CBD & ECS: How Does CBD Work in the Body?
CBD is commonly known as a natural substance that promotes mental health and body function, but less people are aware of the science behind why. Cannabidiol works within the body by interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system, therefore making it essential to first understand how our Endocannabinoid System works.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body by balancing all the systems in the body. Additionally, the ECS helps regulate a wide range of body functions, including sleep, mood, appetite, memory, reproduction and activity.1 Whenever something happens to your health, it is your endocannabinoid system that steps up and releases the body’s natural cannabinoids to bring your body back to a balanced state.
The ECS is comprised of three primary components: Endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. Endocannabinoids are similar to cannabinoids, but they are produced by the body and you have them regardless of cannabis use. According to healthline, the two major endocannabinoids that have been discovered are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG). Endocannabinoids regulate body functions and are responsible for initiating the ECS by binding to receptors (the resulting effects vary depending on receptor location and which endocannabinoid it binded with). Endocannabinoid Receptors are spread throughout the body and there are two primary receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are largely located in the central nervous system while CB2 receptors are often found in the peripheral nervous system, such as in immune cells. Once endocannabinoids have carried out their function, the Enzymes break them down. The primary enzymes involved in this process are Fatty acid amide hydrolase(FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase(MAGL). These enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachydonoyl glycerol (2-AG).
What Does CBD Have To Do With ECS?
So what does cannabidiol have to do with the endocannabinoid system?
Unlike THC, CBD does not bind to receptors and instead stimulates the ECS to produce its own cannabinoids. Additionally, CBD slows down the breakdown of endocannabinoids in the ECS, thus allowing endocannabinoids to stay in the body for longer.
Although there’s still much research to be done on the endocannabinoid system and how CBD affects it, research suggests that the health benefits of cannabidiol are largely due to the ways in which it interacts with our endocannabinoid systems. Pretty interesting, right?!
Now that you’re caught up on all the science being CBD use, it’s time to experiment with some high-quality CBD products from Seabedee! If you are interested in trying out CBD products yourself, you can visit our website and explore our product selection, just click on the link above.