In the year 1992, scientist Raphael Mechoulam was hard at work, trying to find an elusive system in the human body. During this time, the fruits of several years’ worth of labor were to come to a head. With the newfound discovery of the Endocannabinoid system, CBD, THC, and all other cannabis understanding found themselves thrown into contention.
Years prior, researchers already discovered the receptors that receive the messages of cannabis. The working thought at the time was that there were two possibilities. Either:
- The repeated use of cannabis by our ancestors resulted in this system forming
or - Human ancestors used the plant because they already had this system in place
Since it didn’t make sense to use the plant before a benefit evolves in the human body, Mechoulam operated on the hypothesis that the second possibility was correct. He finally proved this correct when he was able to isolate the endocannabinoid, anandamide.
Known as “the bliss chemical,” anandamide handles what we call the “runner’s high” and is a naturally produced cannabinoid. Since we produce cannabinoids organically within our body (endocannabinoids,) Mechoulam had proven the existence of the Endocannabinoid system.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The Endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a neuromodulatory system – meaning, it regulates and balances the body. This is crucial for homeostasis – or balance within the body of almost every animal. When the body is in a state of homeostasis, it can maintain stable conditions within itself.
Some have even theorized that many of our illnesses and problems could result from an endocannabinoid deficiency. When balancing the Endocannabinoid system, CBD and THC work to activate and stimulate the receptors. This makes it possible that it could assist greatly in correcting this imbalance.
But how does the Endocannabinoid system work? And why is it that a plant chemical can affect it so much?
How does the Endocannabinoid System Function?
Overview of the Localization of Endocannabinoid System components at the Synapse” (Source: Lu, Hui-Chen, and Ken Mackie. “An Introduction to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System.” Biological psychiatry vol. 79,7 (2016): 516-25. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028
There is a lot of insider knowledge needed to understand the above chart but it’s a fascinating process. As the arrows illustrate, the main communication of these synapses occurs within receptors (CB1 receptors, or, the green spirals in the graph.)
Throughout your body, CB1 and CB2 scatter in nearly every corner of your being. Located deep within our bones and right at the surface of our skin, nearly every regulatory concern starts here.
CB1 and CB2 Receptors
As mentioned above, the endocannabinoid system consists of receptors that communicate with each other. These synapses produce more or fewer amounts of various chemicals throughout the body based on the messages the receptors receive.
CB1 Receptors
CB1 receptor’s location is primarily on the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord but researchers have found them in many other areas as well. These include white blood cells, the endocrine gland, spleen, and other areas of the reproductive, urinary, and gastrointestinal tracts.
CB1 receptors function in many different ways, one of which provides the euphoric high we associate with THC. As a potent CB1 agonist, THC has several effects on the body. Research also indicates a strong correlation between the CB1 receptor, inflammation, and pain.
While this relationship is still too complicated to nail down, it certainly presents many opportunities for treatment.
CB2 Receptors
The most prominent CB2 receptor location is white blood cells but is also located in the tonsils and spleen. CB2 receptor function is very different from that of CB1.
Unlike the latter, CB2 receptors do not cause an intoxicating or “high” effect. These are the receptors that are best activated by CBD and have a lot of potential applications when it comes to pain and inflammation.
Since their most prominent location is on white blood cells, there are often more receptors wherever there is more pain. CBD topicals and creams work to speak directly to the area where they are most needed. Other, more whole-body solutions will naturally gravitate towards the higher concentrations of receptors.
What the Endocannabinoid System Regulates
There is very little that the ECS is not responsible for. Some of the main functions that it regulates every moment of our lives include:
- Learning and memory – High doses of THC lead to memory loss and disruption in short-term memory ability. Abstinence results in this normalizing. We are, as of now, mostly unsure of why that is.
- Appetite and Digestion – In 2006, the drug Rimonabant set out to control obesity by blocking CB1 receptors. The drug was immensely effective at this task but also resulted in crippling depression in users. While this wasn’t the golden ticket the scientists had hoped for, it showed that there was a definite effect on appetite and digestion in the ECS.
- Mood – Finding balance in mood is not always an easy feat. The above illustration shows how important the ECS is in this regulation as well.
Cannabis is humanity’s way to communicate directly with this system and tell it what we need or want so it doesn’t have to guess. Using CBD daily has shown time and time again that daily use helps build this system up and provides benefits far beyond occasional use.
Stock up today at CBD For the People and start treating your ECS right!
By J Gordon Curtis
