CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

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If you have been reading up on or taking CBD for a while, you may have come across the term “endocannabinoid system” once or twice. Before cannabidiol became popular, research was being done on the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—way back in the 1990s [1]. Researchers wanted to know what this mysterious system was and how it worked. What they discovered was a system that spanned more than one system but the entire body. Interestingly, the endocannabinoid system makes its own version of what is found in Cannabis sativa: cannabinoids [2].

Whether you are genuinely curious about the ECS or simply want to know more about how CBD and the endocannabinoid system interact, this article will answer those questions and more. Hope you brought a notepad.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

In basic terms, the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a complex signaling system found in the human body and other animals. It plays a crucial role in regulating a range of physiological processes, including appetite, pain, mood, reproduction, and memory.

The ECS consists of three main components:

  1. Endocannabinoids: These are naturally occurring molecules produced by the body that bind to cannabinoid receptors. The two primary endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
  2. Cannabinoid receptors: These are protein molecules found on the surface of cells throughout the body, including the brain, immune system, central and peripheral nervous system. The two main types of cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2.
  3. Enzymes: These are responsible for the production and breakdown of endocannabinoids. Two key enzymes are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL).

When endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors, they help regulate various physiological processes, such as appetite, mood, and pain perception. The ECS is also involved in immune system function, neuroprotection, and other processes.

What is the Role of Endocannabinoids?

Research from 2018 suggests that endocannabinoids function a bit like keys to a padlock [3]. When the endocannabinoid binds to either a CB1 or CB2 receptor, a number of downstream effects occur. This may result in the regulation of inflammation or stress, or even gut-brain communication. Other research states that the ECS plays a role in modulating a variety of reactions within the body through neurotransmission (also known as nerve-signaling) [4].

If you are still on the fence about taking CBD, then you may be confused as to what these neuromodulating effects may feel like. Thus, here is another example: runner’s high. During any kind of exercise, the body produces a number of endocannabinoids and hormones (like endorphin) that produce a short-term euphoria that prevents you from feeling pain or exertion [5]. Remember anandamide? A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2021 found that anandamide, an endocannabinoid, increased during physical activity and was also responsible for post-exercise bliss [6].

What is Endocannabinoid Deficiency?

When discussing the ECS, another topic that comes up is “endocannabinoid deficiency.” Endocannabinoid deficiency is a theoretical condition in which there is a lack of endocannabinoid activity in the human body due to a disruption of some sort.

Some scientists believe that endocannabinoid deficiency may be linked to certain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and other chronic pain conditions [7]. The theory is that in these conditions, there is a decrease in the body’s production of endocannabinoids or a decrease in the number or sensitivity of cannabinoid receptors, leading to a deficiency in the normal endocannabinoid signaling system.

The idea of endocannabinoid deficiency is still a subject of ongoing research, and more studies are needed to fully understand its potential role in various health conditions. Nonetheless, some researchers are exploring the use of medical cannabis and other cannabinoids, including CBD and CBG, to potentially address endocannabinoid deficiency and its associated symptoms.

How Does CBD Influence the Endocannabinoid System?

Exactly how cannabidiol, or CBD, interacts with the ECS is still a mystery to researchers, but they do know that CBD does not behave the same way tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does. THC is a psychoactive ingredient in Cannabis sativa; it is responsible for the “high.” When you consume THC, it binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS, exerting specific effects on the body. CBD does not interact with these receptors the same way. Instead of producing a high, CBD has a more therapeutic effect.

It has been hypothesized that CBD enhances anandamide levels and signaling in the body by inhibiting the activity of the FAAH enzyme [8]. Furthermore, a study found that CBD may also bind to other receptors in the body, such as the serotonin and vanilloid receptors, which play a role in regulating mood, pain, and inflammation [9, 10]. This interaction can also indirectly affect the ECS.

In other words, while the mechanisms with which CBD interacts with the ECS are not yet clear, the modulating effects of CBD on the ECS are known and accepted.

Looking For High Quality CBD?

The bottom line is that the endocannabinoid system plays an important part in your body’s homeostasis—or equilibrium. Without the ECS, who knows what might happen to our bodies throughout the day. Although how the ECS and CBD interact is also not yet entirely understood, research has uncovered that CBD has a therapeutic effect on the system. In the future, research may discover that cannabinoids like CBD may unlock the secrets of the endocannabinoid system and potentially treat a variety of medical conditions.

Fortunately, you do not have to wait for the future to try CBD for yourself. Sugar Bottom Hemp offers top quality CBD that has been sourced from organic US-grown hemp and tested in a third party lab. We have something for everyone, including your furry companions, in our shop. Checkout our full product line today.

Have questions? Get in touch with our team.

Bibliography

  1. UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. (2020, September 1). Human Endocannabinoid System | UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. https://cannabis.semel.ucla.edu/endocannabinoid/
  2. Andre, C. M., Hausman, J., & Guerriero, G. (2016). Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00019
  3. Zou, S., & Kumar, U. (2018). Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(3), 833. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030833
  4. Covey, D. P., Mateo, Y., Sulzer, D., Cheer, J. F., & Lovinger, D. M. (2017). Endocannabinoid modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. Neuropharmacology, 124, 52–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.033
  5. Marusak, H. A. (n.d.). The “runner’s high” may result from molecules called cannabinoids – the body’s own version of THC and CBD. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-runners-high-may-result-from-molecules-called-cannabinoids-the-bodys-own-version-of-thc-and-cbd-170796
  6. Desai, S., Borg, B. A., Cuttler, C., Crombie, K. M., Rabinak, C. A., Hill, M. R., & Marusak, H. A. (2021). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Exercise on the Endocannabinoid System. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 7(4), 388–408. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0113
  7. Russo E. B. (2016). Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 154–165. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0009
  8. Leweke, F. M., Piomelli, D., Pahlisch, F., Muhl, D., Gerth, C. W., Hoyer, C., Klosterkötter, J., Hellmich, M., & Koethe, D. (2012). Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Translational psychiatry, 2(3), e94. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.15
  9. De Gregorio, D., McLaughlin, R. J., Posa, L., Ochoa-Sanchez, R., Enns, J., Lopez-Canul, M., Aboud, M., Maione, S., Comai, S., & Gobbi, G. (2019). Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain, 160(1), 136–150. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
  10. Costa, B., Giagnoni, G., Franke, C., Trovato, A. E., & Colleoni, M. (2004). Vanilloid TRPV1 receptor mediates the antihyperalgesic effect of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol, in a rat model of acute inflammation. British journal of pharmacology, 143(2), 247–250. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjp.0705920