The Endocanabinoid System
Basic understanding of how our body works with cannabis.
Like many other systems of the body, such as the nervous system, the circulatory system and so on, the endocannabinoid system is the system of our body which can be responsible for the ultimate bridge between body and mind. It is mostly a network of cell receptors and corresponding molecules with endo meaning within and cannabinoid meaning a group of molecules such as the ones found in Cannabis sativa forming a complex connection that controls your feelings, moves, and reactions.
Why is the Endocanabinoid system so important? The answer to that is your brain produces its very own endocannabinoids that control memory, movement, cognition appetite and emotions. What cannabinoids do is it tricks and disguises itself as endocannabinoids and gets into the receptors and alters our natural activities or precisely put homeostasis.
There are two types of nerve receptors, CB1, and CB2, each having only 48% of their amino acid sequence in common and also having different signaling mechanism. Although both are distributed throughout the body, there are certain areas in which either one of them is dense and perform their duties.
CB1s are located in the nerve cells of the brain. They are also distributed in the peripheral organs. They are responsible for memory, cognition, motor control etc.
CB2s are present in the immune system or the white blood cells and are not a very popular research subject if you’re into cannabis. But it has gained high value for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.