The endocannabinoid system is one of the most recent findings in the field of medicine. Its activation has effects on the body's sensations of well-being and happiness, in addition to many other health benefits. Through lifestyle and various natural substances, we can activate our body's endocannabinoid system. Here's how.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The endocannabinoid system is a cell signaling mechanism that affects a variety of physiological systems, among them the immune, nervous and reproductive systems. It was discovered in the 1990s by studying the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.), from which it derives its name. It appears to be one of the most primitive methods of cell-to-cell communication in existence, and has been defined as a balancing, modulating or adaptogenic mechanism of the body.
How can you activate your endocannabinoid system?
Why is the endocannabinoid system activated?
The functioning of the endocannabinoid system is much more complex than initially thought. It has been shown that there are different substances, in addition to endocannabinoids, that can affect this system, activating or blocking it. Its study is one of the most promising fields of pharmacology.
The endocannabinoid system is a complex interaction between:
- Substances that affect cannabinoid receptors: the classical explanation is that cannabinoids bind to their cannabinoid receptors and activate them. Each type of cannabinoid binds to one type of cannabinoid receptor. But it is much more complex: it has also been found that some substances block the receptors, preventing the cannabinoids from binding; and that other substances partially bind to these receptors and modify how the substances bind to these receptors.giving greater or lesser binding affinity (so-called allosteric modulators). For example, it is well known that CBD lowers the psychoactivity threshold of THC(6).
- Type of cannabinoids In general, cannabinoids affect the "cannabinoid receptors" CB1 or CB2. However, the effect of some cannabinoids may be broader and act through more systems in addition to the endocannabinoid. For example, it has been shown that cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can activate the other "non-cannabinoid receptors", such as the "transient receptor potential vanilloid receptors" (TRPV) and the "metabotropic receptors" (GPR55, GPR119, GPR18).
- Substances that affect enzymes: some substances have been shown to act by blocking enzymes, preventing the degradation of cannabinoids and thus prolonging their effects.
- In addition, as a curiosity, it seems that plant cannabinoids affect differently depending on the genus(7).
Plants that activate the endocannabinoid system
In the plant world we find a powerful tool to stimulate the endocannabinoid system, through plants with principles with the capacity to activate it. The best known substances are phytocannabinoids, which are the cannabinoids in plants. The Cannabis sativa plant contains the most cannabinoids.
Currently, hemp extract is the most widely used, as it is rich in the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol), and lacks the THC levels found in marijuana. This confers properties to activate the endocannabinoid system, without the psychotropic effects of the herb.
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Cannactiva Complex
In addition to cannabis, there are other plants that, although they do not contain cannabinoids, have substances capable of influencing the endocannabinoid system. For example. acting on enzymes and decreasing the degradation of cannabinoids, increasing the duration of their effects. These substances are called cannabimimetics.
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What happens when cannabinoids are taken?
CBD, as well as other cannabinoids, have the ability to activate the endocannabinoid system of our brain. This results in changes in the release of neurotransmitters such as GABA, dopamine and serotonin(2, 3, 4).
By its effects on GABA, CBD could regulate brain excitability, preventing anxiety and providing a sense of calm. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that drives us to achieve something we consider positive. And finally, serotonin is known as the " happiness hormone".
The endocannabinoid system gives us wellbeing and happiness
The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in health, intervening in a multitude of biological processes, from the regulation of appetite, metabolism, immunity, mood, fertility, the gastrointestinal tract, and even the perception of pain.
It has been studied that this system regulates the body's homeostasis, its energy balance, with effects on the intestine, liver, pancreas, adipose tissue and brain(1).
Cannabinoids affect the neurotransmitters GABA, dopamine and serotonin.
Parts of the endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system is composed of three important parts(5):
- Endocannabinoid receptors, which are distributed in cells throughout the body. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2.
- Cannabinoids are a class of substances that bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors. Cannabinoids can be manufactured by the body itself(endocannabinoids) or by plants (such as the cannabinoids in cannabis). It is worth mentioning that each type of cannabinoid binds to a specific receptor. When this happens, the endocannabinoid system is activated and an effect on the organism is produced..
- Finally we have cannabinoid enzymes, which are substances produced by the body to break down cannabinoids, thus limiting the duration of their effect. The two enzymes responsible for degrading cannabinoids are: fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL).
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