Health

FP, Health, Knowledge cannabidiol, cbd, ECS, hemp

The Endocannabinoid System: What does it do?

george.a.atwell 0 Comments February 17, 2020

The endocannabinoid system in a complex network of receptors and mechanisms inside the body. This group of internal components works to keep the body operating at its most efficient capacity. In terms of science, the endocannabinoid system is fairly new.

History of the Endocannabinoid System

It is debated when the Endocannabinoid system was discovered. At the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dr. Lumir Hanus along with American researcher Dr. William Devane discovered the first-ever endocannabinoid in the mid 1990’s. This first endocannabinoid was anandamide which was named after the Sanskrit word for bliss, anan.

Other’s point to the cloning of the CB1 receptor in 1990 and the cloning of the CB2 receptor in 1993.

Still, the first possible discovery of the ECS could very well have been in 1988 when a government-funded study was conducted at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. The researchers in this study concluded that mammals have receptors in the brain that respond to the phytocannabinoids found in cannabis.

Where is the Endocannabinoid System?

It was once believed that the endocannabinoid system was located only in the central nervous system, but researchers have discovered something entirely different. We now know that ECS receptors are present in virtually all tissues: skin, immune cells, bone, fat tissue, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, heart, blood vessels, kidney, gastrointestinal tract and more.

What does the Endocannabinoid System do?

It appears the main function of the endocannabinoid system is to signal to the body. This acts as an alert system, or alarm system, to let the body know when something is not working properly. And these signaling cells are all throughout the body as previously stated.

When something isn’t right, the endocannabinoid system communicates with the body to determine the best course of action. Cells can be repaired or they can be signaled to die off in a process called programmed cell death.

Programmed cell death is not always a bad thing and can be the body’s way of getting rid of damaged or abnormal cells.

Homeostasis

Everyone remembers the story of the little girl and the three bears, right? One porridge is too hot, one is too cold, but one is just right. Your endocannabinoid system is just like Goldielocks and it prefers just the right balance. Go too far in any direction and problems can arise. That is when the ECS begins it’s signaling to the body that something isn’t right.

“With the ‘pro-homeostatic action of the ECS,’ we mean that this system of chemical signals gets temporarily activated following deviations from cellular homeostasis. When such deviations are non-physiological, the temporarily activated ECS attempts, in a space- and time-selective manner, to restore the previous physiological situation (homeostasis).” – Dr. Vincenzo Di Marzo

The ECS and CBD

If you were ever a kid and got sick (that should be all of us), then you probably heard you should drink orange juice. This is because orange juice has vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts your immune system.

The relationship between the endocannabinoid system and CBD is similar to that of vitamin c and the immune system.

You see, the endocannabinoid system is made up of these neurotransmitters, receptors, and mechanisms in the body. This system is responsible for keeping your body in balance or homeostasis. When your body gets out of balance, these systems engage and act as a precursor to the immune system to get the body back to healthy functioning.

Much like vitamin C gets your immune system to function more properly, CBD can aid your endocannabinoid system’s mechanisms in restoring your body to homeostasis.

Mackie K. Cannabinoid receptors: where they are and what they do. J Neuroendocrinol. 2008;20 Suppl 1:10-14. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01671.x.

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Terpenes and the Entourage Effect

alpinehemp 0 Comments August 23, 2019

We, at Alpine Hemp, are strong believers in whole plant extract. Our products center around whole plant extracts, not CBD isolate or distillate. This is important to us because it actually works! The different cannabinoids and aspects of the hemp plant work better when they are working together; it creates a synergy. According to Dr. John McPartland, “Cannabis is inherently polypharmaceutical and synergy arises from interactions between its multiple components.” With this in mind, we use full spectrum extract (the least processed extract) to create our products. This allows all of the different cannabinoids in the hemp plant to work with each other, including the trace amounts of THC.

Additionally, there is so much more to hemp extract than CBD, such as terpenes and the benefits they provide. There are over 150 different types of terpenes that can be found in the hemp plant, and when we extract the cannabinoids we also get the terpenes. However, through additional processing you begin to lose terpenes and with pure CBD isolate there are NO terpenes at all. Terpenes are a volatile aromatic molecule that creates the smell of the hemp plant. Each different strain of hemp has a different profile of terpenoids and according to an article written by Dr. Russo, he found that the cannabinoid-terpenoid relationship “could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, gunal and bacterial infections.” All this to say, our philosophy at Alpine Hemp is that the sum of the whole is greater than its parts. We are devoted to utilizing the whole plant extract to benefit the whole body.

