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Meet Your Endocannabinoid System. By; Jessica Reilly
Meet Your Endocannabinoid System. By; Jessica Reilly
It’s no secret that cannabis makes us feel good.
But why?
Why does it provide euphoria, stress relief, pain reduction, abatement of nausea, and even laughter?
Study after study has proven that cannabis can be used as a treatment to a variety of diseases and illnesses.
But why does cannabis have such a dramatic effect on our mental and physical health?
It comes down to cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system.
Cannabinoids are organic compounds that occur in the cannabis plant, such as THC and CBD.
The endocannabinoid system is an internal system that receives these cannabinoids and processes them, producing the effects we know so well.
You may not have heard of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) before; most people haven’t.
But how have we gone our entire lives unaware of an entire system in our body?
The ECS: An Overview
Discovered in 1992 in Jerusalem by Dr. Lumir Hanus and isolated in 1998
Composed of endocannabinoids, fat-based transmitters
Binds with cannabinoids like THC and CBD
Has receptors on every organ of your body
Works to restore a state of homeostasis or equilibrium in the body
Our understanding of the ECS is still in the early stages, because of the federal prohibition of cannabis in the US and most developed countries around the world. But ECS receptors are present on every organ in the body, suggesting it plays a pretty big role in the management of our health and wellness.
ECS receptors in the gut help manage overactive or reactive gut systems, and calm sensitive stomachs. Receptors in the vagina increase arousal and sexual pleasure levels, and receptors in the skin help manage pain.
So what does this system actually do for us?
The ECS functions in many ways, but with one goal: to achieve homeostasis.
Its purpose is to keep us healthy and functioning as well as possible. Achieving equilibrium in the body is such a big deal that the ECS has been called “the most important living system in the body.” If and when scientists are able to target ECS activation, the possibilities for treatment and prevention of illnesses are limitless.
So why do we have a system in our body to process cannabinoids?
Believe it or not, the ECS exists because our body naturally produces cannabinoids. One such endocannabinoid is called anandamide. Anandamide is produced in our bodies throughout our lives and plays a role in everything from motor coordination to memory processing and pain modulation.
When you consume cannabinoids, you’re refreshing or replacing your body’s supply, giving a boost to your system and tapping into the system’s full potential for healing.
Potential for Treatments
Recent research has shown the breadth of illnesses and conditions that cannabis brings relief for. A deeper understanding of the ECS will help us understand why and how cannabis works in our bodies. It will also allow us to target certain receptors or areas in the body.
This is especially exciting for women, who currently face a lack of medical options and resources for issues like endometriosis, ovarian cysts, painful periods, and menopause. More women have been turning to cannabis to seek relief for problems that modern medicine simply doesn’t address.
Imagine a cream that targets ECS receptors on the skin to bring relief to painful period cramps, a suppository that targets receptors in the vagina to manage endo pain, or a pill to manage symptoms of menopause.
Imagine a medical system full of treatment or preventative options that work with the natural rhythms and hormones of your body, not against it.
The possibilities are endless, and for the first time, we have the science to backup what generations before us have known- cannabis contributes to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
The ECS still has not made its way into the mainstream medical headlines, due in part to antiquated attitudes and racial biases that permeate the high ranks of medicine. But this system is more than just the way your body processes weed; it’s the key to a new understanding of what it means to be healthy.
Jessica Reilly is a copywriter, content strategist and cannabis aficionado.
Jessica Reilly is a copywriter, content strategist and cannabis aficionado.
She combines her passion for cannabis with her talent for writing at Jessica Reilly, Writerand runs the Cannabis Creative Blog. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram @Cannabis_writer, or on Hi-Curious at Jess the Cannabis Blogger.
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