What Is The Endocannabinoid System?
What is the endocannabinoid system (ECS)? It’s a biological system of receptors that is inside all mammals, including you and me.
When the ECS is healthy, it successfully regulates important functions throughout our bodies. It is recognized as an important system for the brain, endocrine, and immune tissues to function properly.
The endocannabinoid system was just discovered in the 1990s. While studies in the US are slowly continuing, some experts believe that cannabinoids like the ones found in hemp may be important for the body to nourish and support homeostasis.
Here is a study on Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System, conducted by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia.
The Cannabinoid Receptors & The Endocannabinoid System
The two main endocannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2 receptors.
CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system. They are essential for a healthy functioning brain and are one of the most common receptors in the entire nervous system.
CB2 receptors are in your peripheral nervous system, especially in the immune cells. They help moderate inflammation and our immune response to pathogens. When these receptors become activated, they enable a sort of two-way communication between body systems.
Has Anyone Ever Died From Hemp?
In more than 4,000 years, no one has ever died from consuming hemp. There is one place in the body where there is no endocannabinoid system and no cannabinoid receptors – the brain stem. The brain stem is the control center for the heart and breathing. This means that it is not possible for cannabinoids to overwhelm those systems and cause them to shut down.