ECS or what’s known to biologists and scientists as the endocannabinoid system is a biological system present in both man and animals. It is comprised of endocannabinoids and receptor proteins that are present in the vertebrae of our central nervous system, which includes the brain.
This particular system has been the center of research recently due to the highly debated topic of the uses and benefits of CBD, derived from Marijuana or the Hemp Plant. This discussion has led to several different clinical trials and preliminary research is done on one particular subject – the endocannabinoid system and cannabis (or CBD).
Topics and trials have taken place involving subjects that have been being studied in using oral CBD over weeks or months to see if it has any effect on aspects of the nervous system such as in regulating physiological and cognitive processes. The overall reasoning behind it is to investigate if this substance can be initiated to patients for pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes. This website has some helpful resources. Included in studies are observations regarding pregnancy, fertility, various activities of the immune system, pain-sensation, appetite, mood, and memory to name a few.
Production of Cannabinoids in Our Endocannabinoid System
Let’s start by defining what Cannabinoids are. These are the natural components found in the Cannabis Sativa plant and include about 66 of the 480 different compounds found in the plant. THC is the most popular one and second in line is CBD (Cannabidiol) which takes over about 40% of the whole thing.
Cannabinoids are divided into subclasses, namely:
- Cannabichromene (CBC)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabinodiol (CBDL)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Others include cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE) and cannabitriol (CBT)
As mentioned earlier, these cannabinoids exercise their properties by networking with specific receptors present on the surface of cells present in our bodies, found in various parts of our overall system, referred to as CB1 and 2.
Anandamide, which is the naturally occurring substance that was found by scientists back in the early 1990s, was found to bind with CB1. So, the effects of CBD on our ‘endo’ system depends on the different area of the brain that’s in question. For instance, our limbic system is responsible for memory, psychomotor, and cognition performance, whereas the mesolimbic part affects the pleasure and reward responses as well as pain.
Because CBD and the Endo-System inhibit the enzymes that break down anandamide, naturally there will be an increase of the substance in the human body. As a result, the feeling of well-being will also be on the increase in patients. This is a fine example of how CBD interacts with the system to produce positive results and help towards a whole bunch of different mental and psychological disorders.
The Relationship Between CBD and The Endo-System
The overall stability and sense of balance of any functioning healthy person is known as Homeostasis, and the endo-system is the server or operating system responsible for monitoring all communication (including homeostasis) in the body. It is the main driver.
ECS is usually comprised of three things.
Endocannabinoids. Activate the CB1 and 2 receptors (above) directly.
Metabolic Enzymes. These are the chemical compounds that utilize any left-over endocannabinoids after they have completed their interactions with the receptors.
Cannabinoid Receptors. That is present on the immune and nerve cells, amongst others.
When all these above processes are combined, they lead to several highly beneficial processes in the body which further lead to positive results for many ailments including the treatment of depression and anxiety, high blood pressure, relieving post-traumatic stress disorders, certain tumors, and cancers, acts as an anti-inflammatory and treatments towards multiple sclerosis, to name a few.
It is safe to say that not only are these two important elements related, but, more importantly, they rely on each other to enable the body to function optimally at all times. when looking to introduce this natural plant extract into your system or diet, make sure you only invest in the purest of them all and with the least to no amount of THC in it, and always follow the correct dosage instructions. if you are however self-medicating an underlying health condition, do not use it without consulting your general practitioner or doctor.
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