About the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
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Mana Artisan Botanics Frequently Asked Questions | 1 Frequently Asked Questions About the Endocannabinoid system (ECS) What is the Endocannabinoid What are Endocannabinoids? System, or ECS? Endocannabinoids are endogenous neurotransmitters that Discovered in the late 1980s, the Endocannabinoid System, or are produced by our bodies. They regulate neurotransmission ECS is a biological system found in all mammals, composed and allow for feedback loops. Anandamide and 2-Arachido- of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors. ECS affects noylglycerol (2-AG) are the two primary endocannabinoids. virtually every cell, muscle, organ and tissue in our body, and critical to regulating a wide range of body processes, our What are Phytocannabinoids and nervous system, immune system, digestive system, endocrine how are they different than glands, brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, bones, mus- Endocannabinoids? cles, blood vessels and cells, lymph cells, and fat cells. Phytocannabinoids are plant derivative compounds (primarily The ECS is believed to have more cellular receptor sites than extracted from cannabis) that mimic the characteristics of the any other receptor system. The widespread distribution of endocannabinoids. THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) are the two these cannabinoid receptors shows just how important the primary phytocannabinoids that mimic the endocannabinoids ECS is to our overall bodily function and health. Anandamide and 2-AG, respectively. Both endocannabinoid and phytocannabinoids, collectively referred to as cannabinoids, bind to cannabinoid receptors that exist throughout the mammalian body. Endocannabinoid System Phytocannabinoids Body Functions Regulated OH CBD OH CBN H H CANNABIDIOL CANNABINOL HO O Kidneys Whole Body Relief & Protection Liver Digestive System Muscular & Skeletal Circulatory System O CBC CANNABICHROMENE Heart Nervous System Lungs Brain Endocrine System & HO Immune Response Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Mana Artisan Botanics Frequently Asked Questions | 2 What are cannabinoid receptors? Cannabinoid Receptor Our ECS includes two primary cell cannabinoid receptors, Brain/CNS/Spinal cord (CB1) (CB1 & CB2) Locations Cortical regions (CB1): (neocortex, pyiform cortex, hippocampus, CB1 and CB2. While these receptors are found throughout amygdala) Eye the body, they tend to concentrate in certain areas. CB1 retinal pigment epithelial/RPE cells Cerebellum (CB1) Brainstem (CB1) Heart (CB1 and CB2) Basal ganglia (CB1): globus pallidus, receptors are abundant in the brain, while CB2 receptors are substantia nigra pars, reticulata Olfactory bulb (CB1) Stomach (CB1 and CB2) more often found on immune cells, in the gastrointestinal Thalamus (CB1) Hypothalamus (endocrine-brain CB1) tract, and in the peripheral nervous system. Pancreas (CB1 and CB2) Pituitary (CB1) Digestive tract (CB1 and CB2) The endocannabinoid Anandamide, as well the phytocanna- Thyroid (endocrine gland (CB1)) binoid THC target CB1 receptors, predominantly found in the Bone (CB1 and CB2) Upper Airways (of mammals (CB1)) Liver (CB1): kupffer cells (macrophage immune cells), hepatocytes (liver cell), brain and nervous system, as well as in peripheral organs and CB2 receptors are hepatic stellate cells (fat storage cell) located in the cells Adrenals (endocrite gland CB1) tissues. The other main endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoyl- of the Lymphatic & Immune system: Ovaries (gonads and endocrine gland CB1) glycerol (2-AG) and its own mimetic phytocannabinoid, CBD, • Thynus (CB2) • Tonsis (CB2) Uterus (myometrium CB1) • Spleen (CB2) are active at both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Prostate (CB1): epithelial and smooth • Blood (CB2) Lymphocytes muscle cells Non-Immune cell CB2 receptors are Testes (gonads and endocrine gland CB1): found in the skin keratinocytes leydig cells; sperm cells Why is ECS important? Image courtesy of The ECS promotes homeostasis, or dynamic biological balance, in every cell, tissue, and organ, including the brain. Our ECS is responsible for overall health and wellness when properly functioning. Specifically, both 2-AG and CBD are What is Homeostasis? involved in the regulation of immune system functions, in- Homeostasis, or dynamic balance, is the concept that most bi- flammation, sleep, stress response, appetite, mood, memory ological systems are actively regulated to maintain conditions and pain management. within a narrow range. Conditions need to be just right for our cells to maintain optimum performance, and mechanisms have evolved to draw them back to the “Goldilocks zone” if they move out. ECS is a vital molecular system for helping maintain homeostasis—it helps cells stay in their Goldilocks