Several of us are familiar with various transmitter systems in our bodies, such as the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers our fight-or-flight reaction. Fewer people are aware of the recently identified endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is surprising given that the ECS is essential for nearly every facet of our daily functioning. 

Identified in the late 1980s, the ECS is primarily linked to cannabis. This is because cannabis exerts its effects on the body through its interaction with the ECS. However, as scientists delve deeper into the endocannabinoid system and its functions, it has become increasingly evident that its relationship with cannabis is merely one aspect of a larger narrative.

The fact is that the ECS governs and manages numerous essential bodily functions, including learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature regulation, pain management, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating. The ECS is presently at the forefront of revitalised global research and pharmaceutical development. 

In today’s article, we’ll discuss what the ECS is, how it works, and how to support and maintain this extremely complex and essential system. 

What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a biological system within the body that assists in regulating and balancing important bodily functions. This system forms a complex network within the bodies of humans as well as all vertebrates and invertebrates and is created to assist in sustaining homeostasis — the equilibrium of functions — in the organism. 

The ECS comprises a collection of messengers and targets distributed across your body. In contrast to other systems within the body, the ECS possesses receptors (binding sites) in nearly all locations. This encompasses your brain, skin, and nerves. ECS receptors are also present in your bones, muscles, and blood cells. 

ECS receptors are also referred to as cannabinoid receptors, abbreviated as CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are predominantly found in the brain and spinal cord. However, they can also be found in nearly all organs, adipose tissue, and various other tissues throughout the body. CB2 receptors are primarily located in the immune system. 

A cannabinoid is any signalling molecule that attaches to cannabinoid receptors in the ECS. They are named after the cannabis plant since the initial cannabinoid discovered by scientists originated from cannabis. 

What is the Endocannabinoid System Made Of?

The endocannabinoid system comprises three main parts that are detailed below.

1. Endocannabinoids

There are three types of cannabinoids that interact with the ECS: 

• Endocannabinoids: The primary endocannabinoids are Arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide or AEA) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoyl glycerol). 
• Phytocannabinoids: These are cannabinoids produced by plants. Cannabis serves as the primary example. Two primary active substances in cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the substance in cannabis that induces feelings of being high or stoned) and CBD (cannabidiol) — known as plant or phytocannabinoids — bear a chemical resemblance to the natural endocannabinoids generated by the human body. 
• Synthetic cannabinoids: These are lab-created cannabinoids.

Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters originating from lipids (fats). The body naturally produces endocannabinoid (“endo” refers to those generated within the body). Endocannabinoids are produced as needed – the body creates them when required instead of generating them beforehand. They can be found in different organs and tissues, including muscle, brain, and circulating cells. 

Endocannabinoids activate when they attach to a cannabinoid receptor, which we will discuss next. Studies are ongoing to identify the precise physiological processes that facilitate or initiate the attachment of receptors to endocannabinoids. However, researchers suggest that when a bodily system is imbalanced, the receptors attach to cannabinoids to aid in rectifying the issue. 

For instance, if the body’s temperature deviates from the normal range, the ECS manages it while leaving other processes unchanged. After the ECS restores balance to the body, enzymes decompose the cannabinoids to avoid excessive correction of the issue. 

2. Endocannabinoid Receptors

Endocannabinoids attach to endocannabinoid receptors located on the surface of various cell types across the body, initiating a physiological response. 

Researchers have concentrated on two specific endocannabinoid receptors: 

• Cannabinoid 1 Receptors (CB1): These are mainly located in the central nervous system, primarily within neurones (nerve cells) of the brain. Anandamide and THC both attach to CB1 receptors. 
• Cannabinoid 2 Receptors (CB2): These are primarily found on immune cells, though they can also be present in the central nervous system. The endocannabinoid 2-AG interacts with CB2 receptors.

3. Enzymes 

As mentioned previously, enzymes play a crucial role in generating endocannabinoids and degrading them when they are not required anymore. Two primary enzymes are responsible for the degradation of endocannabinoids:

• Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH): this enzyme degrades anandamide.
• Monoacylglycerol (MAG-L): this enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of 2-AG.

How Does the Endocannabinoid System Work?

