Let’s start with a really basic human-physiology lesson. (We’ll keep it simple and promise to discuss this more within our science section).

Many of you will have heard about the nervous system (fight-or-flight), the respiratory system (breathing), the cardio-vascular system (heart and blood-related stuff). Well here’s one system you may not of heard about – the Endocannabinoid system [ECS].

The ECS actually helps to regulate many of our bodily functions, such as temperature control, sleep, pain control, learning/memory, inflammatory responses and immune responses too.

Wow – you say, so many bodily controls – how did I not know about this?

The ECS is distributed around our body and also our brain through a network of receptors. (Receptors react to e.g. temperature and touch etc.). The receptors send messages that regulate and control different functions in our bodies.

There are two different cannabinoid receptors, namely CB1 and CB2. These particular receptors are stimulated by specific molecules produced naturally in our bodies. The molecules in question are called endocannabinoids, (similar to the cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis plants).

Just to be clear: Here’s the crazy part – floating around in our brain and the rest of our body, we all have cannabis-like molecules.

Imagine if you will, endocannabinoids are messengers, delivering information to the right place (receptors) at the right time.

If we take CBDs – how does this help reduce e.g. chronic pain? Simply put – it helps by reducing the endocannabinoid receptor activity. Less activity – helps reduce pain.

What about anxiety? The ECS recognizes stress-responses and helps slow these down. How? By releasing endocannabinoids, that reduce activity in parts of our brain. The amygdala (part of the brain involved with fear and threats) is slowed down, thereby reducing stress. Being similar to endocannabinoids, CBDs can help reduce the responses and activity in the amygdala – reducing stress.

Ultimately CBD’s may also help boost endocannabinoid signaling, improving the regulation of so many aspects within our body.

We can go on and on, but we think that this will help you understand basic endocannabinoid functioning and the potential benefits, if taken at the right dosage i.e. the minimum effective dose (MED)

Sadly, it is only more recently that CBDs and CBGs have become federally legal and as such, studies that show the efficacy and the potential reactions to these molecules are only now being researched and uncovered.