The Endocannabinoid System, Explained
The Endocannabinoid System, Explained
At Lovewell Farms, we pride ourselves on being the most sustainable hemp company in Rhode Island while providing top-quality CBD Products. We believe that it is important to understand how endocannabinoids work and their reaction with to human body. Cannabis exists among a small group of plants that have a noticeable psychoactive effect. Along with many other reasons, cannabis has been classified by our government as a controlled substance. Now, why is it that this plant can produce such a unique effect on the human body? This is the result of the Cannabinoids found in the plant and why they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. This term may be new to you, but what is important to understand is that all humans and most living things have an endocannabinoid system, whether or not they’ve ever been exposed to cannabis. It plays a role in many factors of your body’s health, such as your quality of sleep, stability of mood, regulation of appetite, clarity of memory, and promotion of reproductive function. Engaging and supplying your endocannabinoid system can have many positive benefits, but to understand why you must first understand the three core components: Endocannabinoids, Receptors, and Enzymes.
The reason our bodies have an endocannabinoid system is because the body naturally produces a class of chemicals known as endocannabinoids. These are similar in structure to cannabinoids. The cannabinoids play a role in keeping your body’s internal functions running smoothly. The two that have been discovered so far are:
– anandamide (AEA)
– 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG)
Endocannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body. Endocannabinoids bind to these receptors to signal the Endocannabinoid system to take action. There are two main endocannabinoid receptors:
– CB1 receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system
– CB2 receptors, which are mostly found in your peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells
Understanding Endocannabinoid Receptors
Endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor. The effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds. For example, endocannabinoids might target CB1 receptors in a spinal nerve to relieve pain. Others might bind to a CB2 receptor in your immune cells to signal that your body is experiencing inflammation, a common sign of autoimmune disorders.
Enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they’ve carried out their function. There are two main types:
– fatty acid amide hydrolase, that breaks down AEA
– monoacylglycerol acid lipase, which typically breaks down 2-AG
When cannabinoids from the cannabis plant enter our body, they interact with our endocannabinoid receptors in a manner similar to our natural endocannabinoids. THC-Delta 9 is able to interact with both types of receptors. The most recent studies suggest that CBD does not bind to either receptors, but acts as a buffering agent that aids in the efficiency of absorption. It is also believed that there is a third endocannabinoid receptor that has not yet been discovered. Currently, it is not understood how CBD interacts with its system. This will become clearer as research on the matter is further developed.
When trying new CBD Products like 500mg CBD Salve, Raw CBD Pre Rolls, and even CBD Topicals for the first time, it is important that you take it for a period of 2-4 weeks for your endocannabinoid system to get used to the new introduction. This is common among many types of supplements and medications that require time to build in the body. Those who don’t regularly consume cannabis will generally take longer to achieve the full effect. We hope you have found this helpful, and if you want to know more about cannabis feel free to check out the other blogs on our website.
