What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The Endocannabinoid System

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What is The Endocannabinoid System?

The Endocannabinoid System (or ECS for short) is a complex cell-signalling system in the body that is responsible for maintaining homeostasis (balance) in virtually every system in the body.

The ECS was identified in 1992 by Professor Raphael Mechoulam and his researchers who were exploring exactly how the Cannabinoid, THC, works in the body.

The Endocannabinoid System plays a role in your body's functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, memory, reproduction & fertility.

There are three main parts to our Endocannabinoid System (ECS):

1. Endocannabinoid molecules
2. Cannabinoid receptors
3. Enzymes

Endocannabinoids are molecules made by your body. The 2 known Endocannabinoids are 2-AG & Anandamide.

These help keep the body's internal functions running smoothly. Your body produces them as needed so it’s hard to keep track if there’s a deficiency.

The Cannabinoid receptors around our body are called CB1 & CB2.

CB1 receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system.

CB2 receptors are mostly found in your peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells.

Endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor. The effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds to.

There are two main enzymes:

1. fatty acid amide hydrolase
2. monoacylglycerol acid lipase

These are responsible for creating endocannabinoids, transporting them to our receptors and breaking down endocannabinoids once they have performed their function.

Research has linked the ECS to the following processes:

1. Appetite and digestion
2. Metabolism
3. Chronic pain
4. Inflammation
5. Mood
6. Learning and memory
7. Motor control
8. Sleep
9. Cardiovascular system function
10. Muscle formation
11. Bone remodelling and growth
12. Liver function
13. Stress
14. Reproductive system function
15. Skin and nerve function

Ways to give your Endocannabinoid System a boost.

1. Take a Cannabinoid supplement like CBD.
2. Try aerobic exercise.
3. Add Cacao & Maca roots to your diet.
4. Look for other herbs with Cannabinoid properties.
5. Supplement omega-3.

The Endocannabinoid System is still significantly underestimated and is still being researched today. We highly recommend you do some extra research because we haven’t even scratched the surface in this video, This is just basic knowledge to help get you started.

Thanks for joining us on today’s episode, we hope you learned something new.

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Sources:

CBD E-Book by Hannabis - https://strangeapothecary.co.uk/product/free-cbd-ebook/

The CBD Bible by Dr Dani Gordon - https://amzn.to/3PEXZGG

The Rebel’s Apothecary by Jenny Sansouci - https://amzn.to/3PoCSsE