Here’s a link to the journal article “Cannabinoid receptors and their ligands.“. There is mounting evidence that non-psychoactive cannabinoids (like CBD) may have therapeutic effects for multiple types of pain and discomfort because of how they affect receptor sites on our cells. Every human has what is called an “Endocannabinoid System” – and CB1 and CB2 receptors are found throughout the body in addition to ‘endocannabinoids’ – which are like cannabinoids, but are made organically and endogenously inside of our bodies.
From the abstract:
“There are at least two types of cannabinoid receptors, CB(1) and CB(2), both coupled to G proteins. CB(1) receptors exist primarily on central and peripheral neurons, one of their functions being to modulate neurotransmitter release. CB(2) receptors are present mainly on immune cells….Potential therapeutic uses of cannabinoid receptor agonists include the management of multiple sclerosis/spinal cord injury, pain, inflammatory disorders, glaucoma, bronchial asthma, vasodilation that accompanies advanced cirrhosis, and cancer. Following their release onto cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids are removed from the extracellular space by membrane transport and then degraded by intracellular enzymic hydrolysis. Inhibitors of both these processes have been developed. Such inhibitors have therapeutic potential as animal data suggest that released endocannabinoids mediate reductions both in inflammatory pain and in the spasticity and tremor of multiple sclerosis. So too have CB(1) receptor antagonists, for example for the suppression of appetite and the management of cognitive dysfunction or schizophrenia.”
The Endocannabinoid System may play a major role in how bodies act and react to plant-based compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes.
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