The Endocannabinoid System
To understand how CBD works within our body, you first need to know the basics of the Endocannabinoid System. This system was only recently discovered in the early 1990’s, and since then studies are showing just how important the role of the ECS is in our body.
During my visit to the CBD Expo in Denver, I sat in on a seminar with Chip Paul, a forensic researcher and Endocannabinoid Health Scientist. He is the CEO of GNU Pharma, which specializes in researching plants and herbs that help modulate the Endocannabinoid system for medical effects. The following are the three main points he made regarding the ECS.
Point 1:
The ECS is a very common and very old system within our bodies. Its existence has apparently been a part of human life for millions of years; however, it was not actually discovered until 1993. Since then, researches are finding that the ECS and our central nervous systems are very closely related in that they play a large role in controlling multiple bodily functions. Unfortunately, the Endocannabinoid system is not part of any medical school curriculum at the moment, so physicians are generally uninformed when it comes to the topic. Education is key and the more we learn about the body’s oldest system, the more we can learn how to treat certain diseases and sicknesses naturally. Which brings us to the next point…
Point 2:
Although there is no definitive study, most researchers are seeing that the ECS is our master regulatory system and is the only system that can touch every cell in the body (pretty fascinating if you ask me!). Chip went on to compare our bodies to a smart car, with the ECS being our sensory board. Just like the sensors in a car regulate and help you maintain your vehicle, the ECS does the same in managing every function of our body. Knowing the origin of the issue is very important in knowing how to treat it.
Point 3:
The Endocannabinoid System is driven by natural resources. In order for our body to properly function, we need to build the chemical mediators that run our bodies and we do this through the food we eat. For instance, our bodies need serotonin and dopamine to help regulate certain bodily functions such as mood and muscle movement. These chemicals come from ingesting L-Tryptophan and L-Tyrosine. If we deprived our system of this necessary resource, you would become severely depressed in a matter of days.
So where does CBD fit into all of this? Well, CBD is a natural resource and studies have shown that it works because it helps modulate the Endocannabinoid System. CBD builds receptor areas like Omega 3 does – so ingesting CBD – the full spectrum plant – will help build the resources you need in your body to get back to homeostasis (or maintain balance in the body). Although it can be beneficial to our system, it’s important to know that in most cases the underlying issue can be due to other factors and using CBD may work best in combination with changing your eating habits or incorporating certain changes and therapies into your daily life.
If you don’t have a genetic or traumatic issue, your body will heal itself with the right resources – we just need to know what the resources are and understand what they do. CBD is a safe and natural alternative in building the necessary resources our ECS needs to get our bodies functioning properly.
For more information on studies on the Endocannabinoid System head to NIH.gov and use any key word in conjunction with “endocannabinoid” – it’s a very well researched system and may help you understand more about the issues you may be dealing with and how to treat them.
Source: https://www.gnupharma.com/2019/01/24/3-points-on-the-endocannabinoid-system/