Over recent years, our knowledge and understanding of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) has grown dramatically. There have been numerous studies conducted as scientists continue to research the regulatory role of the ECS and the possible interactions with cannabinoids. It is has been discovered that a deficiency in endocannabinoids is believed to be an underlying factor in several incapacitating illnesses.
The ECS is a made up of a series of receptors, chemical compounds, and metabolic enzymes that help balance our biological systems. A state of homeostasis occurs in the body when all its functions operate at their best. As the ECS is not able to improve our body’s optimal state past its natural limits, it requires a supplemental input. Enter cannabinoids!
When the cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa plant bind to receptors linked to the ECS, a wide range of biological effects are made possible. When the endocannabinoids inside our body and the cannabinoids we consume bind together, they are able to significantly boost the capabilities of our ECS.
The Endocannabinoid System’s ability to regulate our biological functions requires adequate levels of endocannabinoids. A dip in these levels causes an imbalance within the body, which could lead to numerous health issues
In 2004, Dr. Ethan B. Russo, the leading researcher of the Endocannabinoid System outlined a phenomenon that he believed could be a contributing factor to migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and other treatment-resistant conditions. Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD) occurs when natural endocannabinoids in our body drop below their normal levels, causing us to suffer from disease as a result. These diseases would normally be kept at bay by the regulatory power of the ECS.
Dr. Russo proposed there were several similarities in the mechanisms that cause the onset of the conditions mentioned above – one observed similarity was a deficiency in anandamide, a vital endocannabinoid that plays an important role in pain management, appetite regulation, and pleasure. The importance of supplementation with cannabinoids becomes paramount in treating the conditions linked to CECD.
CBD has become a frontrunner for those diagnosed with clinical endocannabinoid deficiency because of its overwhelmingly positive interactions with the ECS and has been found to prevent the production of the FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase) enzyme. FAAH is responsible for breaking down Anandamide (AEA) and preventing the endocannabinoid from sustaining its effect. Anandamide is a key player associated with CECD and therefore CBD’s ability to inhibit FAAH production and encourage higher levels of Anandamide could prove essential to improving CECD.
If CECD does play a role in conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia, targeting the ECS or endocannabinoid production could be the missing key to treatment.