The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was discovered in 1992 by a research team from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) led by William Devane and Dr. Lumír Hanuš, in collaboration with the Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam.

The ECS was named after the active compounds of the cannabis plant – the cannabinoids.

Key Findings

The discovery of the ECS opened the door to systematic research on cannabis and revealed new perspectives for its medical use. To date, science has established the following key facts:

• Cannabinoids act within the human body – meaning there must be a system that “recognizes” them.
• This led scientists to conclude that there must also be endogenous molecules that interact with these receptors – called endocannabinoids (endo meaning “produced by the body”).
• Endocannabinoids are responsible for both the physical and psychological effects – and thus also for the therapeutic potential – of cannabis in the human body.
• The ECS is an essential regulatory system for both the nervous and immune systems.
• Animal studies have shown promising results in chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and in anti-tumor therapies for gliomas (a type of brain tumor).

There is growing evidence that targeted modulation of the body’s own endocannabinoid metabolism could open new therapeutic pathways — but more research is needed.

What Is the Endocannabinoid System?

The prefix “endo” stands for “endogenous”, meaning “originating within the organism”. “Cannabinoids” refers to the group of compounds that activate this system in the body. The ECS consists mainly of two types of cell receptors — the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

CB1 and CB2 Receptors – The “Locks” of the ECS

You can imagine cell receptors as a series of “locks” that respond to “keys” — chemical molecules known as agonists. Whenever the right agonist binds to a receptor, it sends a message and triggers a specific cellular response.

Research has shown that:

• CB1 receptors are primarily located on neurons (nerve cells).
• CB2 receptors are found mainly on immune cells.

The “keys” (agonists) for these receptors are the cannabinoids, which can be produced naturally by the body or introduced through phytocannabinoids — cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.

Endocannabinoids

Humans produce their own cannabinoids, known as endocannabinoids. These molecules bind to or stimulate the cannabinoid receptors and behave similarly to phytocannabinoids such as THC and CBD, the two most prominent compounds found in cannabis.

CB1 receptors, for example, are found in brain regions responsible for motor control, emotional regulation, appetite, nausea, pain perception, learning, and memory. Therefore, cannabinoids can influence sensory and motor functions, heart rate, mood, and decision-making processes.

The more we understand about the human ECS, the better we can comprehend how phytocannabinoids like THC, CBD, and others work — paving the way for the development of improved medical therapies.

Endocannabinoids – The “Navigators” of the Body

It is now widely believed that endocannabinoids play a central role in controlling vital body functions and regulatory patterns. Cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo has proposed that low endocannabinoid levels may be associated with several chronic disorders — such as chronic pain or fibromyalgia — that are linked to ECS dysfunction.

This concept, known as Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD), may provide explanations for a variety of hard-to-treat conditions.

Functions of the Endocannabinoid System

The ECS regulates nearly all fundamental physiological functions, including:

• Appetite
• Memory
• Inflammation
• Immune response
• Neuroprotection and neural development
• Pain perception
• Reproduction
• Sleep
• Mood
• Metabolism
• Digestion

Sources

The information presented here is based on scientific publications, medical journals, and peer-reviewed studies. Medropharm AG is not authorized to make therapeutic or healing claims regarding its cannabis-based products.

For questions or further information, please contact our professional team: info@medropharm.ch