The Human Body Produces Cannabinoids Each Day
Cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds that naturally occur in the resin of the Cannabis Plant, is not a new thing to a human body.
The human body is full of many complex systems. Among them is the ECS (endogenous cannabinoid system) that is a complex cell-signaling system in charge of homeostasis within the body.
Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to stay in a balance despite all environmental changes — examples of homeostasis in action is when the temperature of your body is above average (37 degrees Celsius or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) you release extra heat through the skin. If the temperature is below that level, you absorb the warmth around you.
When there is a virus inside of you, the body will activate the immune system to get rid of the virus and bring the balance back in place. Balance, in this case, stands for maintaining the internal stability of the human body.
According to the article, “The Endogenous cannabinoids Your Body Produces & How They Help You” on SOLCBD.com, the ECS evolved over 600 million years ago. The ECS in the human body is a primordial part of our biology and was discovered in the early 1990s by scientists while exploring cannabinoids.
The ECS consists of three main elements: Endogenous cannabinoids, Endogenous cannabinoid receptors, and Enzymes.
Endogenous cannabinoids are molecules crafted by the human body. They’re analogous to cannabinoids that we harvest from the resin of the hemp plant, but our bodies make them. Scientists have discovered two vital endogenous cannabinoids:
- anandamide (AEA)
- 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG)
Their purpose in the human body is to check if internal functions such as maintenance of fluid volume or maintenance of breathing patterns run correctly. Think of them as managers over the human body with specialization in internal functions.
The exciting thing, though, is that there is a healthy level of endogenous cannabinoids produced by the body. Your body produces them as there is a demand for it, which is always flexible.
Endogenous cannabinoid receptors are receptors that are spread all over the human body. Endogenous cannabinoids “insert” themselves in those receptors to draw attention from the ECS. Think of endogenous cannabinoid as a key, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor as a lock. When the lock is open, it sends a signal to the ECS that there is something wrong where that lock is located in the body, and the immediate action is required.
As with Endogenous cannabinoids today there are two known primary endogenous cannabinoid receptors:
- CB1 receptors, in the central nervous system
- CB2 receptors, in the peripheral nervous system
Endogenous cannabinoids (keys) are inserted in both types of receptors. The effects resulted from such “insertion” will depend on the Endogenous cannabinoid receptor’s (lock) location and kind of endogenous cannabinoid (key) used. For example, studies suggest endogenous cannabinoids can hit CB1 receptors in a spinal nerve to calm chronic pain.
Enzymes are biological molecules such as proteins that, significantly speed up the rate of chemical reactions within cells. In the case of the ECS, they play the role of destroyers of the “keys” after the connection between Endogenous cannabinoid (key), and Endogenous cannabinoid receptor (lock) has happened. According to “Healthline” enzymes are in charge of breaking down endogenous cannabinoids once they’ve carried out their function.
As with Endogenous cannabinoid receptors today there are two
main enzymes responsible for the breaking-down job:
- fatty acid amide hydrolase, destroyer of AEA
- monoacylglycerol acid lipase, destroyer of 2-AG
So, these three core elements (Endogenous cannabinoid, Endogenous cannabinoid receptors, Enzymes) forge a team, which is taking care of homeostasis in the human body.
But the ECS is not able to work infinitely with no supply in nutrition. So, what is being used to produce new and support existing endogenous cannabinoids, and endogenous cannabinoid receptors inside the body in the first place?
The body is looking for a significant amount of Omega-3 fatty acids to produce the required number of Endogenous cannabinoids and Endogenous cannabinoid receptors.
Omega-3s are a family of fatty acids that are providing a significant number of health benefits and play a big role in the human body. Among different health benefits are preventing macular degeneration (incurable eye disease), depression, and anxiety. What kind of food is containing Omega-3 fatty acids in excess? According to Daisy Whitbread, the significant amount of Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in chia seeds, fish, walnuts, tofu, shellfish. Essentially, Omega-3 fatty acids are the foundation of endogenous cannabinoids. If the human body doesn’t have enough Omega-3 fatty acids, it will not be able to produce enough endogenous cannabinoids, it needs to keep ECS healthy. As was mentioned earlier, Omega-3 fatty acids are also crucial for Endogenous cannabinoid receptors. For example, the growth and healing of CB1 receptors depend on Omega-3.
Failing to meet the required amount of nutrition can lead to failure of ES and, therefore, losing control over homeostasis. Experts call such conditions as EDS (Endogenous cannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome). Possible consequences of EDS are migraines, fibromyalgia (pain, poor sleep, cognitive difficulty), Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
If EDS is the case for a person, the possible treatment could be – setting up a diet based on an increased amount of Omega-3 fatty acids consumed. That will heal one’s CB1 receptors, accelerate the growth of both Endogenous cannabinoid receptors and Endogenous Cannabinoids.
Another suitable treatment would be to take cannabinoids from external sources, like Cannabidiol, from CBD. It will boost the concentration of Endogenous cannabinoids in the body and supply Endogenous cannabinoid receptors with a significant portion of nutrition, therefore providing ECS with all necessary supplements, and thus making ECS work at the most efficient way.
So as you can see, CBD cannabinoid is not something new to the human body. Nature gifted humans a perfect match between the chemical compounds of resin of the hemp plant and chemical compounds of the human endogenous cannabinoid system.
If we think about ECS (endogenous cannabinoid system) as a car, then CBD cannabinoids and cannabinoids, existing in the human body, would be two available fuel options for the “ECS” vehicle.
CBD cannabinoid(plant-based) and Endogenous cannabinoid (grown in the human body).
