REN Health

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The Endocannabinoid System is the reason why Cannabis works on the human body and why it has so many medicinal qualities. Endocannabinoids (internally produced cannabinoids, e.g. Anandamide) interact with cannabinoid receptors (e.g. CB1, CB2), which are present throughout our body. We have this system to “relax, eat, sleep, protect, and forget”, as was summarized by one of the world’s leading cannabinoid scientists in 1998. Since then many other roles have been additionally discovered, including pain control, feeling euphoria (e.g. "runner's high"), and homeostasis (inner balance). Phytocannabinoids (plant cannabinoids, e.g. THC, CBD) give our system a “boost” by interacting with the same receptors.

Cannabis helps to restore normal function of the cells and systems, and most importantly, it helps to maintain the inner balance of the human body and mind (homeostasis). Homeostatic function is the cornerstone of the Endocannabinoid System and the main reason why so many patients successfully control numerous symptoms and conditions with Medical Cannabis and get to eliminate or significantly reduce the burden of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, their associated costs and adverse effects.

“The variety of medical applications of Cannabis are remarkable. A relatively recent (early 1990s) discovery of the Endocannabinoid System (internally produced cannabinoids and their receptors) found to be present in nearly every living organism - is one of the greatest breakthroughs in Physiology and Medicine. This helped us understand how one plant could safely and effectively treat a myriad of medical conditions since ancient times. The knowledge in this field is rapidly expanding with over 30,000 studies already published and 5 new studies coming out every day. I am excited that medical schools are starting to include this important subject into educational programs. At present, each practicing physician is required to have an extensive education before applying Cannabis and its numerous constituents to the treatment of patients. I am eager and enthusiastic to share my acquired knowledge with patients in order to help them relieve debilitating symptoms and heal with the help of this extraordinary medicinal plant.”
— Alex Bibikau, M.D.

Evolution of the knowledge on Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and the Endocannabinoid System:
PubMed Database search:
1961 - 1991 “endocannabinoid” 5 results.
1992 - 2022 “endocannabinoid” 12,304 results.

1961 - 1991 “cannabinoid” 1,812 results.
1992 - 2022 “cannabinoid” 29,564 results.

1961 - 1991 “cannabis” 4,645 results.
1992 - 2022 “cannabis” 25,481 results.

Read more:
History of Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid system
 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7605027/)

The Endocannabinoid System and its Modulation by Phytocannabinoids
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604172/)

What is Medical Cannabis?

Cannabis sativa L. is a flowering plant species within the Cannabaceae family (along with its siblings - Hops and Hackberry tree).

Medical Cannabis (or Medical Ma*****na) has been used for millennia to treat ailments and alleviate symptoms. From 1851 until 1941 it was legally used by patients in the U.S. for over 100 medical conditions, however, for the next 55 years it was banned for political reasons. Thankfully, the tide is changing, and now most U.S. states legalized Medical Cannabis along with many other countries around the world. Cannabis helps to restore normal function of the cells and systems, and most importantly, it helps to maintain the inner balance of the human body and mind (homeostasis). The medicinal benefits are hard to ignore, and now you as a patient can assuredly be using this medicine to alleviate symptoms of related conditions under the supervision of a trained physician.

Read More:

Cannabis Sativa
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)31379-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS096098221931379X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Cannabis: Chemistry, extraction and therapeutic applications
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653521034846?via%3Dihub