Endocannabinoid

Endocannabinoids are a class of naturally occurring lipophilic molecules found in humans and all animals. These chemicals interact with the endocannabinoid system, a nervous signaling system found in all animals, which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body.

By binding to endocannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids maintain the balance of various bodily functions, such as sleep, mood, memory, pain, learning, inflammation, and hunger. Endocannabinoids are distinct from phytocannabinoids, which occur naturally in the cannabis plant.

«The endocannabinoid anandamide is known as the »bliss molecule.'".

«Endocannabinoids keep my body in balance.»

What are endocannabinoids?

Endocannabinoids, also known as endogenous cannabinoids, are a class of natural lipophilic molecules found in humans and all animals. These chemicals interact with the endocannabinoid system, an important system in humans and animals that is responsible for regulating homeostatic activity—that is, maintaining the balance of certain bodily functions.

The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors such as CB1 and CB2, and endocannabinoids capable of binding to and activating these receptors, such as the’anandamide and 2-AG, as well as enzymes that break down endocannabinoids in the body.

What do endocannabinoids do?

Endocannabinoids act as messengers in our endocannabinoid system. Once produced by the body, they bind to an endocannabinoid receptor and trigger a change in a bodily function, before being rapidly eliminated from the body.

Endocannabinoids are capable of activating cannabinoid receptors to modulate a number of different functions in the body, including sleep, mood, memory, pain, learning, inflammation, energy, immune response, muscle control, hunger, and body temperature.

What is the difference between endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids?

While endocannabinoids are naturally produced by the body, another category of cannabinoids is also capable of interacting with the endocannabinoid system: phytocannabinoids, which are produced by the cannabis plant.

Phytocannabinoids have a structure that is surprisingly similar to that of our natural endocannabinoids, which allows them to bind easily to endocannabinoid receptors and trigger changes in many of the functions that the endocannabinoid system keeps in balance.