
Everyone feels stressed from time to time, and people use different methods to cope with this pressure. Exercise, sleep, good food, and using CBD are all common strategies to handle periods of high stress because they all make people feel “good.”
While taking care of your body is a good strategy on its own to feel less stressed, there may be more behind the efficacy of these coping mechanisms. In fact, there may be an entire body system at work that most people don’t know exists: the endocannabinoid system.
This system exists in many species of animals, humans included. It may be one of the body’s primary methods of regulating problems like stress and disease. Here’s the breakdown of how the endocannabinoid system works and how CBD receptors in the body can help you relax.
The Endocannabinoid System: A Universal Regulator
The endocannabinoid system is a collection of receptors that accept natural compounds made by your body, also known as endocannabinoids. These receptors can be found throughout your body, from your brain to your immune cells, organs, and connective tissues.
Your endocannabinoid system didn’t initially evolve to work with compounds like CBD. Instead, it appears to have developed millions of years ago, so long ago that everything from invertebrate sea urchins to reptiles to mammals have been found to have functioning endocannabinoid systems. The endocannabinoid system is something that most animals on Earth have in common.
It has remained in so many animals because it provides crucial regulation for the body as a whole. The endocannabinoid system has been shown to help control everything from sleep cycles to stress responses to the immune system. Animals without a functioning endocannabinoid system would be missing one of the fundamental systems that keep the body running. Your endocannabinoids are why exercise, food, and sleep feel so refreshing.
How the CBD Receptors in the Body Affect Your Health
The fact that CBD receptors are found in both your brain and in your other organs is one of the reasons that the endocannabinoid system is so important. In many ways, this system is the bridge between your brain and the rest of your body.
This allows your endocannabinoid system to affect your conscious and unconscious body functions at the same time. The CBD receptors in the body are likely why CBD effectively reduces perceived pain and tension. Instead of waiting for your body to produce endocannabinoids, CBD makes up the difference.
For people with chronic stress or neuropathic pain, their native endocannabinoids may not be able to keep up. Simply exercising or sleeping are not enough to reduce their symptoms. Supplementing their diet with CBD extracts can help them find relief from their pain and stress without other medications or coping mechanisms’ adverse side effects.
The endocannabinoid system is still being studied, but current research has shown that it’s far more critical than many people realize. Using cannabis and CBD extracts can be a safe and healthy way to relieve stress and pain through natural methods. If your endocannabinoid system needs some help, CBD is an excellent solution.