CBD & The ECS
Cannabidiol (CBD)
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is 1 of nearly 150 Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The 2 major compounds are Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) & Cannabidiol (CBD). These 2 compounds are the most concentrated in the plant so are studied the most, that’s probably why you have heard of them already.
CBD, the compound found in our products, does not have any psychoactive effects as it does not react to the same receptors in your endocannabinoid system (ECS) as THC.
There are many different ways to use CBD depending on your desired outcome. Oils, e-liquids, topical creams, capsules & edibles are among the most common.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important neurotransmitter system expressed throughout the mammalian central nervous system (including the brain) and peripheral nervous system.
The endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating a variety of physiological and cognitive processes including fertility, pregnancy, during pre- and postnatal development, appetite, pain-sensation, inflammation, mood, and memory, & in mediating the pharmacological effects of cannabis.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) refers to a collection of cell receptors and corresponding molecules. You can think of cell receptors like little locks on the surface of your cells. The keys to these locks are chemical molecules called agonists. Each time an agonist binds to a cell it relays a message, giving your cell specific direction.
The endocannabinoid system is the name for a series of cell receptors that respond to certain kinds of agonists. Two primary cell receptors make up the ECS, Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) & Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2).
The keys for these receptors are called endocannabinoids.
Endocannabinoids got their name from Cannabis. Plant cannabinoids were discovered first. Endo means within, & cannabinoid referring to a compound that fits into cannabinoid receptors.
Certain receptors are more concentrated in specific regions. CB1 receptors are abundant in the central nervous system. CB2 receptors are more often found on immune cells, in the gastrointestinal tract, & in the peripheral nervous system.
The diversity of receptor locations shows just how important endocannabinoids are for day-to-day bodily function.
Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency CED:
The ECS theory of disease is termed “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency“.
The idea is simple: when the body does not produce enough endocannabinoids or cannot regulate them properly, you are more susceptible to illnesses that affect one or several of the functions listed above.
Studies in both CBD & THC have found that neither one to present a risk of a lethal dose.