The endocannabinoid system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body. This system helps to regulate various functions, including mood, memory, pain sensation, appetite, and fertility. When the body is exposed to stressors, cannabinoids are produced in response. These cannabinoids bind to receptors located throughout the body and help to restore balance. Enzymes then break down the cannabinoids after they have been used.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds produced by your body in response to certain stressors. These chemicals interact with CB receptors located throughout the body to help restore balance. The two most well-known phytocannabinoids (produced by plants) are THC and CBD, but there are many others that play a role in regulating the endocannabinoid system.
THC is the cannabinoid most commonly associated with cannabis. This compound is responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana and interacts with CB-I receptors in the brain to produce feelings of euphoria. CBD, on the other hand, does not have any psychoactive effects and has a low binding affinity for CB-I and CB-II receptors. CBD interacts with the way these receptors bind with THC, modulating the psychoactive effects. CBD also activates other receptors and ion channels that have numerous positive effects.
What Are CB Receptors?
CB receptors are the proteins that cannabinoids bind to in order to produce their effects. CB-I receptors are found primarily in the brain and spinal cord, while CB-II receptors are located throughout the body. These receptors play a role in various functions, including pain sensation, mood, memory, and appetite.
What are Enzymes?
Enzymes are proteins that help to break down cannabinoids after they have been used. These proteins play an important role in regulating the endocannabinoid system and maintaining balance in the body.
So that’s a quick overview of the endocannabinoid system! Hope this was helpful in understanding how this important system works. Stay tuned for more blog posts on the endocannabinoid system and its role in health and disease!