cannabinoid system deficiency leads to reduced chronic inflammation? I realize that question invites a medical journal sized response but as succinctly as possible ...
Dr. Pai: Great question. It hasn’t been until the last few years where extensive research in going on about the Endocannbinioid System (ECS) as most of the research was limited due to restriction on use of cannabis and hemp for research studies and only at very limited universities. However with the rapid changes in the laws worldwide, the proliferation of research is starting to emerge and help us as we progress with our understanding of the ECS. It is a very important system for overall health and wellbeing.
It is endogenous which means it part of our own internal system of receptors. It is not a foreign agent, but a system that is naturally present within all human and animals. This concept is very important to understand as this becomes one of the key roles in understanding the immune system. The ECS when stimulated though CBD (from either source) triggers a cascade of responses that effect our immune system via a variety of mechanisms (i.e. enzymes, ion channels, transporters and receptors). It is not a simple on and off switch as most people think.
These cascades of effects leads to lowering inflammation and also assists in regeneration (repairing) of different tissue types and maintenance of cell functioning.
Remember the triggering mechanism that makes every disease worse is and begins with inflammation. Inflammation means “fire” or “flame” and basically is defined as “itis”. Thus any word that has the word “itis” means inflammation of that area of the body. For example, arthritis is inflammation of the joint, colitis is inflammation of the colon, bronchitis is inflammation of the lungs and dermatitis is inflammation of the skin. There are over 200 different “itis” conditions.
Therefore it is important to lower the inflammatory responses when there is too much inflammation in body. The use of natural anti-inflammatories is key for assisting healing from many diseases. Unlike pharmaceuticals both by prescription and OTC that only treat the symptoms and not the cause, they are very limited on what pathways they are targeting. The also have side effects and some have addiction issues such as opioids which do not have direct anti-inflammatory effect but mainly analgesic effects. Thus never helping the person heal from their diseases when they take them.
It is not that there is a direct ECS deficiency but more that there is a chronic insult of Westernized dietary and lifestyle that has lead to more chronic states of inflammation. The ECS is important part of self-regulation of maintaining health, one being helping with maintaining a healthy inflammatory response. Reducing inflammation as an overall natural approach that uses plants as medicine or food as medicine is key. CBD from the right source with a full spectrum terpene profile is a natural and safe option for a variety of health conditions as it provides not only an anti-inflammatory action but also improves other aspects of diseases though additional healing properties.
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