How cannabis works: Endocannabinoid system in detail
Citation: ECS is a physiological system which is inevitable due to the creation and maintenance of human health.
Initially, a little bit of biology in the background. Receptors of ECS were originally discovered as receptors sensitive to THC. Researchers identified two cannabinoid receptors which are components of ECS: CB1 and CB2. Receptors CB1 and CB2 can be primarily found in the nerve system, connective glands, venereal glands and organs, whereas receptors CB2 can be primarily found in the immune system and other peripheral structures. Please note that some glands can contain both receptors and each of them is responsible for other activity. Scientists believe that there is another receptor which will be discovered.
Your body naturally creates endocannabinoids to stimulate these receptors. The body naturally creates six common endocannabinoids. Your ECS can be also stimulated by phytocannabinoids (vegetable cannabinoids) produced by the hemp plant. They look like endogenous counterparts in molecular level and that is why they ideally fit in receptors of your bodies. Analogical endogenous compound THC is neurotransmitter anandamide, known also as “hormone of bliss”. Anandamide was discovered during the research of CB1 and CB2. This fact was inevitable because it was clear that our bodies produce internally chemical influencing endocannabinoid receptors.
Scientists discovered more than 85 different phytocannabinoids which are typically called only as cannabinoids and which can be found in trichomes of cannabis. Some of them are psychoactive, whereas some of them are not. Cannabinoids in cannabis can be considered as a natural supplement for stimulation of ECS. Another good example of endogenous / exogenous pair of compounds is morphine and encephalin.
Before smoking, anandamide and dopamine manage your fine motor skills, appetite, mood and cognitive abilities in the brain. As soon as you puff on, various phytocannabinoids fit in your receptors CB1 and CB2 as keys in locks. Another thing about which you know is that anandamide cannot bind on these places (because they are taken by THC and other cannabinoids). You begin to feel euphoria, freedom and you are ready for a dessert. Even though we speak about habitually known effects of THC, certain details will be observed from strain to strain, based on its composition of cannabinoids.
Regardless of your attitude to the plant, simple truth exists: functional ECS is inevitable for health. Does it mean that you have to consume cannabis to be healthy? No, your body itself produces endocannabinoids. To stay healthy, however, you need to have properly functioning ECS which many people supplement by cannabis. The research showed that small doses of cannabinoids extracted from cannabis can provide a signal to increase the production of endocannabinoids and building more cannabinoid receptors in the body. It can explain why some of the users who use cannabis for the first time, do not reach a feeling of being “doped up”, but the second or third try is much more effective. Every part of ECS perform a slightly different task but the goal is always the same – homeostasis. Homeostasis is an automatic maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment despite variations in the external environment. ECS is a physiological system which contributes to the creation and maintenance of human health.
Therefore an idea of smoking of the medicament can be for modern doctors unacceptable, scientific research and testimony of patients show that primary cannabinoids contained in cannabis function synergetically and bring out-standing therapeutic effects with minor side impacts that can be seen in isolated synthetic cannabinoids. Besides, there is a series of other ways to cure yourself with the use of cannabis which does not irritate the airways.