How CBD works with your body’s cannabinoid system

Chronic or acute pain, stress, fatigue: Due to the existing endocannabinoid system, CBD works in all of these situations in the body. Your body already has CB1 receptors throughout the peripheral central nervous system and CB2 receptors throughout the immune system as well as in the muscles and skeleton.

When pain, stress or fatigue occurs, your body develops a stress response. A system mediated primarily by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cortisol, norepinephrine, adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. They all work on this fight-or-flight phenomenon that needs to be brought back into balance after an episode of stress or pain.

This is where the endocannabinoid system comes into play. It plays an important role by increasing the levels of endocannabinoids and receptors in areas of pain and stress, which helps restore balance and control the level of inflammation or stress that the body experiences in these situations. This system is already present in your body. There are CB1 and CB2 receptors and the endocannabinoid (“endo” means it comes from within and “cannabinoids” are the molecules). The cannabinoids – anandamide and 2-AG are the predominant ones – contribute to this termination of a stress response, which is also useful and valuable in treating pain, stress and fatigue symptoms that lead to appetite problems, sleep disorders and chronic pain or inflammation.

The CB1 receptors are expressed throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems in the GABA and glutaminergic nerve endings, but there are also actions of CB receptors in the serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine terminals in the central nervous system, brain, spinal cord and Brain Peripheral nervous system.

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These nerves are distributed throughout the body and help us feel our hands and feet, move our body, and be aware of sensations. Situations such as tremors or muscle spasms also arise in the area of ​​the brain where motor control lies. These areas are also the cause of memory and cognitive impairments affected by anxiety, lack of sleep, stress or PTSD. This area is rich in CB1 receptors.

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CB2 receptors are located primarily in the immune system, the spleen, the lymph nodes and the bone marrow, but also in the cells of the musculoskeletal system. These cells also respond to stimulation with CBD, so our body’s naturally produced endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-AG) are found throughout the body. However, studies have shown that areas of chronic inflammation such as arthritic joints have higher concentrations of endocannabinoids, suggesting an upregulation of these molecules and an upregulation of CB receptors similar to other body systems. When inflammation needs to be controlled, the body deploys additional receptors and additional endocannabinoids to the appropriate locations.

It makes sense that CBD would be effective for stress management, chronic non-cancer pain, insomnia, and anxiety because it activates the same CB1 and CB2 receptors already present throughout the body. This restores balance and plays an important role in ending a stress response due to chronic stress, inflammation or pain.