What Does the ECS Do?
Did you know that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a key stress management system in the body? It acts as a homeostatic regulatory system that supports overall well-being through the maintenance of a balance in molecular signaling networks.
Studies have demonstrated that different cannabinoids affect the brain and peripheral nervous systems by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which developed in ancient animals more than 600 million years ago.
Endocannabinoid receptors are distributed throughout the body. The abundance of anandamide receptors in the brain underscores the importance of this neurotransmitter in regulating brain function.
For instance, when you injure your hand, nerve cells transmit a pain message to your brain to notify you of a problem. The body reacts to the injury by dispatching white blood cells to repair the wound. During this sequence of events, the body produces anandamide, which attaches to cannabinoid receptors and blocks the pain message, bringing your body back to equilibrium.
Furthermore, stimulating the endocannabinoid receptors in the brain provides protection by reducing inflammation and supporting the generation of new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis.
As individuals age, cannabis could potentially benefit the brain instead of causing harm.
Endocannabinoid receptors are located in the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and immune system:
CB1 receptors: Mainly found in the brain, but also the lungs, liver, and kidneys
CB2 receptors: Mainly found in the immune system and hematopoietic cells, but also in parts of the brain
What Is Endocannabinoid Deficiency CED?
The main functions of the ECS are often summarized as follows.
Eat: Regulates appetite, metabolism, and digestion
Sleep: Helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle and REM sleep
Relax: Regulates anxiety and stress as well as pain and muscle tension
Protect: Regulates immune system function
Forget: Regulates memory and learning
It is possible for certain people to have endocannabinoid levels that are below the average range. Every person has unique endocannabinoid levels that correspond to the levels of a neurotransmitter known as anandamide, which is a centrally-acting endocannabinoid.
There is strong evidence that if endocannabinoid function were decreased, a lowered pain threshold and changes in digestion, mood, and sleep would be operative. There is also strong evidence that CED is present for migraine, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
If there are reduced levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids in our bodies, studies indicate that consuming whole plant or full spectrum herbal cannabis supplements could be advantageous. Ongoing research is investigating the potential of plant-based cannabinoids and synthetic cannabis in restoring equilibrium.
Additionally, cannabinoids show potential as a beneficial group of compounds for treating migraine pain, both in the short term and as a preventative measure, thanks to their anticonvulsive, analgesic, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The abundance of CB1 receptors in the brain makes them an attractive target for the treatment of migraine.
Cannabis contains over 500 distinct compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, which have been named the entourage effect. The entourage effect means that different compounds work together to achieve an effect that would not be impossible for them to achieve independently.
A Few of the Many Health Conditions Linked to ECS:
• Chronic pain.
• Anxiety and depression
• Neurological disorders
• Inflammation and
Autoimmune diseases
• Sleep disorders
• Metabolic health
• Gut health
Natural Ways of Supporting Your ECS:
Physical activity boosts the presence of endocannabinoids in the body, potentially contributing to its mood-enhancing effects. Research indicates that endocannabinoids could play a role in the euphoric sensation known as the "runner's high." The endocannabinoid system (ECS) primarily regulates equilibrium (homeostasis), overseeing stress reactions, pain sensitivity, emotional well-being, sleep patterns, appetite, metabolism, immune responses, and more. The ECS acts as the internal conductor of your body's harmony, collaborating with other neuroendocrine hormones within the hypothalamic-adrenal cortical axis.
Cannabis Helps Exercise Enhancement and Motivation
Last month, a study in Sports Medicine examined runners and contrasted their workout experiences before and after using cannabis. Participants in the research had the option to select cannabis with high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the part of cannabis that can cause a sense of intoxication when consumed in larger amounts.
According to studies, people don’t need to get high to reap the benefits of cannabis during exercise. Participants who consumed CBD-dominant cannabis more often reported feelings of euphoria and the so-called runner’s high than those who consumed THC-dominant strains.
The vast majority (90.5 percent) of participants in a Colorado University study reported in the Sports Medicine Journal reported feeling more enjoyment from the exercise after consuming cannabis. Most (69 percent) also said it decreased their pain and increased their focus.
Cannabis and Pain
Cannabis has a significant analgesic effect – pain relief- 20 times the anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin or hydrocortisone.
Clinical studies largely affirm that neuropathic pain patients derive benefits from cannabinoid treatment.
Cannabis Effects on Spasticity and Pain in Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Injury
One of the most promising clinical uses of cannabinoid compounds is in the symptomatic treatment of spasms and pain in these conditions.
References
The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569
Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the
Central Nervous System:
60 Peer Reviewed Cannabis Studies:
Americans for Safe Access: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/
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