As stated, your body produces endocannabinoids as needed and exactly when they are required. They attach to a specific receptor, similar to a key going into a lock. When this occurs, specific processes within your body are activated or deactivated. Subsequently, endocannabinoids are rapidly degraded and eliminated. 

Here’s a straightforward case of the ECS functioning. If you injure your hand, nerve cells transmit a pain signal to your brain to notify you that there is an issue. After your body reacts to the injury and dispatches white blood cells to repair the wound, pain is no longer necessary. Thus, the body produces anandamide which attaches to cannabinoid receptors and shuts down the pain signal, restoring your body’s equilibrium.

Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System

As mentioned, phytocannabinoids found in cannabis (THC, CBD, and others) attach to ECS receptors to enhance or reduce ECS activity within the body. Because ECS receptors are found all over the body, cannabis can influence various functions. This explains the therapeutic role of cannabis in helping to manage a broad range of diverse health issues and symptoms.

How does THC interact with the ECS?

A widely recognised effect of THC is its capacity to induce euphoria. This sensation occurs when THC attaches to CB1 receptors in areas of your brain that control your emotions. 

Certain medical effects of cannabis also occur when THC activates the CB1 receptor. For instance, THC alleviates both the physical feelings of pain and the negative emotions associated with chronic pain. It can likewise stop and address nausea and vomiting. 

THC additionally attaches to and activates CB2 receptors, resulting in lowered immune system function. Scientists think this is yet another method by which THC might reduce pain and swelling. THC might also assist in treating autoimmune disorders, though additional research is required. 

How does CBD interact with the ECS?

CBD influences the ECS differently compared to THC. It doesn’t activate CB1 receptors; it inhibits them. This is the reason CBD does not induce euphoria like THC. In reality, CBD might reduce the high that THC produces when used in conjunction. 

Blocking CB1 receptors might be one of the mechanisms through which CBD reduces anxiety. Furthermore, CBD activates CB2 receptors, potentially lowering the immune system’s activity. This clarifies how CBD decreases inflammation. 

Some experts think CBD exerts its effects by stopping the breakdown of endocannabinoids. This enables them to exert a greater influence on the body. Some think that CBD attaches to a receptor that has yet to be identified. Research is ongoing.  

Minor Cannabinoids and the ECS

While CBD and THC receive the majority of the focus, the cannabis plant harbours many other cannabinoids that researchers are beginning to examine in greater detail. 

These lesser-known cannabinoids (termed minor due to their lower concentrations compared to CBD and THC) comprise cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabinol (CBN), among others. The cannabis plant also includes metabolites known as terpenes, which contribute to its colour and aroma while enhancing its medicinal benefits.

The major and minor cannabinoids along with terpenes collaborate to deliver therapeutic advantages; this synergistic interaction is known as the entourage effect. Research is being conducted to understand how these compounds may interact with and influence the ECS. 

What Does the Endocannabinoid System Do?

Studies indicate that the ECS is crucial in promoting homeostasis which is the upkeep of stability or ideal conditions within the body to ensure proper functioning. For instance, the body regulates temperature, blood glucose, and hunger. Experts assert that when the body deviates from the normal range, the ECS aids it in regaining the optimal range and preserving homeostasis. 

Studies indicate that the ECS might assist in managing the following processes:

• Metabolism
• Muscle formation
• Appetite and digestion
• Sleep
• Liver function
• Reproductive system function
• Mood
• Skin and nerve function
• Motor control
• Stress
• Learning and memory
• Cardiovascular system function
• Bone remodelling and growth
• Inflammation and other immune system responses
• Chronic pain

Role In Memory and Learning 

It is believed that the ECS plays an essential role in learning and memory based on various research studies. A clear observation is that a significant side effect of consuming large amounts of recreational cannabis is short-term memory disruption which normalises with abstention. There have been advanced studies examining how humans react to THC and how this affects their short-term memory capacity. 

In his widely acclaimed book The Botany of Desire, renowned author Michael Pollan states that the process of forgetting is essential for our brains to operate efficiently without being overwhelmed by the continuous sensory data we receive. Pollan suggests that if we were to remember everything, we wouldn’t be able to function optimally, and cannabis assists us in this. 

