The Endocannabinoid System

…occurs naturally in the body, and promotes a state of balance and well being. When a function in the body gets out of tune our ECS activates and helps to correct the problem.

It is made up of receptors that are located all over the body that cannabinoids and endocannabinoids bond to, endocannabinoids, and the enzymes that break down cannabinoids and endocannabinoids.

It’s because these receptors are located all over the body that they have so many effects on it. Some of the conditions that are thought to be affected by cannabinoids such as CBD are sleep, mood, inflammation, pain, anxiety, and appetite.

Cannabinoids such as CBD bond to the receptors in the ECS giving them direction. Your body also has the ability to produce its own cannabinoids which are called endocannabinoids. Endo meaning naturally occurring in our bodies.

It is thought that when the body suffers stress or injury it may not produce enough of its own endocannabinoids to maintain the ECS. That’s when supplementing the body with a cannabinoid such as CBD can help.

A good example of this is when we don’t get enough nutrients from our diet, we will supplement with vitamins.

There are enzymes that break down cannabinoids and for the average person it would not be meaningful to expand on this topic.

One enzyme in particular should be noted though. Its called Cytochrome P450 and the reason is that this enzyme also metabolizes many other things in the body including some prescription drugs.

This can cause a competition between the cannabinoid and the other drug. If there is not enough enzyme to metabolize both substances then levels of both will rise which could cause unwanted side effects.

One good rule of thumb would be not to mix CBD with any prescription drug that your Doctor or Pharmacist tells you not to mix with grape fruits.

Basically, any drug that your doctor or pharmacist tells you not to take with grapefruits, you should not take with CBD.

Two examples would be the blood thinner Coumadin (Warfarin) and Statin drugs used for cholesterol such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin).