In order to understand the importance of Hemp usage for our body, we need to understand that the Hemp Family of plants has approximately 500 compounds; consisting of about 100 phytocannabinoids (THC and CBD are two of them), 120 terpenoids and many flavonoids to name the more prominent compounds in the cannabis plants.
Cannabinoids are a group of substances found in the cannabis plant like Hemp. Based on the book ‘’CBD-Rich Hemp Oil’’ written from Tina Rappaport and Steven Johnson – there are three general types of cannabinoids.
1 st type, is the one produced in our own body known as ‘endogenous cannabinoids’.
2 nd type, is produced by plants and is called ‘phytocannabinoids’ and the
3 rd type, is synthetically engineered in a Lab and is known as ‘synthetic cannabinoids’.
Cannabinoids act as neuromodulators and help regulate every physiological system such as our nervous system, digestive system, reproductive system, immune system, endocrine system and muscular system. The first cannabinoid was discovered in 1964 by Dr Raphael Mechoulam, PhD and in 1992 he made another important discovery. Dr Mechoulam and his team identified anandamide – a naturally occurring human neurotransmitter. Anandamide was named after the Sanskrit word ‘ananda’, which means ‘bliss’ or ‘delight’. Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter (the word endogenous means it is produced within the body). This led to the subsequent discovery of the endocannabinoid system.
This widespread system is found in the brain, organs, glands, connective tissue and immune cells and it has regulatory roles in many physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood and memory. The primary purpose of this system revolves around maintaining balance in the body, which is known as homeostatic balance.
Cannabinoids receptor sites are found throughout the entire body, embedded in the membrane of the cell. The cannabinoids have signals to which receptors respond, the receptors receive cannabinoids, and this system is estimated to be over 600 million years old and is found in all vertebrate species. We are just finding out about it now and just beginning to understand how widespread and important it is to our functioning.
It is known that Human breast milk and cannabis plants have the same thing in common – cannabinoids.
There are two types of cannabinoid rectors – CB1 and CB2 – these two receptors are found in the nervous system as well as the peripheral tissues and organs. There are additional receptor sites throughout the human body that respond to plant compounds.
The CB1 and CB2 receptors have the job of helping to regulate hormone and neuro-hormone activity.
Researchers are finding out that by modulating the endocannabinoid system a number of diseases and pathological conditions may be alleviated. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, stroke, obesity/metabolic syndrome, anxiety disorders, neuropathic pain, Huntington’s disease, myocardial infarction, movement disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, seizure disorders, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis are a sampling of the diseases helped and there are many more.
Picture from: cottonbro studio
