The Endocannabinoid System | Introduction
Introduction
Regardless of your knowledge associated with cannabis, the Endocannabinoid System is a significantly important aspect in understanding the science and biological mechanisms behind how and why cannabis works.
Fundamental Overview
The Endocannabinoid System, or ECS for short, is a biological system of receptors and neurotransmitters found in all mammalian species, (i.e., humans, furry friends, etc.) It is the largest biological system of receptors in the body and was discovered by scientists in the 1990s when analyzing the effects of cannabis on the body. Interestingly, the ECS permeates all 11 main physiological systems in the body, influencing and assisting internal function.
In short, however, the primary objective of the system is to promote homeostasis, or the stable equilibrium of balance in the body. Through enzymes, receptors, endocannabinoids, and those which are found in the cannabis plant (compounds referred to as endocannabinoids) the ECS is thought to promote homeostasis with regard to many bodily functions and responses including:
Sleep
Anxiety
Depression
Pain
Inflammation
Neuroprotection
Categorized Cannabinoids
Because our body is, quite frankly, intelligent, our body produces what is known as endogenous cannabinoids, which are active substances produced specifically by the body in promoting homeostasis. Whether you’re stressed out at work, or in a life-or-death situation, the levels of endocannabinoids in your body are constantly changing, similar to that of blood pressure and blood sugar.
Cannabinoids found in cannabis, however, are known as exogenous cannabinoids, meaning that they are active substances located outside of the body. These substances are remarkable in the sense that they mimic those that are created by the body, enhancing the effects and physiological systems that the ECS permeates.
To help reinforce this concept, imagine if you will that cannabinoids act as keys within the ECS, in which receptors act as the lock. As each key fits into its corresponding lock, the action elicits an effect on the body. This oversimplified but nevertheless important principle acts as the very basis by which the Endocannabinoid System acts.
Endocannabinoid System Structures
Although this territory is almost exclusively limited to passionate experts or us visionaries, understanding the structures associated with the ECS is imperative to its overall function. To begin, there are 2 main endocannabinoids found within the body, which include anandamide and 2-AG. Anandamide, derived from Sanskrit meaning the “bliss molecule,” is responsible for runners' high and, as can be implied, our states of transcendent bliss, whereas 2-AG is responsible for managing appetite, the immune system, and pain response. Nevertheless, however, it is worth mentioning that there are several other endocannabinoids in the body; anandamide and 2-AG are merely the most prevalent.
As we’ve mentioned, the main parts of the ECS are enzymes, receptors, and endocannabinoids. As such, let’s delve depper into the receptors of the ECS. The function of receptors, specifically in the Endocannabinoid System, is to receive messages transmitted by cannabinoids. The two main types include CB1 and CB2, which regulate appetite, memory, and pain, as well as inflammation and immune system health, respectively. These receptors as responsible for interpreting messages delivered by endocannabinoids, which consequently gives rise to a bodily response. Without these receptors, the ECS would be unable to carry out its indispensable regulatory functions.
Conclusion
More in-depth information on this topic will be posted soon in future journals. These publications will be updated periodically to ensure the information contained within them is up-to-date and relevant to current cannabis research.
