The key to understanding why CBD is so beneficial to physical and mental well-being is the endocannabinoid system.
The Endocannabinoid System and Homeostasis
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a biological system found in the human body as well as in most animals. The ECS’s primary function in the body is to maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis is your body’s way of keeping its internal environment stable and in natural harmony. Conditions in the body, such as temperature, heart rate, hormone levels, etc., have to stay within a narrow range for the body to maintain optimal performance. The ECS keeps your body in the “Goldilocks” zone, where everything is “just right” for your body to function correctly.
Cannabinoids such as CBD fit into cannabinoid receptors like a key that resides on the surface of cells and monitor cell conditions outside the cell. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors. CB1 receptors are found mainly in the brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors are in the immune system, digestive system, and other organs throughout the body. These receptors detect and communicate changes in the external environment to ensure a proper cellular response.
The ECS uses this process to regulate many different functions throughout the body.
Understanding how CBD balances the ECS
The ECS is a delicate system that often gets out of balance. Lifestyle factors such as overwhelming schedules, diet, and exercise all influence the health of the ECS. The pressures of modern life can have a detrimental effect on the ECS. Because of the ECS’s significant widespread impact on the body, this can be harmful to overall health.
CBD enhances natural levels of endocannabinoids by modifying cannabinoid receptors’ ability to bind to cannabinoids. In the process, there can be a rebalancing effect on a deficient or dysfunctional endocannabinoid system. The ECS’s active function throughout the body is what makes CBD effective at bringing so many different body systems into balance.
Mental tension triggers the release of hormones and chemicals that prime your body to respond to dangerous threats. However, when your body is under ongoing tension, these chemicals can become imbalanced and wreak havoc on the body. This imbalance may also start showing in the form of nerve puffiness, soreness, and physical discomforts. By stimulating the ECS, CBD can regulate how your brain responds to apprehensiveness and protect your body from its harmful effects