The discovery of cannabinoids like cbd and THC has sparked study into the health advantages of these chemicals and how they show themselves in the human body. The missing piece of the jigsaw was ultimately uncovered after scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system (ecs), which is a large network of cellular receptors.
This breakthrough discovery not only helped scientists understand how cannabinoids function, but it also revealed a complex physiological system that is likely the most significant neurochemical network in humans.
Today, we’ve put up a quick primer to the endocannabinoid system for anybody interested in learning more about how cbd Barcelona and THC work in the body.
Let’s start with the ecs’s most important components.
Endocannabinoids
The ecs naturally produces these substances, which are then manufactured in the body to signal ecs receptors. Cannabinoids are the chemicals that trigger these receptors, and endo comes from Greek and meaning “inside.” 2-ag and anandamide are the two most important endocannabinoids in the body (1).
Receptors for cannabinoids (cb1 and cb2)
Cb1 and cb2 receptors are found in the endocannabinoid system. Throughout the body, these binding sites may be found in all organ systems and on a variety of cell types. The activity of cannabinoid receptors can be activated, inhibited, or modulated by various cannabinoids. This holds true for endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids (those derived from plants), and laboratory-made synthetic cannabinoids. Trpv1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid one), which serves as a binding site for cbd, THC, and anandamide, is also thought to be a member of the ecs.
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical processes by breaking down particular substances in the body. Enzymes that generate and metabolise cannabinoids make up the endocannabinoid system. Fatty acid amid hydrolase, one of the most important enzymes in the ecs, breaks down anandamide.
Cannabinoid receptors: What are they do?
The endocannabinoid system is incomplete without cannabinoid receptors. They allow neurotransmitters to manifest their effects on the body and brain by receiving messages from endocannabinoids and moving them across cells and from the exterior of cells to the inside.
Where can you find cb1 receptors?
Cb1 receptors are typically present in the brain and nervous system, although they can also be found in a variety of other places. Cb1 receptors have been located in the following places of the body so far:
• Brain • Fat cells • Gastrointestinal tract • Liver • Pancreas • Respiratory organs • Skeletal muscles • Spinal cord
Where can you find cb2 receptors?
Cb2 receptors are found in fewer parts of the body than cb1 receptors, although being less investigated. They are mostly present in the immune system, although they can also be found in the skin. Cb2 receptors have been discovered in the following tissues: • bone • fat cells • gastrointestinal tract • immune system • liver • reproductive organs
Cannabinoid receptors: Why do people have them?
Many different cell types have cannabinoid receptors in their membranes. It is made up of two spaces: extracellular (on the outside of the cell) and intracellular (inside the cell) (inside). When a cannabinoid connects to a cannabinoid receptor, it sends a signal to the cell’s inside, causing it to modify its function. The location where a receptor is activated frequently reveals the tasks it influences.
