Understanding Our Endocannabinoid System
In order to understand how CBD helps with numerous biological processes, one must understand the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is involved in the regulation of a broad array of physiological and biochemical systems, including neurological, gastrointestinal, inflammation (pain), behavioral, and sleep. The ECS, only recently discovered, may indeed be the most important biological system involved in maintaining homeostasis, or equilibrium, throughout the body.
The ECS is comprised of two main receptors, cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2). CB1 receptors are mainly found in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are predominantly found in peripheral organs involved with the immune system. Your body produces endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-AG, which are thought to be natural regulators of the ECS.
Indeed, Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome (EDS) includes a variety of afflictions (fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, etc.) thought to be due to low levels of the body’s endocannabinoids. By adding phytocannabinoids such as CBD, many of these devastating symptoms can be decreased, as the phytocannabinoids (plant-derived) mimic the endocannabinoids (body-derived) by modulating the ECS.
Full-spectrum CBD oil is a rich extract made from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. The oil is rich in nutrients such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, terpenes, and amino acids. Enriched with high CBD content, CBD oil also contains at least 85 other phytocannabinoids. Some of these additional cannabinoids also show promising health benefits, such as cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC). In fact, it has been shown that CBD oil is more therapeutic than CBD isolate alone. It is thought that the mixture of cannabinoids act synergistically, also known as the “entourage effect”.
Our CBD tinctures contain full-spectrum CBD oil mixed with medium–chain triglyceride oil (which helps with the absorption of CBD) and black cumin seed oil (antioxidant-rich). Some specific tinctures may also contain therapeutic-grade essential oils, which assist with the therapeutic benefits of CBD and are formulated to treat specific symptoms.
As mentioned above, the ECS is critical in maintaining homeostasis, defined as “the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between independent elements of the human body”. CBD and other phytocannabinoids directly interact with the ECS, which is evident in the various and numerous health benefits:
| Acne | Addiction | ADD/ADHD | ALS |
| Alzheimer’s | Anorexia | Anxiety | Cancer |
| Celiac Disease | Crohn’s | Depression | Diabetes |
| Fibromyalgia | IBS | Inflammation | Insomnia |
| Migraines | Nausea | OCD | Osteoporosis |
| Pain | Parkinson’s | PTSD | Stress |
| Rhuematoid Arthritis | Spasticity | Weight Loss |
