Cannabinoids have been touted as the latest and greatest way to treat everything from acquired hypothyroidism to writers’ cramp. You’re probably wondering how that works. After all, there are so many drugs targeted toward one specific condition. What makes these compounds different? It’s all in how cannabinoids affect your body.
What Happens in Your Brain
For years, researchers have been trying to discover how cannabinoids work. Results have been mixed until recently when more information about something called the endocannabinoid system began to emerge.
Essentially, our bodies produce endocannabinoids naturally. That’s true whether or not you use cannabis. These endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters, which act as messages. They are sent from one neuron to another in your brain.
Three parts make up the endocannabinoid system:
- First, there are the endocannabinoids themselves.
- Then, there are the receptors that receive them.
- Finally, there are enzymes that break the endocannabinoids down once they’ve done their job.
Other neurotransmitters you might be familiar with are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Each neurotransmitter has a specific function, and endocannabinoids are no exception. They influence the following:
- Appetite
- Memory
- Pain
- Sleep
- Mood
- Reproduction
If your body isn’t producing a balanced number of endocannabinoids, all of the above parts of your life may suffer. You might be skeptical, especially since the press coverage surrounding cannabinoids has often been driven by fear rather than science. However, that’s where therapeutic cannabinoids can help.
How CBD and THC Differ
Most people know that CBD and THC produce different effects when taken. THC produces a “high.” CBD does not. Recent studies have finally revealed why this is the case.
THC acts in the place of the endocannabinoids your body produces. It targets the receptors in the endocannabinoid system and works from there. CBD, on the other hand, targets other receptors, including those for serotonin. They’re different messages, to begin with, but their effects vary further when different parts of your brain receive them.
Scientists are still learning new things about how our brains operate. However, the discovery and exploration of the endocannabinoid system is an exciting leap forward. It gives us a biological explanation for why cannabinoids work, which strengthens all of the experimental and anecdotal evidence already out there.
We serve residents of Massachusetts or Rhode Island, New York, and Florida. If that’s you, and you’re interested in learning more about how medical marijuana might affect you personally, you can schedule an appointment with one of our physicians today.
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
