Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System
Your endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of lipids, receptor proteins, and neurotransmitters that reside throughout the body but are concentrated within the nervous and the immune systems. The ECS helps maintain homeostasis by regulating the immune response, inflammation and pain levels when they under or overreact.
Phytocannabinoids are plant-based cannabinoids that also work with the ECS. Cannabidiol or CBD is one of many cannabinoids that work together with your ECS to maintain optimal levels of endocannabinoids.
When the ECS is working well you feel healthy, focused and equipped to handle stress. But when there is an endocannabinoid deficiency, the ECS regulation of your many internal systems is less efficient. As a consequence you may experience inflammation, anxiety, higher pain levels or an insufficient or over active immune response.
Let’s look deeper at the ECS.
- In the nervous system, the endocannabinoid anandamide activates neural receptors that regulate the release of neurotransmitters. Hemp CBD interacts with an enzyme to slow the breakdown of the anandamide and thereby increases anandamide cellular levels. With more anandamide, the body can better regulate pain.
- The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are in part due to its role as a reuptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitter adenosine.
- As an anti-epileptic, CBD was found to desensitize TRPV1 ion channels in the hippocampus and reduce the amplitude and duration of electrochemical spikes in neuron firing.
- CBD works outside the ECS as well. Studies have shown CBD activates serotonin receptors, providing a mechanism to reduce anxiety and help relieve depression.
The Entourage Effect
When it comes to using medicinal hemp extracts, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Individually, hemp phytocannabinoids and terpenes have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties. However together, the compounds react synergistically to enhance or even change their bioactivity in what’s known as the entourage effect. CBD is known to suppress the psychoactive properties of THC, allowing THC to more effectively mitigate pain while still allowing higher-level functioning. Terpenes such as d-limonene, found in orange oil, help increase CBD permeation across the skin barrier. The terpene myrcene increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, thereby opening up ECS activation channels. A research study on pain receptor response to cannabinoids found the whole plant CBD response was significantly higher than CBD isolate. The authors attribute the higher response to synergistic interactions of CBD with plant terpenes.
Hemp extract is more than just cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and chlorophyll that contribute to the health effects of the whole-plant hemp extract.
Dosage
While many people benefit from High-CBD hemp extracts, they may not be for everyone.* The power of CBD Rescue to heal depends on finding the right dosage. Finding the proper amount depends on your weight and type of pain. Follow the slogan less is more when finding the sweet spot for you. Too small a dose and you won’t feel the benefit, while too much and the effect levels out. The idea is to use just enough CBD Rescue to create a balance between the plant cannabinoids and the body’s natural ability to manage pain and inflammation.
Start with a small dose of 1-3 times a day as needed. Increase the dose amount or frequency until you feel relief. Depending on the strength, place 1/2 to 1 dropper of the tincture under your tongue and hold in place for a full minute or longer for maximum absorption. Hemp cannabinoids and terpenes have different metabolic pathways that depend on whether they’re absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract or through the mucous membrane. Under the tongue is a large vein called the sublingual gland. Absorption through this gland injects CBD directly into the bloodstream, bypasses intestinal degradation pathways, and allows a fast onset and high bioavailability.
For a deeper dive into the scientific research on CBD, search the papers listed below on the internet.