What is the Endo-Cannabinoid System?

The Endo Cannabinoid system or ECS is responsible for maintaining “Homeostasis” within our bodies.

Homowhat!? We’ll get to that in sec.

The ECS was discovered by scientists in the early 1990’s while exploring THC, a very well known Cannabinoid.

So a quick brake down on Homeostasis.

A big word, with a pretty straight forward meaning. It’s all about keeping things constant or stable in a an environment.

Homeo meaning “similar”and ‘stasis’ which means “stable”.

In this instance we’re talking about the human body’s internal environment and how all internal functions are kept in balance.

The next word is Endo-Cannabinoid. Endo is short for “endogenous” which means that something is produced naturally inside your body. And the other word being Cannabinoids, which are chemicals found in Marijuana. So in simple terms Endocannbinoid means “a Cannabis-like substance that occurs naturally within our body”.

The Endo-Cannabinoid system is a very complex body function. It is responsible for many things within the human body. With a lot more still to be discovered and understood about it and how Cannabis affects it.

Similar to Cannabinoids in Cannabis the human body produces its own Cannabinoids. Yep, that’s right. And this occurs naturally in our bodies too.

The human bodies Endocannabinoid system works to keep our internal environment in a stable and equal balance. Despite wherever that might be happening in the environment around you.

Think of it as gauges on a car or airplane that tell the operator if things are – or aren’t – working in its optimal or perfect zone.

Similar to those gauges in cars and airplanes that give readings and measurements your body also does the same continuously monitoring important levels and functions within our selves. And when something is not working or operating at its normal range, the body activates the ECS to correct it.

Not bad, aye?

Scientists are still trying to fully understand the ECS. So far it is known to play roles in regulating a wide range of body functions and processes including mood, chronic pain, inflammation and other immune system responses.

The ECS is always active in our bodies even if a person has never consumed Cannabis. The Enodocannabinoid system is an extremely old human body function having evolved over 500 million years. A fun fact about the ECS is that it is present not only in humans but in all living vertebrates.

The Human Endocannabinoid system is made up of three (3) parts, they are;
1. Receptors
2. Endocannabinoids
3. Enzymes

The function and importance of these 3 parts we’ll be discussed in part two (2) of this Endocannabinoid series.

As always we encouraged our readers to do your personal research.

Keep and eye out for part two (2) of this article.

Peace and love.