"Should You Use Cannabis to Prevent Illnesses"???

Did you know that we could target in the ECS to prevent illness and maintain better health?

Our bodies consist of many unique physiologic systems whose sole purpose is to maintain an internal balance called homeostasis. 

We know the pancreas releases insulin to balance glucose levels between the bloodstream and cells. The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, which regulates vital bodily functions related to metabolism, body temperature and much more. Acctually our bodies are working constantly to stay balanced in response to our external environment.

The "Endocannabinoid System" (ECS)...

In the quest to understand how THC causes its intoxicating effects, scientists discovered that we have yet another regulatory physiologic system, called "Endocannabinoid System" (ECS) whose role is to maintain bodily homeostasis & biological harmony. Acctualy the ECS  is the most widespread receptor system in the human body and has been described as being protective and necessary for life.

The ECS it is made up of three main parts: 

-Cannabinoid receptors,CB1 & CB2 are part of the endocannabinoid system and located throughout the body.

-Endocannabinoids, also called endogenous cannabinoids, are molecules made by your body. They’re similar to phytocannabinoids, but they’re produced by your body.

-Enzymes,wich are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they’ve carried out their function.

But to understand the human endocannabinoid system, it’s helpful to know a little about one of the most fundamental concepts in biology:homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the concept that most biological systems are actively regulated to maintain conditions within a narrow range. Our body doesn’t want its temperature to be too hot or too cold, blood sugar levels too high or too low, and so on. Conditions need to be just right for our cells to maintain optimum performance, and exquisite mechanisms have evolved to draw them back to a "Perfect zone" if they move out. The body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a vital molecular system for helping maintain homeostasis—it helps cells stay in that "Perfect zone".

"How does it work???"...

- CB receptors are activated by two major groups of ligands: The endocannabinoids, produced naturally from our body  and the phytocannabinoids, produced by the cannabis plant.

- CB receptors and endocannabinoids together activate the endocannabinoid system to protect us.

The endocannabinoid system is involved in immunoregulation and neuroprotection so when there is a problem that causes an imbalance, such as an injury or illness, endocannabinoids are released, acting as “keys” that bind to the receptors, which act as “locks” on our cells. Once the receptor is activated, a chemical reaction takes place in the cell, that telling the cell to correct its "message" from bad to good

For example, if an outside force, such as pain from an injury or a fever, throws off your body’s homeostasis, your ECS help your body return to its ideal operation.

Also, research has demonstrated that endocannabinoid deficiency plays a role in autoimmune diseases, epilepsy, complex regional pain syndrome, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, nausea, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, menstrual symptoms, failure to thrive in newborns, and other difficult-to-treat conditions

In 2004, Ethan Russo, a neurologist and research scientist, published Clinical endocannabinoids Deficiency (CECD): "Can this concept explain therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions"? in the journal Neuroendocrinology Letters. 
Dr.Russo theorized that certain individuals with the listed conditions responded to cannabis-based treatments because they had endocannabinoid deficiencies that allowed the condition to manifest in the first place.

Dr. David Allen, a retired cardiac surgeon and member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) says:

“The discovery of the ECS is the single most important scientific, medical discovery ever and will save more lives than the discovery and application of sterile surgical technique.” And remember folks, he’s a HEART SURGEON!!

He goes on to say, “More people will be saved by the manipulation of the ECS than are currently being saved by surgery!”

"The ability of cannabis to prevent illness"...

The cannabis plant produces over 100 phytocannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These compounds mimic the endocannabinoids by interacting with the ECS and restoring homeostasis. Rather than wait until illness is present, there are many ways to take good care of your ECS, which will allow it to function properly, avoid deficiencies and maintain homeostasis.

Plant cannabinoids are well-known to be very safe and to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. In cases of endocannabinoid deficiency, cannabis use may be the correcting compound, eliminating the symptoms of the condition. Regular cannabis use can decrease chronic inflammation and buildup of free radicals, both of which are thought to be the root causes of many conditions, including autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.

Many patients report that cannabis use enhances their overall health by promoting quality sleep, reducing anxiety and depression, and lessening pain and inflammation so that they can continue to be active participants in their lives. Although exact doses and cannabinoid combinations for preventive indications have not been researched, it is likely that low intermittent doses that include both THC and CBD will augment the ECS without causing adverse effects. 

A healthy diet (including fatty acids in the correct balance), aerobic exercise and stress management will help your ECS to maintain the perfect homeostasis for your body.There are currently more than 42,000 published studies (PubMed search) on cannabinoids or cannabis and more are being added to the database every day. Remember that this is just the tip of the iceberg!

So take care of your endocannabinoid system and it will take care of you!!!

Thanks to: Dr. Bonni Goldstein