zone. The stronger our physiological ability to stay in homeo- stasis is, the more robust our capacity to be in homeostasis, the healthier we are. Mana Artisan Botanics Frequently Asked Questions | 3 About Cannabidiol (CBD) and Other Phytocannabinoids What is Cannabidiol (CBD)? Phytocannabinoids Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. CBD has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties, without exerting a psychotropic effect. Unlike many of the other 85+ OH CBD OH CBN cannabinoids, CBD hemp strains have been bred so that CBD H H CANNABIDIOL CANNABINOL occurs in significant quantities; therefore, it is relatively easily extracted from these strains. HO O Additionally, CBD has been shown in a patent by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to have significant antioxidant and neuro-protective properties, suggesting that it could be a O CBC CANNABICHROMENE potential treatment for neurological disorders. Pharmaceutical drugs work at the level of the symptoms, HO not treating the imbalances in the systems that lead to the diseases and associated symptoms. CBD, on the other hand, Image courtesy of works at the level of the system of balance, helping regulate our bodies to enable homeostasis. While CBD is not yet FDA approved for any condition, many studies have shown promising results for a variety of condi- “CBD has “been demonstrated as an tions. Indications are that CBD: effective treatment for epilepsy” in • Combats anxiety and depression adults, children, and even animals, • Combats inflammatory disorders • Reduces nausea and vomiting and that there’s “preliminary • Suppresses seizure activity evidence “that CBD could be useful in • Combats psychiatric disorders • Combats neuro-generative discovers treating Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, • Combats tumor or cancer cell growth psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious conditions.” Does CBD have any side effects? According to a recent World Heath Organization (WHO) report, published in November 2017, CBD is safe and well tolerated in humans and animals, and is not associated with any negative public health effects. Experts further stated that November 2017 CBD does not induce physical dependence and is “not associ- ated with abuse potential.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2018/03/18/who- report-finds-no-public-health-risks-abuse-potential-for-cbd/ Mana Artisan Botanics Frequently Asked Questions | 4 Do Cannabinoids help regulate Cannabidiol (CBD) Asthma inflammation? Potentially treatable conditions Hypertension Inflammation is a natural protective reaction the immune CTE Breast Cancer Alzheimer’s system has in response to infection or physical damage. Glioblastoma Nausea & Vomiting Parkinson’s It’s important that inflammation be limited to the location ALS PTSD Diabetes of damage and doesn’t persist longer than needed, Migraines Multiple Sclerosis Menstrual Cramps Fibromyalgia Premenstrual Syndrome which can cause harm. Chronic inflammation and auto- Anxiety & Depression Epilepsy immune diseases are examples of the immune system Cerebral Palsy Spasticity getting activated inappropriately. When that happens, the inflammatory response lasts too long resulting in in chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammation, or may get directed toward healthy cells Neuropathic Pain Testicular Cancer leading to auto-immune diseases. Crohn’s Disease Prostate Cancer Irritable Bowel Syndrome Gastrointestinal Disorders In general, cannabinoids seem to suppress or limit the im- Osteoporosis mune system’s inflammatory signals. Chronic Pain Image courtesy of “Most of our research demonstrates that endocannabinoids are produced Do Cannabinoids help regulate upon activation of immune cells and anxiety and sleep disorders? may help regulate the immune re- Animal and human studies indicate that CBD has anxiolytic sponse by acting as anti-inflammatory (i.e. anxiety-reducing) properties. Recent clinical research agents. Thus, interventions that manip- suggests CBD reduces anxiety through its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas. (Neural basis of anxiolytic ulate the metabolism or production of effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety endocannabinoids may serve as a nov- disorder: a preliminary report. Crippa et al.) el treatment modality against a wide Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia also suggests that CBD may have therapeutic potential for the range of inflammatory disease.” treatment of insomnia, REM sleep behavior abnormalities as — Professor Prakash Nagarkatti, well as excessive daytime sleepiness, at least in part due to its Vice President for Research at the interactions with serotonin receptors in the brain. (Cannabis, University of South Carolina Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. Babson et al.) (Cannabidiol as an emergent therapeutic