CBD is one of the 120 phytocanabinoids found in the cannabis plant. And with the hype around this compound, you probably are asking yourself: is this just another wellness trend? How do we know that it actually works?
CBD is linked to a major innate regulatory system in our bodies. So in order to understand how CBD works and to fully comprehend the benefits it can deliver, it’s crucial that you first understand the Endocannabinoid System.
The system in your body nobody told you about.
In school you've most likely learnt about 5 body systems: circulatory, nervous, respiratory, digestive, and skeletal.
But between 1988-1995 scientists discovered the 6th body system called the Endocannabinoid System (
ECS acts as a chemical bridge between body and mind. It regulates blood sugar, immune function, muscle and fat tissues, hormones, pain centers, reward centers, and metabolic functions. The role of the ECS is ensuring that everything works in sync with each other.
Because of its crucial role in homeostasis, the ECS is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Its key pieces evolved a long time ago, and the ECS can be found in all vertebrate species.
The purpose of endocannabinoids.
Understanding how the endocannabinoid system works reveals why the cannabinoids in hemp and other plants have therapeutic effects.
If you imagine the body like a machine, each system works together to keep the machine moving. The immune system is like a filtration system, the brain is like the motherboard, and endocannabinoids help to maintain these systems.
Why we need phytocannabinoids.
Like any machine―whether it be a result of poor maintenance, damage, or natural aging―our body’s parts and systems can deteriorate and malfunction. When this happens, it affects the entire body and can lead to various health problems.
Endocannabinoids are designed to help maintain the health level of the body. And phytocannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant, have been found to inhibit the breakdown of endocannabinoids and prolong endocannabinoid action.
Just like every system in the body needs nutritional support to stay healthy, the ECS also requires support. This is where phytocannabinoids, like CBD come in.
How CBD works.
Hemp extract, which includes CBD is like a power-up for our Endocannabinoid System. Research reveals that when CBD bonds with the CB1 or CB2 receptors, it alters and/or improves the capabilities of that receptor, thereby improving the receptors functionality.
Additionally, if the body suffers from cannabinoid deficiency, administering CBD can help equalize the deficiency (studies suggest that cannabinoids are a finite resource, and the deficiency of cannabinoids can result in headaches, irritability, and other health issues).
By bonding with our body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD not only helps to maintain vital health functions―it helps to restore the homeostasis, or balance, within the body.
The Benefits of CBD.
As a mom, you know better than anyone that being stressed out is a fast-track to feeling unwell. The more you have on your plate, the higher your risk of getting headaches, having trouble sleeping, battling anxiety, etc.
In a healthy body, everything is as it should be and the body is balanced. In an unhealthy body, on the other hand, there is too much or too little of something, and this disrupts the natural balance of the body.
Stress and Anxiety often occurs as a result of your response to a situation you perceive as risky, dangerous, or unwanted. An unbalance of hormones or excessive messages within the brain will increase your cortisol levels, causing you to feel stressed. CBD combats stress by regulating how your brain responds to stress signals and maintaining your cortisol levels.
Inflammation can be characterized a part of your body becoming swollen and hot, often times being very painful. Ranging in severity, inflammation is linked to conditions like arthritis, bacterial infections, and autoimmune disorders. CBD combats inflammation by suppressing inflammatory response and pathways, stimulating the production of regulatory cells, and managing our pain perception.
Seizures are caused by erratic electrical activity in the brain, causing the body to shake violently. CBD has proven to greatly reduce seizures in patients suffering from Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gaustat Syndrome, two very severe forms of epilepsy. CBD reduces seizures by slowing down excitatory nerve activity and subduing the brain’s reaction to the intensified signals that cause the brain to overload.
In conclusion.
The examples above are just a few ways CBD works with the ECS to benefit the body, but the list goes on.
There are actually hundreds of case studies supporting CBD as an effective treatment for dozens of conditions. It’s all thanks to our body’s Endocannabinoid System, so make sure to give it a big thank you and take care of it!
Cannabis compounds like CBD and THC exist for a reason, and it’s certainly no accident that we have an Endocannabinoid System.
We hope this post helped to inspire you as much as CBD inspires us. Spread the word to other moms who need to know about the Endocannabinoid System, and be sure to take care of yours!