Moreover, the function of the ECS in forgetting also creates possibilities for treating PTSD, a condition characterised by distressing memories that individuals cannot escape, which lead to a range of troubling and harmful symptoms.

Role In Weight-Loss and Mood Regulation

The cautionary tale of the drug rimonabant, a drug that blocks the CB1 receptor, is an interesting example of the central role the ECS plays in so many crucial bodily functions. 

Rimonabant was developed as an anti-obesity drug. The thinking was that the ECS controls hunger because cannabis gives you ‘the munchies.’ So, blocking the CB1 receptor should cause weight loss, and rimonabant did cause weight loss successfully. However, the ECS also regulates mood. So, the drug had to be withdrawn from the market on an emergency basis because people who were taking it were becoming suicidal. 

However, as we better understand the complexities of the ECS, we may be able to create a weight-loss medication that only acts on those cannabinoid receptors that affect weight loss and doesn’t act on the receptors that control mood.

What is Endocannabinoid Deficiency?

Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CED) is a hypothesis suggesting that various health issues might arise from a malfunctioning ECS or low endocannabinoid levels in the body. Studies indicate that CED is probably linked to fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, Huntington’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, CED may also contribute to the onset of mental health disorders such as schizophrenia. 

If CED has any involvement in these conditions, focusing on the ECS or endocannabinoid synthesis may be the crucial element for treatment, yet further investigation is required. Currently, researchers are concentrating on cannabis and various medications that engage with the ECS to aid in managing CED-related conditions. 

How To Tell If Something Is Wrong with the ECS

Since the ECS was discovered only recently, scientists do not completely grasp how to identify or diagnose issues with it. 

For instance, numerous individuals suffering from autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis experience symptom alleviation with cannabis. This indicates a possible connection between an ineffective ECS and autoimmune disorders. However, additional human research is required to validate this. 

Moreover, only a limited number of healthcare providers focus on the ECS, which represents a newly developed field of medicine. This might be because they have been educated on ECS (or the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes) during their formal training. 

Lastly, there are currently no lab tests available to diagnose issues related to ECS. However, there is hope that this will shift as additional research is conducted. 

Supporting the Endocannabinoid System

Specific lifestyle or dietary practices can support the ECS. These include the following: 

• Physical activity: Physical activity can help improve the levels of endocannabinoids in the body. This could be a reason why physical activity boosts your spirits. Research indicates that endocannabinoids could play a role in the ‘runner’s high’ that some individuals feel. 
• Nutritious fats: Your body produces endocannabinoids using nutritious fats. Incorporating olive oil or omega-3 fatty acids into your diet can aid in promoting a healthy ECS. 
• Essential oils: Essential oils of oregano and black pepper include a dietary cannabinoid known as beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which is recognised for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties as it activates the CB2 receptors. Beta-caryophyllene is also commonly found in lemon balm, cloves, and hops. 
• Truffles: Studies indicate that truffles have elevated levels of AEA that are adequate to stimulate and support CB1 and CB2 receptors. 
• Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a food cannabinoid since cacao beans contain two substances, N-oleoyl ethanolamine and N-linoleoyl ethanolamine, which block FAAH, resulting in a lengthened blissful impact of anandamide. 
• Probiotics: Research on animals indicates that probiotics might support the ECS, particularly regarding digestive health and the gut. 
• Alleviating stress: The ECS aids your ability to react and adjust to stress. However, prolonged stress can exhaust the ECS, reducing its effectiveness. Meditation, breathing techniques, and ensuring sufficient sleep are all measures to reduce stress and support the ECS for optimal functioning. 

Final Thoughts

The endocannabinoid system significantly contributes to maintaining stability in various bodily processes. However, there is still much scientists are unaware of regarding this intricate signalling system. As specialists gain a deeper insight into the ECS, it may ultimately unlock new treatments for various conditions. Current studies on the endocannabinoid system focus on a wider investigation of what is an incredibly complex and extensive system through which our bodies learn, experience emotions, drive motivation, and maintain equilibrium. Researchers are genuinely at the beginning of an era of exploration of the ECS and the creation of new medications that could aid in easing some of the harshest ailments that both humans and animals endure.