You are a miraculous and unique being, capable of constantly changing and adapting to survive and thrive. Trillions of cells in your body work together to sustain life and maintain balance. Everything works in harmony to keep you alive and well, from the blood pumping through your veins to the food you digest and the air you breathe.
But how does your body manage such amazing feats? How does it control the vast complexity of systems and function with such efficiency?
The answer lies in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This critical network of receptors and enzymes is spread throughout your body and works harmoniously to maintain your body's perfect balance. The ECS plays an essential role in numerous bodily processes, including metabolism, immunity, pain, reproduction, and sleep.
You can support the hardworking ECS with organic hemp extract. Hemp plants are rich in phytocannabinoids, which can interact with the ECS and help maintain its function. Incorporating natural hemp oil into your wellness routine can support your body's natural ability to achieve and maintain balance.
Continue reading to learn more about the ECS and how organic hemp extract helps you achieve harmony.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The endocannabinoid system or ECS is a fascinating and highly complex network with three core components:
- Endocannabinoids — These are lipid signaling molecules
- Endocannabinoid receptors — There are CB1 receptors in the brain and central nervous system and CB2 receptors in the peripheral nervous system and immune cells
- Enzymes — These proteins break down endocannabinoids once they've performed their function
Its function is to maintain homeostasis or balance. It ensures your temperature stays stable, your immune system is functioning properly, and that you feel relaxed and stable. It's critical for every aspect of your physiology and allows you to maintain perfect physiological and mental balance.
The ECS is critical for many bodily processes, including:
- appetite and metabolism
- immunity
- inflammation
- metabolism
- pain
- reproduction and fertility
- sleep
Think of the ECS as an orchestra conductor, making sure all the players are in sync and working together to create beautiful music.
What are endocannabinoids?
If something — like pain, stress, infection, or fever — upsets your body's perfect equilibrium, the ECS jumps into action to correct the problem. It does this by producing endocannabinoids. "Endo" means "from within," so these are cannabinoids that originate from within your body.
The endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors and activate them. This, in turn, triggers a physiological response that helps to restore balance. The effects depend on which receptors are activated and where they're located in the body.
There are two main types of endocannabinoids:
- Anandamide (AEA) — This is also known as the "bliss molecule" because it's associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. AEA is produced by neurons in the brain and binds to CB1 receptors.
- 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) — This endocannabinoid is produced by immune cells and binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Your body produces endocannabinoids on an as-needed basis. Once they've done their job, enzymes break them down, so they don't build up to unhealthy levels.
The ECS is constantly working hard to keep you healthy and balanced. But, there's a theory that there can be ECS signaling issues known as Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD).
CECD could happen if:
- You don't produce enough endocannabinoids
- The endocannabinoids you produce can't bind to receptors
- You have too many enzymes that break down endocannabinoids
- Certain foods and medications affect ECS signaling
A review of a decade of research concluded that the CECD could be the underlying cause of numerous conditions resistant to treatment, including migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and more.
As with all areas of cannabis research, we need further studies to confirm this theory, but one thing is clear. Supporting your ECS with organic hemp extract is an excellent way to promote optimal health and well-being.
How does organic hemp extract help the ECS?
Hemp is a truly incredible plant. It's been used for centuries for its versatile applications, including as a sacred medicine. Organic hemp extract is so beneficial because it's rich in phytocannabinoids. "Phyto" means "from plants," so these are cannabinoids that come from plants.
Even though phytocannabinoids don't originate from within your body, they can still interact with the ECS and exert many of the same beneficial effects. This is because they're structurally similar to endocannabinoids.
When you consume organic hemp extract, you're bathing your body in phytocannabinoids that nourish and support the ECS and maintain its function. In some cases, organic hemp extract may be more effective than your endocannabinoids.
There are more than 120 different cannabinoids found in this versatile plant, of which the two most abundant and well-researched are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
However, these are not the only cannabinoids in hemp. It's also rich in acidic parent molecules, including cannabigerolic acid (CBGa), known as the "Mother cannabinoid" because it's the starting point for all other cannabinoids.
The three other abundant acidic cannabinoids include:
- Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa)
- Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa)
- Cannabichromenic acid (CBCa)
When hemp is heated and dried, these acidic cannabinoids are decarboxylated, meaning they lose their acidic group and become neutral cannabinoids. So CBDa turns into CBD, THCa turns into THC, and CBCa turns into CBC.
Each cannabinoid has its own unique effects, which are mediated by how they interact with the ECS. THC, for example, activates the CB1 receptors in the brain that are involved in intoxication. This triggers feelings of euphoria from the brain's reward system and the "high" feeling associated with cannabis use.
In contrast, other cannabinoids, like CBDa and CBD, are non-intoxicating as they have different effects on the ECS. Although scientists are still elucidating how cannabinoids interact with the ECS, some, like CBD, may act as agonists to prevent enzymes from breaking down endocannabinoids and work with other elements in the body that increase well-being.
Full-spectrum organic hemp extract also contains vitamins, minerals, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds that work synergistically to support the ECS. This is known as the "entourage effect," and it's one of the main reasons organic hemp extract is so effective.
Choose organic hemp extract and choose health
Organic hemp extract is a natural, plant-based panacea that can gently and effectively support the endocannabinoid system. It's safe, non-intoxicating, and rich in restorative phytocannabinoids.
Adding Nesas Hemp organic hemp extract to your wellness routine is a simple way to choose health and promote a state of balance in the body.
Organic hemp extract is rich in beneficial phytocannabinoids that gently and effectively support health.
