptor is activated. This process is directed by nerve cells.

Cellular energy

In the human body, the ECS is considered to have many cellular receptor sites than any other receptor system. Receptors send essential information to cells, organs, and the nervous system, and are significant in supporting optimal health and homeostasis.

Inflammation, pain and motor control

CBD turns receptors in the ECS indirectly and sustains multiple outcomes. For instance, CBD holds the body from receiving anandamide, which is a compound connected with regulating pain. This way, CBD can lessen the degree of pain as well as reducing the inflammation, which is an underlying condition of many painful statuses. The antispasmodic qualities of CBD can sometimes help in reducing the muscle spasms linked with it. One study shows that CBD significantly decreased muscle stiffness and spasticity.

Emotion and moods

When anandamide binds to the cannabinoid receptor in the emotion center in the brain, it produces a mild state of bliss, as well as a calming effect.

Motivation, pleasure, and memory

A study shows ECS is excellent for higher thought processes, memory motivation, and movement control.

Reproduction and fertility

Rising evidence has shown CBD has a compelling effect on fertility. This result is due to the way it communicates with the ECS. Since the ECS is a regulatory system, its principal function is promoting maintain homeostasis, or balance, in the body.

Metabolism

A study shows that the endocannabinoid system is directly attached to numerous metabolic functions, such as transporting nutrients and collecting energy. CBD has the potential to support in metabolizing the compounds consumed from food during the digestion process by assisting the two receptors. On the other hand, the body never wants to overstimulate the ECS as it can occur in different effects.

Immune function

A typical symptom of some autoimmune disorders is dry skin and rashes. CBD shows that it can be beneficial in moisturizing the skin through the improvement of oil production within the endocannabinoid system. Related studies are noting CBD has the potential to reduce stress levels as well as lessening heart rate and blood pressure.

CBD influence

CBD can influence so several bodily processes without inducing side effects. This is because of the biochemistry, the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors all over the body, and the ECS and how it interacts with CBD.

Considering how significant the ECS into the body and brain, it is not a surprise that a deficiency of endocannabinoid activity is believed to be associated to debilitating ailments such as seizure disorders, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, and more…

Natalie Gray is a Biochemical Engineer. She works in the Research and Development team that focuses on the design and construction of unit processes. She is a recreational marijuana supporter and her love for organic chemistry brought her to medical cannabis. She grows her own flowers, working on different projects and study everything above and under cannabis roots.