You’ve probably heard of hemp being used in a variety of things such as clothing and construction materials. It can also be effective for health and medical purposes, and that all comes down to something called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Although the ECS isn’t completely understood as well as the other systems in our body, it has been found to be vital for maintaining the balance, known as homeostasis, in our bodies.
What is the endocannabinoid system?
Our bodies run on various systems that control different vital tasks. The circulatory system pumps blood around the body, the digestive system absorbs nutrients from the food we eat, and so on. In the 1990s, the endocannabinoid system was discovered while testing the effects of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis).
The ECS contains endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body. There are two kinds of receptors; CB1 receptors, which are primarily connected with the central nervous system; and CB2 receptors, which are primarily linked with the immune system and peripheral nervous system.
The ECS also produces enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids. So, after the endocannabinoids produce the desired effect, they are broken down by these enzymes and removed from your system.
Hemp and phytocannabinoids
As well as the endocannabinoids that our bodies produce, we can also take in cannabinoids from external sources, most notably plants. These are known as phytocannabinoids and can be found in cannabis plants. Their function is not known for certain, but it is thought that they either bind to our cannabinoid receptors just like endocannabinoids, or that they simply slow down the metabolism of our endocannabinoids, leaving them in our system for longer and, therefore, creating the desired effect for longer.
Hemp is an extract of cannabis plants that contains less than 0.3% THC, which is the component of marijuana that gives you the “high”. By contrast, marijuana can contain anywhere between 10-30% THC. Cannabidiol, or CBD, extracted from hemp can give you many of the positive effects of THC without the potential negative ones, and without any legal issues depending on where you live.
Many people are discovering the benefits of CBD oils, creams, and other products. CBD products are being used to treat pain, nausea, anxiety, and even to control and reduce seizures in epilepsy patients.
If you want to find out more about CBD and how it can help you, get in touch with Yadkin Valley Organics.