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Cannabinoid Cardiovascular Benefits

alpinehemp 0 Comments August 23, 2019

While there is an abundance of ongoing research examining the benefits and effects of cannabinoid products currently underway, there is a plethora of research already done that is readily available with conclusive results. One of these studies that we’ll be focusing on today is the effect cannabinoids have on the cardiovascular system and it’s potential benefits.

Consumption of cannabinoids has been shown to cause vasorelaxation through large to small conductance calcium activated potassium channels. Though this is largely dependent on the state of the endothelium, and the the smooth muscle interaction, studies have shown that cannaboinoids do indeed cause vasorelaxation in the pulmonary artery in humans. As well as in the mesenteric arteries, studies have very recently shown that the effect can have up to a 40% reduction of pre-imposed tone.

Okay, so, that was more than a mouthful. What does it all mean exactly, and what are the benefits cannabinoids can offer you? First let’s break down exactly what vasorelxation is and why it might be of interest as a potential health benefit to you.

Vasorelaxation, simply put, is the reduction of tension in blood cells. This effect has all kinds of health benefits for the body, but where the most benefit is seen is where the cells are the thinnest. The most thin layer of cells is called the endothelium, which is a single layer of cells that lines the various organs of the body.

These cells then work together to perform the most vital of processes that happen in the cardiovascular system including:

* Barrier function
* Blood clotting
* Inflammation
* Formation of new blood vessels
* Control of blood pressure
* Repair of damaged or diseased organs via an injection of blood vessels

As we’ve seen, cannabinoids have positive effects for the cardiovascular system, benefits of which can be summarized in this informative table. Among those being; vasorelaxation of preconstricted arteries, enhancement of endothelium function, reduction of stress in cardiovascular response, reduction of cardiac dysfunction associated with diabestes, reduction of damage in stroke through maintaining cerebral blood flow, and amelioration of negative effects of a high glucose environment in cell adhesion for barrier function in cells.

Furthermore, the evidence suggests that the cardiovascular system benefits from the therapeutic effects of cannabinoid consumption.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22670794

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The digestive system, cannabinoids, and you!

alpinehemp 0 Comments August 23, 2019

Did you know your digestive system is full of canabinoid receptors? It’s true! An integral part of the endocannabinoid system is right in your gut. These receptors are found all over in the digestive system and the parts of the brain that are tied together to activate in the presence of canabinoid products like CBD.

There are numerous digestive diseases and issues that people can suffer from, unfortunately, but there are fortunately canabinoid receptors in the digestive system that can help alleviate some of the suffering that can be caused by these problems through the consumption of CBD products. There have been studies that show the benefits of CBD in patients that are afflicted from a wide range of digestive issues like inflammatory bowl disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cachexia, Crohn’s, and even things like cancer related anorexia.

Usually through ingestion, canabinoids connect with the intestines and helps reduce gastric motility which can help regulate bowel movements and ease cramping. With it’s anti-inflammatory properties, CBD products can help to reduce the need of more expensive things like surgery or prescription drugs.

Gastric motility is, simply put, the rate at which the digestive system help pass it’s contents through it. Canabinoids are shown to be helpful in the reduction of inflammation throughout the entire digestive system, which slows the speed of which the contents move within it, as well as reducing the secretion of fluids which are caused from inflammation.

Even common ailments such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea can be alleviated by canabinoids, so it might be a good idea to keep CBD in the first aid kit or medicine cabinet!

Source https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18924447

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Your skin is an emerging neuro-immuno-endocrine organ!

alpinehemp 0 Comments August 22, 2019

While that headline is a bit of a mouthful, it’s entirely true. What this means is that your entire dermis, aka your skin, is an integral part of the endocannabinoid system. This system has been found to be involved in multiple regulatory functions in both health and disease.

Many recent studies have interestingly suggested that a fully functional endocannabinoid system is present throughout the skin, as well as being involved in the various biological processes that the dermis undergoes. Such tasks as; proliferation, apoptosis, growth, differentiation, as well as the various types of hormone production for all the tissues in the skin, are all affected by the consumption of cannabinoids.

These studies seem to indicate that a primary physiological function of the endocannabinoid system is tied to the control of proper and well balanced proliferation. Not only that, it is also connected with differentiation and survival, as well as immune tolerance and competence of skin cells.

If any of these systems are imbalanced they can lead to all kinds of pathological conditions and possibly diseases of the skin, not limited to; Seborrhea, acne, allergies, psoriasis, hair growth disorders, systemic sclerosis, itching, and even potentially skin cancer.

Combating these potential threats is your endocannabinoid system, your front line of defense quite literally from everything you interact with! For further information please check out the relevant source of this article, and as always, consult your doctor before undertaking any major changes in your consumption habits!

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/