What is the endocannabinoid system? CBD is a hot topic. More and more people want to use it and read positive stories about CBD. Not everyone makes a purchase blindly. CBD is quite expensive, and how do you use CBD? Often, it becomes time to make a call to ask what CBD actually does for you. You will quickly hear: ‘CBD can help balance the endocannabinoid system.’ You probably tune out at this sentence. The endocannabinoid system? What is that? It’s time to explain a bit more. In the following blog article, we will look at what the endocannabinoid system is and what it does.
Everyone has it; the endocannabinoid system
It’s a difficult word to pronounce, the endocannabinoid system, also known as ECS. Endo means inside or within. It is often also explained as own, because it is inside you. And when people hear cannabinoid, they often think of substances that are illegal. If we translate the endocannabinoid system nicely, it is the body’s own cannabinoid system. The ECS is a system in your body that produces body-own substances that are good for certain functions (we will go deeper into this shortly). You have it, your neighbors have it, even your pet has it; the endocannabinoid system.
How does the endocannabinoid system work
You ride your bike to work. There is a tree on the road blocking your way. You call the municipality to have the tree removed. A few minutes later, the municipality comes and removes the tree. You get back on your bike and continue riding.
A simple example of how the endocannabinoid system works. The ECS is a signal sender of our body. In the story above, the road is your body and the municipality is our brain, the organization that monitors and manages everything. Because the endocannabinoid system sends a signal, the problem can be solved and you can continue on your way.
The endocannabinoid system does not repair defects itself but does detect them. The tree in this case can be anything. This can be pain, inflammation, thoughts, or other processes in your body. The monitoring of these defects happens at the cellular level. Signals are sent that connect to two receptors: CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Cannabinoid and CB1-CB2
A cannabinoid is a substance that can bind to a cannabinoid receptor, of which there are at least two types, CB1 and CB2. There are body-own cannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-AG (2-arachidonylglycerol), as well as plant-based cannabinoids. Think of CBD and THC. THC is a drug with psychoactive effects. Stimulation of the CB1 receptor causes an appetite-stimulating effect. CBD does not cause a psychoactive effect. (source)
The cannabinoids in your body bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mainly found in the central nervous system and in some organs. Think of motor skills, nausea, pain, and memory. The CB2 receptors are mainly found in peripheral organs and in the cells of our immune system.
Endocannabinoid system out of balance
If your endocannabinoid system is out of balance, this can mean that signals are not properly transmitted to the brain. The tree remains on the road in this case, so you cannot continue. You try to avoid the tree with some movements to get past it. However, the tree remains, so the problem is not solved. Think of pain in your body; you continue, but the pain remains. Your body cannot properly address the source, which may cause more pain or underlying complaints.
For many people, the ECS is out of balance, which can cause symptoms. It is important to get the ECS back in balance.
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