Picrured: Endocannabinoid
Receptors in your body
Homeostasis Definition:
The endocrine system plays an important role
in homeostasis because hormones regulate
the activity of body cells. The release of
hormones into the blood is controlled by a
stimulus. For example, the stimulus either
causes an increase or a decrease in the
amount of hormone secreted.
THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
HOW THC AND CBD WORK
I
n Israel when researchers experimented to
understand how cannabis causes its effects in animals
they discovered the Endo Cannabinoid System (ECS).
They found that all animals including humans make their
own kinds of signalling chemicals similar to cannabis called
endocannabinoids.
The ones made by our nervous and immune systems are called
anandamide and 2-AG. They are widely dispersed in the nervous
system where they activate CB1 receptors, and in the immune
system, where they activate CB2 receptors.
If you think of nerve cell (neuron) A sending a signal to B sending
a signal to C and so on, then our endocannabinoids uniquely
send a retrograde signal back from B to A, and C to B to turn
down or turn off the original signal. Of course each neuron
communicates with about 10,000 other neurons...
...so signals can get out of hand if there is a lack of
endocannabinoids to slow or stop the signals.
eating, pain, organ healing and reducing inflammation.
Chronic pain, spasms, seizures, anxiety, insomnia etc could be
seen as over-active, out of control nervous system. Inflammatory
conditions such as arthritis suggests an over-active immune
system.
CBD is thought to have a mild action allowing our
endocannabinoids to work better.
THC is a partial agonist which means it acts in a similar
way to our endocannabinoids, but more strongly.
Both could help if there was an Endo Cannabinoid deficiency.
Over 140 cannabinoids have been identified in cannabis. They
each work in different ways and work together with the terpenes
(aromatic molecules that give plants their own characteristic
aromas, like essential oils) giving different medical benefits.
Severe pain, seizure conditions or cancers may respond better to
more potent medicinal cannabis containing higher proportions
of THC. This is because it acts more strongly and in different
cells from CBD. q
DR GRAHAM GULBRANSEN
FRNZCGP FACHAM MB CHB, DIP OBS, PG DIP MEDSC (ADDICTION)
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This stopping of signals getting out of control is homeostasis.
Scientific literature will tell you the ECS is involved with a huge
range of balancing processes from reproductive cycles, sleeping,
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