The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most important systems in our bodies. Its responsibilities are to regulate every system within our body, from our immune system to our central nervous system.
You would think something so vital would get more attention, but the ECS remains somewhat of a mystery to most people. To help you better understand this critical body system, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about the endocannabinoid system and how CBD interacts with it.
What Does the Endocannabinoid System Do?
The endocannabinoid system regulates physical and emotional processes like mood and appetite. To put it simply, the ECS balances our cells and organs in order to keep us healthy and functioning.
We all have an endocannabinoid system. A fun fact about the ECS is that researchers discovered the endocannabinoid system while attempting to identify exactly how THC produces its effects in the body.
What they found out over the years is that the endocannabinoid system is a complex signaling system that allows our cells to communicate with each other in order to keep our bodies in check. This results in what we call homeostasis- a healthy state of balance within our body.
In our immune system, the ECS regulates the body’s immune responses to help battle infections or viruses. It also helps regulate sleep patterns, appetite, and mood. In other words, it affects how we experience pleasure and pain. The ECS is so complex and extensive that it is harder to pinpoint a part of the body not affected by the ECS, rather than finding one that is.
Where Do Endocannabinoids Come From?
Endocannabinoids are chemical couriers produced by cells. Like an RC-car toy, signals are released by one cell to produce an effect in a nearby cell. Every signal follows a consistent and predictable pattern to help keep our internal systems in check. Hormones like estrogen, and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, are all common examples of chemical signals.
To understand this communication process, imagine a tutor giving a lesson to his students. If he’s explaining the material too fast, the students will ask him to slow down.
If the tutor and his students were little cells in our body, the endocannabinoid system would be the students’ ability to ask the tutor to slow down.
If this ability is compromised in any way, then problems with the students’ comprehension will arise. Similarly, when the ECS fails to allow cells to communicate, health problems may emerge.
When the ECS is not functioning accordingly, any one of the physiological systems regulated by it can fall out of balance, leaving you vulnerable to diseases or health issues. This is called an “endocannabinoid deficiency.”
How Does CBD Affect the Endocannabinoid System?
CBD is a natural supplement that acts as a cannabinoid. As previously mentioned, cannabinoids have a direct relationship to our body as they interact with the endocannabinoid system. Before we dive into how CBD affects the ECS, let’s go over some general definitions.
Enzymes are responsible for breaking down and recycling endocannabinoids after they are done taking care of business. By voluntarily hindering these enzymes, we can increase the number of endocannabinoids in the body. The more endocannabinoids, the better.
CBD inhibits the enzymes responsible for breaking down the endocannabinoids, thereby increasing the number of endocannabinoids and boosting the ECS. This is why the naturally occurring cannabinoids in hemp improve your health and overall well-being.
CBD Products to Support Your ECS
Now that you know what the endocannabinoid system is and what it does making sure this system is well regulated is up to you. A deficiency in endocannabinoids has been associated with several disorders and malaise such as migraine, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Since the endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating the release of neurotransmitter, diseases that are attributed to their dysfunction, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, may be related to endocannabinoid deficiency.
When the ECS becomes overactive or underactive, achieving homeostasis is no longer possible- that’s where CBD comes in.
CBD-infused products have become widely popular and are now available nationwide and right here online. CBD comes in various forms. You may have seen people use sublingual CBD Oils, also known as CBD tinctures. These oils have gotten popular because they are absorbed under the tongue and take effect pretty quickly.
However, there is a range of CBD products designed to plug into any lifestyle. These include CBD-infused Coffee, CBD edibles, CBD topicals, and more.
