What Is the Endocannabinoid System?

You may have heard of sleep-related terms like circadian rhythm or sleep stages, but the endocannabinoid system, which is arguably less known, remains somewhat of a mystery.

Still, if these words don’t ring a bell, you’re not alone. The endocannabinoid system¹ is a relatively new topic in sleep health being studied by researchers. While it may be a newer discovery, this critical system plays an essential role in sleep, immune health, and more.

Here’s everything there is to know about this important bodily system, what makes it unique, and how to ultimately optimize your endocannabinoid system so it works to its maximum potential.

What is The Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system is a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors densely packed throughout your brain and body.¹ In fact, these receptors are so high in number that they actually outnumber many other types of receptors that can be found in your brain.

As a newly studied system, it may come as a surprise that your endocannabinoid system plays a role in almost every component of your daily functioning. Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School likens the system to a “traffic cop” that helps keep the body in line.¹

Researchers continue to learn more about its impact but have determined so far that the endocannabinoid system regulates and controls learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating.¹

The endocannabinoid system is made up of three main components. Here’s how they work.

Receptors

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain, also referred to as CB1 receptors, help regulate the bodily processes above by “turning up or down the activity” of any system that needs adjusting. There is a second type of cannabinoid receptor, the CB2 receptor, which is mostly found in immune tissues and helps control immune functioning, including inflammation, contraction, and pain levels.¹

Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids help stimulate the receptors above, and in case the “cannabinoid” part of the name sounds familiar, that’s because these molecules have a similar structure to cannabis plants. According to Harvard Health Publishing, our brains consist of tiny cannabis-like molecules, and consuming the cannabis plant mimics their effects.¹

Enzymes

The third component of the endocannabinoid system is its enzymes. These enzymes² help produce and break down endocannabinoids, essentially keeping the cycle going strong.

What Makes Endocannabinoids Unique?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect about endocannabinoids is that they’re produced on demand³ by your body. This means that whenever a bodily function needs regulating or control — such as your temperature or pain level — endocannabinoids are automatically released to help balance that function and bring it back up or down to a normal, healthy level.

The Endocannabinoid System and CBD

CBD⁴, or cannabidiol, is an active ingredient in cannabis. Preliminary research⁵ shows that CBD can enhance the endocannabinoid system, essentially improving its lifecycle.

CBD is largely considered safe in promoting healthy functioning of the endocannabinoid system. However, the relationship between the two is still being studied, and research continues today.

More: Best CBD for Sleep

The Endocannabinoid System and THC

The relationship between THC and the endocannabinoid system is more known. THC⁶, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. 

Essentially, THC has a “high affinity” for receptors in the endocannabinoid system and bonds to them easily, thus improving how well they work and function.⁶

Tips to Boost Your Endocannabinoid System

Researchers may still be learning about the endocannabinoid system and exactly how it works, but studies have identified these steps you can take to boost your endocannabinoid system:

• Physical exercise – Research shows that getting exercise⁷ has the power to activate your endocannabinoid system, therefore strengthening it and helping it work more effectively. 
• Leafy greens – Ongoing research has found that consuming leafy green vegetables⁸ can help regulate the function of endocannabinoids within your endocannabinoid system.

As research continues, more steps may be identified that could boost your endocannabinoid system. In the meantime, it’s always a good idea to maintain a healthy diet and weight, keep stress low, and get enough sleep to help support your overall health⁹.