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The endocannabinoid system, often shortened to just ECS, is a powerful, complex and nearly ubiquitous in the nervous system that — among other things — enables your body to process cannabis. It’s because of the ECS and cannabinoid receptors dispersed throughout many brain regions and every organ in the body that your body can then make use of cannabis’s many compounds. So…thanks ECS!
This guide will provide a basic introduction to the endocannabinoid system. By the time you reach the end, you should have a solid understanding of fundamental concepts like:
Plus, we’ll cover how cannabinoids — like CBD and THC — engage with the ECS to yield their effects.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS), or endogenous cannabinoid system, was discovered in the 1990s by cannabis researchers. Though several decades have passed, experts still aren’t 100% clear on how — exactly — the ECS works or the extent of its influence on bodily functions and processes.
Research has revealed a whole lot, though! Let’s take a look. And, we promise to keep it high-level and interesting — no veering too far off into the weeds….
All animals — cows, horses, cats, dogs, other furry/feathery/scaly/slimy beings (except insects) — have an endocannabinoid system. That means YOU have one, too. And, it makes no difference whether or not you use cannabis. The ECS is still there inside your body, from head to toe.
That’s right. The ECS runs throughout the entire body. Not only can it be found from top to bottom, but inside to outside. The ECS is present in your tissues and organs, including your brain and skin.
Given the widespread existence of the ECS, it’s probably not a shocker that the ECS has its hand in a whole lot of your body’s workings. Evidence shows that this network helps modulate and control things (1,2) like:
As you can see, the endocannabinoid system touches on physical and mental health realms. It’s also understandable why researchers and doctors are eager to learn more about how the ECS operates and how we might leverage it to improve people’s well-being.
The overarching goal of the ECS is to facilitate your body reaching and maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is a biological term meaning stable equilibrium. In other words, your ECS is integral to your physical and chemical systems hovering around a nice balance point. When your body is in homeostasis, it’s more apt to function optimally.
The endocannabinoid system is made up of three parts: endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. Let’s take a few moments to familiarize you with these pieces of the ECS.
There are two classes of cannabinoids, naturally-occurring compounds that behave as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that send signals to receivers, which then relay that message on to other areas of the body.
Usually, when you see cannabinoid, it’s referring to phytocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids, phyto meaning plant, are cannabinoids found in cannabis.
There are over 140 known cannabinoids.(3) Marijuana and hemp subspecies of cannabis both have many cannabinoids, though the exact ones they have and the proportions of each vary. Only cannabis has phytocannabinoids, though several other plants boast cannabinoid-like substances.(4)
Amazingly enough — your body produces cannabinoids of its own! This kind of cannabinoid is called an endocannabinoid (or sometimes an endogenous cannabinoid). Endo means within; endogenous means created within an organism.
Scientists have identified two major endocannabinoids to date:
Endocannabinoids are made on-demand — when your body needs them to facilitate some function. As such, researchers aren’t sure what a “normal” level of endocannabinoids is.(1)
Man-made cannabinoids are a real thing. Created in a lab, they’re designed to mimic phytocannabinoids. (But only the “good” or beneficial aspects of the cannabinoid after which they are patterned.) Synthetic cannabinoids are used in pharmaceutical and other products.
Receptors, aka CB receptors, are a vital component of the ECS. There are two known endocannabinoid system receptors — CB1 and CB2. Each has its own particularities and purpose.(9,10,11,12)
The structures and processes of the ECS sometimes vary across animals. For example, CB2 protein sequences are different in man, mouse, and mutt. However, the CB1 receptor is virtually the same in all mammals.(13)
Last, but not least, are the ECS’s enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that your body produces to facilitate internal chemical reactions. In the case of the endocannabinoid system, enzymes operate like a demolition crew — breaking down waste (i.e., spent phyto-/endocannabinoid bits) and helping to usher it out of your system.
It seems like a Law of Twos ruling here. Because there are two primary enzymes involved with the ECS.
Now that you know the basic pieces of the ECS and their roles, let’s look at how they combine to form a cohesive, high-performing system. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it simple!
We’ll kick off with an analogy, to get a rough outline sketched in your mind.
Together, the three components of the ECS work kind of like a day on the trading floor of a 1980’s stock exchange. Investors call their brokers to buy or sell a security; brokers call the orders in to traders in the pit; traders execute the transactions and settle the books. There’s a trigger that starts the cycle, a message that conveys info, and a resulting action with an outcome.(14,15)
OK, back to real life. Here’s the generic ECS process in action:
Again, experts don’t have all the answers as to how this precisely works. They do know that, in the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids and endocannabinoids correspond with ECS receptors. They’ve also determined that not all cannabinoids interact with the receptors in the same way.
For example, THC binds to receptors like an endocannabinoid. In fact, it can glom onto both CB1 and CB2.
CBD is more of a mystery. Instead of bonding with the receptors like THC does, it’s thought that CBD interacts with endocannabinoids. One idea is that this dance inhibits or changes the way that the endocannabinoids engage with the receptors. Another theory holds that CBD might be binding to an as-yet-unidentified CB receptor.
At any rate, the receptors are tasked with transmitting the cannabinoids’ signals throughout your system. Once the CB receptors get their marching orders, they instruct the body in how to respond. This is how the broad range of potential wellness effects — like alleviating pain, adjusting hormone production, easing anxiety, etc. — are created.
When you use cannabis products, you’re often also getting a dose of other helpful plant substances. Marijuana and hemp are loaded with constituents like additional cannabinoids (e.g., CBG, CBN, etc.), terpenes, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals.
Each one of these elements features health-promoting qualities that may be beneficial on their own. (That’s why plant-based medicine can be so powerful!) But they can also amp up the effects of cannabinoids — hello entourage effect! Some studies even indicate that terpenes may bind directly to CB1 and CB2 receptors or interact with the ECS in other ways.(16)
This is a big, stand-alone topic all of its own — one we can’t dive too deeply into it here. However, it’s important to be aware of it.
ECS deficiency is also called clinical endocannabinoid deficiency, or CED. This is a condition or state in which the endocannabinoid system isn’t functioning at its best. The downstream effect of a suboptimally-functioning ECS is that the body can fall out of homeostasis. This might then lead to a panoply of issues — like the ones we’ve discussed above.
It’s still a working theory, but researchers are investigating CED’s possible causes, impacts on health and wellness, and potential for therapeutic treatments. However, there’s promising new information that suggests CED might be a critical factor in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel (IBS), and other treatment-resistant syndromes.(17)
The ECS is a complex network of endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes that exists throughout the bodies of almost all animals. Cannabinoids — like CBD and THC — engage with these three ECS components to bring about various effects in the body.
More and more scientific proof is showing that the ECS helps regulate or control many key systems and functions in the body. This is why everyone from researchers to doctors to you are looking to how we might leverage CBD to optimize our endocannabinoid systems and the work they do.
Endocannabinoid deficiency (CED) can occur when the ECS is thrown off kilter. CED may lead to various health or wellness concerns.
The ECS is a vast and complex network of endocannabinoids, enzymes, and receptors that exists throughout your body. All animals except insects have an endocannabinoid system.
Your ECS helps many of your body functions and systems do their jobs. It also is what makes it possible for your body to absorb and use the cannabinoids found in cannabis.
Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CED) occurs when your body’s ECS isn’t functioning properly or optimally. Because your ECS is a complex system that researchers are still working to fully understand, we aren’t sure why it can become dysfunctional or the extent to which deficiencies can impact one’s health.
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