More and more scientific research is underlining the crucial importance of cannabinoids as a basis for the creation of new drugs.
Main reason: their extraordinary ability to interact with cb1 and cb2 receptors within our endocannabinoid system. But what exactly does this mean? In this article we will try to clarify things in simple words. Here's what we'll see:
Summary:
- What are cannabinoid receptors?
- What is the endocannabinoid system?
- CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system.
- Endocannabinoid system and metabolism
What are cannabinoid receptors?
Cannabinoid receptors can be of two types: CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors .
These are receptors naturally present in the human body , capable of binding, thanks to the bond with other molecules, both to endocannabinoids (those that the human body produces naturally) and to phytocannabinoids (those of the cannabis plant). This bond produces several fundamental physiological actions for our organism.
Along with endocannabinoids and their enzymes, cannabinoid receptors are one of the three main components of the endocannabinoid system . When these receptors are activated, either naturally or through the intake of phytocannabinoids , it is as if they light up and signal the cells to begin a certain physiological process.
They are called cannabinoid receptors precisely because they respond in a pharmacological way to substances deriving from cannabis.
The cb1 receptor was identified, studied and classified for the first time with respect to its molecular characterization between 1964 and 1973 , a period in which much attention was paid to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its interaction with the functions regulated by the central nervous system and peripheral.
At the time it was clear that THC had a role in the stimulation of CB1 receptors, just as today it is clear that cannabidiol (CBD ) also plays an important role in this sense.
CB1 receptors are found largely in the central and peripheral nervous system and in the bone marrow and are linked to the sphere of pain perception, mood control , mental and muscular relaxation and appetite control.
CB2 receptors , identified much later, are found mainly in cells of the immune system , in the tonsils, spleen and also in the bone marrow .
However, if until recently it was believed that cb2 were found only in these sites, it now appears clear that they are disseminated almost everywhere in the human body and there are also some in the central nervous system.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The endocannabinoid system was discovered towards the end of the 1990s , following the identification and subsequent synthesis of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) molecule by the scientist Mechoulam and his group, experts in biochemical pharmacology.
It takes its name from cannabis, because it mimics the behavior of some molecules present in the cannabis plant.
At first, researchers were at a loss to understand the chemical and molecular effects of THC on the central nervous system.
Why does it reduce muscle spasms? What makes it capable of stimulating the appetite? How does it alter consciousness and why does it seem to bring good mood to depressed patients?
After long research, we came to understand that in the human body, more precisely than in all mammals, there is a sort of signaling map made up of receptor sites that function autonomously but which respond pharmacologically to cannabis molecules .
This complex map is the endocannabinoid system, a system that has survived millennia of evolution, fundamental for our bio-balance , capable of controlling many other systems in our body.
The Cb1 and Cb2 receptors specifically act on:
- pain control
- appetite control
- mood control
- control of bone metabolism
- control of the immune system
- control of the anti-inflammatory response
CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant, the active ingredient behind light marijuana .
Completely free of psychoactive effects, it has numerous therapeutic properties and is able to interact with our endocannabinoid system.
Particularly known for its ability to stimulate CB1 receptors and sometimes also inhibit them , it has the advantage of significantly alleviating and in other cases counteracting many of the symptoms of certain pathologies, such as depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain .
Let's see in detail some advantages of cannabidiol (CBD):
- Thanks to its extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties , it reduces chronic pain by stimulating the CB1 receptor to enhance its analgesic capacity . For the same reason it helps relieve muscle tension, menstrual pain and migraines.
- It is an excellent ally against anxiety and mood disorders , caused in part by a decompensation of some of the molecules that should bind with the endocannabinoids naturally present in the human body. In this case CBD stimulates the production of this molecule, re-establishing a psychic balance.
- It promotes the production of serotonin and helps in case of post-traumatic stress disorder and in case of panic attacks.
- Helps control seizures and prevent convulsions.
- It can help balance, reduce and eliminate the psychotropic effects of THC .
- Thanks to its relaxing properties, which relax the stomach muscles, it is able to reduce nausea and vomiting , even when induced by very strong drug therapy.
- Its anti-inflammatory properties also act topically , which is why there are so many cannabidiol (CBD)-based anti-acne creams.
- Stimulates appetite and helps regulate it in case of eating problems.
- It is a real panacea against insomnia .
Endocannabinoid system and metabolism
As the information contained in this research shows in detail, the ability of the endocannabinoid system to control appetite as well as energy and nutritional balance is remarkable.
In particular, the cb1 receptor, responsible for controlling food, acts on complex and refined reward mechanisms that affect the mesolimbic areas of the brain .
Furthermore, cb1 receptors appear to have an important role in the control of some metabolic functions , acting on fatty acids , the endocrine pancreas and skeletal muscle .
Last but not least, there is the hypothesis that a certain type of obesity may depend on hyperactivity of the cb1 receptor which in that case should be inhibited, just like a real cannabinoid like CBD can do.
Research shows that there is a great need for new drugs capable of acting in the most natural way possible on our endocannabinoid system.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is obviously already the basis of numerous therapies because it seems to be the winning candidate for the treatment of numerous nutrition-related pathologies.
From those in which stimulation of the CB1 receptors is necessary, for example anorexia or loss of appetite caused by other pathologies, to those in which it is necessary to inhibit the action of the CB1 receptor.
It is a complete cannabinoid, capable of acting as both a stimulator and an antagonist, without forgetting the fact that it is free of any psychoactive and collateral effects.
As we move towards new discoveries related to the therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant, we invite you to take a look at our website , where you can find a selection of our best CBD cannabis varieties with different percentages of active ingredient and different aromatic blends.
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