Understanding the Body’s Endocannabinoid System
In the past decade, obtaining cannabis has become relatively easy and almost mundane. More governments are becoming relaxed when considering the recreational as well as the medicinal livelihood of cannabis. However, what is not so clear to the ordinary cannabis consumer is how cannabis and cannabinoids work with our bodies. Believe it or not: every human has the evolutionary benefit of being able to ingest cannabis properly. Countless species have some variation of a network of cannabis-friendly receptors that can unlock the health benefits associated with cannabis, and it is all thanks to our Endocannabinoid System.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system commonly referred to as the 'ECS,' is the part of the human body responsible for the 'digestion' of cannabis and was discovered by cannabis researchers in the 1980s. The ECS can also be found in many other animals, like mammals and a few amphibians, such as turtles. The ECS is made up of a network of receptors designed to react to the cannabinoids found in everyday cannabis. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for the regulation of many bodily functions. The nodes known as endocannabinoids, which create the ECS framework, are located throughout the human body.
Understanding Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1
There are two types of receptors within the ECS. For simplicity, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 will be referred to as 'CB1' with the additional receptor referred to as 'CB2.' The CB1 receptors were originally discovered in the early 90s by a research group out of Cambridge University. This group is responsible for the body's psychoactive, or high-inducing, reaction to cannabis; specifically, the THC found within the plant. The primary objective of the CB1 receptors is to assist with the regulation of memory, sleep, appetite, and even the sensation of pain.
Moreover, when the CB1 receptors are introduced to the cannabinoids found within cannabis, the receptors often overreact, yielding an elevated sense of positive responses in conjunction with the body's CB1 receptors. As aforementioned, the CB1, as well as the CB2 receptors, are the two core receptors in the body that help grant access to all of the medicinal benefits often associated with cannabis. Researchers often refer to cannabis as the 'key' to unlocking the 'locked' receptors throughout the body's ECS.
Understanding Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2
As briefly mentioned previously, there is also a type 2 cannabinoid receptor. CB2 receptors are protein-crossed cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body that have the one-of-a-kind ability to react positively with the cannabinoids associated with cannabis. CB2 receptors were also discovered by the same research team at Cambridge University three years after their initial CB1 receptor discovery. CB2 receptors can be found throughout the immune system as well as supporting organs, in places like the thymus gland, spleen, and even your tonsils. It is worth noting that CB2 receptors appear in abundance throughout the body's gastrointestinal system. CB2 receptors can also be found in the brain. However, research shows that the brain houses more CB1 receptors than its counterpart. These researchers also believed that ailment often associated with the GI tract of humans, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn's Disease is due to the overabundance of CB2 receptors. Moreover, it is also this same reason why many believe cannabis to provide an overwhelming amount of pain relief for those who have developed Crohn's Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.