How CBD Works in the Body

You may have heard that CBD helps with physical and psychological ailments such as pain, anxiety and stress but how exactly does CBD work in the human body? 

The short answer to this question is The Human Endocannabinoid System (ECS). 

The Endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a major role in balancing our bodies’ most important functions from pain, to sleep, to mood, to memory, to appetite, to bowel movements, and more.

The ECS’s main role is to maintain bodily homeostasis – biological harmony in response to environmental changes such as physical and mental stress. Science has since found the ECS present in anything with a vertebra such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

The endocannabinoid system has three components: receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoids. These parts function regardless of whether someone uses CBD or not. Understanding the effects of CBD involves examining the relationship between the receptors and endocannabinoids.

There are two types of receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily in the central nervous system and are responsible for governing coordination, movement, pain, appetite, memory, mood, and other functions. The CB2 receptors are in the peripheral nervous system, influencing pain, and inflammation.

Researchers believe that CBD does not directly attach itself to the receptor but influences it in some way. Activating these receptors is what allows for many of the health benefits that people associate with CBD.