The Endocannabinoid System

[An Rí]

Alcohol is a poison. We use it in it's neat form as a sterilising fluid to kill germs. We then dilute it so we can drink it. No wonder we feel so bad the next day.

On the other hand, all adults have their Endocannabinoid System (ECS) which is like your body's balance manager. It helps keep everything working smoothly, including your mood, appetite, sleep, immune system, and how you feel pain.

Here's how it works:

1. Parts of the ECS:
   • Endocannabinoids: These are like messengers your body makes naturally. They tell your body when something needs adjusting.
   • Receptors: These are like locks on cells. Endocannabinoids (the messengers) fit into these locks to deliver messages. The two main types are:
     • CB1 receptors: Found mostly in your brain, helping with mood, memory, and pain.
     • CB2 receptors: Found more in your immune system, helping with inflammation and healing.
   • Enzymes: These clean up the messengers once they're done delivering their message.
2. How it helps:
   • When something's off in your body, like stress or pain, your ECS jumps in to help restore balance.
   • It's like a thermostat—if things get too hot or too cold, it adjusts to bring things back to normal.
3. Cannabis connection:
   • Cannabis has compounds like THC and CBD that can interact with the ECS.
   • THC fits into CB1 receptors, which is why it can affect mood and pain.
   • CBD doesn’t fit perfectly but can help the ECS work better overall, like supporting its natural processes.

Think of the ECS as your body's natural fine-tuning system—it keeps things steady so you can feel your best!

The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious - Harvard Health

Though recently discovered, the endocannabinoid system regulates and controls many of our critical bodily functions. Researchers are investigating the ECS's role in learning and memory and i...

www.health.harvard.edu