What is the Endocannibinoid System (ECS)?
The human body internally generates cannabinoid compounds called “endocannabinoids.” Endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) interact with an associated receptor network found in cellular tissues throughout the human body.
Together, the endocannabinoids and the cannabinoid receptor network are known as the “Endocannabinoid System” (ECS). Since its discovery in the 1990’s, researchers have found endocannabinoids in ECS receptor sites in glands, connective tissues, the brain, and other organs.
What Does the ECS Do?
The primary function of the endocannabinoid system is to regulate internal balance and stability of physiological systems in the face of external stresses. The Endocannabinoid System is responsible for the healthy functioning of many essential bodily systems:
*Immune Health
*Sleep
*Mood
*Memory
*Metabolism
*Appetite
*Stress response
*Pain regulation
How Does the ECS Work?
The endocannabinoid system is not unique to humans – it has evolved in the bodies of most animals with a vertebra. The human body naturally produces “endocannabinoids” to stimulate receptors for regulating health, but plants such as cannabis and Echinacea produce medicinal “phytocannabinoids” compounds too (CBD, THC, CBG, etc) that can boost the ECS to the next level.
