The first cannabinoids discovered in the cannabis plant were by the chemist Raphael Mechoulam, who uncovered the chemical structures Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). Since then, however, researchers have found over 80 active compounds in the cannabis plant.
Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant can affect the human body because the body is already equipped with cannabinoid receptors. However, it's not just humans, but all vertebrates that have these cannabinoid receptors in their bodies, and therefore can be affected by cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.
The cannabinoid receptors constitute what is also known as the endocannabinoid system. Initially, it can be seen as a meta-system, as it always seeks to create homeostasis (balance) in the body. Overall, the system consists of CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors are found in cells in the immune system. Additionally, the body possesses endogenous cannabinoids, which are signaling molecules that act on the receptors by breaking them down. It is this breakdown that occurs when the body tries to dampen pain.
Cannabinoids are a central part of several bodily functions such as appetite, blood pressure, blood flow to the brain, digestion, nausea, the immune system, inflammation, memory, mood, movement, pain, reproduction, and stress. The endogenous cannabinoids, for example, are what dampen a pain signal when it becomes too high in the body, but they can also go in and protect brain cells after head trauma. The endogenous cannabinoids thus have a wide spectrum in supporting bodily functions, as they support both the physical nervous system and the mental nerve signals. Therefore, the endocannabinoid system is one of the most important physiological systems when it comes to maintaining human health.
The endocannabinoid system can benefit from CBD extracted from the cannabis plant, as Cannabis/hemp produces phytocannabinoids, which are identical to the body's own endocannabinoids. CBD can thus interact with humans as well as animals through the endocannabinoid system. Thereby, CBD supports the correct signaling between the systems in the body to subsequently restore the natural balance in the body.
The endocannabinoid system can thus be compared to a conductor who controls an orchestra. The endocannabinoid system indeed directs our biochemical system, as previously mentioned, for example, it can ask some parts to dampen their pain signals, making the pain more tolerable.
References:
Kvamme, Sinikka (2017). The unlikely discovery of the endocannabinoid system - the brain's "dimmer switch". Denmark: STOF. Journal for the drug abuse area. pp. 21-25.
