The Importance of the Endocannabinoid System
CBD is a compound found in cannabis plants. This article provides general background on CBD and the endocannabinoid system. Product availability and legal status vary by location.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system found in humans and animals. Researchers identified it in the 1990s after studying cannabinoid molecules related to THC. Scientists are still working to understand exactly how it works.
Researchers have studied its role in many body functions, including sleep-wake cycles, mood, appetite and metabolism, pain signaling, inflammatory response, immune function, learning and memory, motor control, cardiovascular function, bone growth, fertility, liver function, stress response, skin, nervous system function, and social behavior.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important cell-signaling network that plays a role in the development of the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It is found throughout the human body and helps support homeostasis.
Why the Endocannabinoid System Matters
This system helps support homeostasis, a concept often mentioned in CBD education. The ECS is involved in many physiological processes, such as:
- fertility and embryo development
- immune system function
- how the body experiences pain
- well-being and mood
- memory
- appetite
A Brief History of Cannabinoids
Scientists identified the ECS in the 1990s. The first endocannabinoid was isolated in 1992 by the Mechoulam laboratory. It was later classified as a partial antagonist of the CB1 receptor. The molecule, called arachidonoyl ethanolamide, is also known as anandamide (AEA). Soon after, the lab isolated another endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
You can read the original study on the endocannabinoid system here.
How the endocannabinoid system works
What regulates the endocannabinoid system?
- endocannabinoids,
- endocannabinoid receptors
- enzymes.
What is CBD?
All essential information in one place!
What Does “Endogenous” Mean?
Endogenous cannabinoids are substances the body makes on its own. ‘Endogenous’ means produced internally. Chemically, they are cannabinoids that the body produces for its own needs.
The two best-known endocannabinoids are:
They help support homeostasis, the body’s internal balance. The body produces these cannabinoids as needed, and their levels naturally fluctuate. That’s why there is no single ‘best’ cannabinoid concentration.
Endocannabinoids in the Body
Molecules made by the body are called endogenous cannabinoids, or more commonly endocannabinoids. The main examples are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These molecules are found throughout the body, where they bind to receptors on cell membranes and help carry signals.
For example, endocannabinoids may target CB1 receptors in the spinal cord. Others bind to CB2 receptors on immune cells.
These functions help support the body’s internal balance, called homeostasis. If outside stress, injury, or high temperature disrupts that balance, the ECS helps the body respond. Many experts describe the ECS’s main role as supporting homeostasis.
Skin Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System
These receptors are found throughout the body. Endocannabinoids bind to them and signal that the ECS should respond.
There are two main endocannabinoid receptors:
CB1 receptors are found predominantly in the central nervous system.
CB2 receptors are found mainly in the peripheral nervous system, especially on immune cells.
Endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor, and the effect depends on where that receptor is located.
Enzymes
Enzymes break down endocannabinoids after they’ve done their job.
Two main enzymes are responsible:
- fatty acid amide hydrolase, which breaks down AEA
- monoacylglycerol lipase, which breaks down 2-AG
Scientists have found that the ECS and the body’s endocannabinoids play important roles in several processes. The next question is how this system interacts with phytocannabinoids such as psychoactive THC and CBD.
The interaction between THC and the endocannabinoid system
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the primary cannabinoids found in cannabis. It is a controlled substance and is known for its intoxicating effects.
In the body, THC binds to ECS receptors and can influence several physiological processes. In the U.S., THC is also used in certain regulated medical products.
What CBD Is and How It Relates to the System
Another major cannabinoid found in hemp is cannabidiol (CBD), which, unlike THC, is non-intoxicating.
Unlike THC, CBD interacts indirectly with the endocannabinoid system’s receptors, also known as cannabinoid receptors.
