As one of the leading FL medical cannabis clinics, our clinic works with many patients who suffer from a vast array of symptoms related to various illnesses. Fortunately, medical cannabis has helped to ease these symptoms in both physical and psychological symptom manifestations. Today we’re going to talk a little bit about how that happens. How does medical marijuana help to relieve so many different symptoms?
FL Medical Cannabis Doctor Explains How Cannabis Works In Your Body
It all comes down to cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are active chemicals that are found in the cannabis plant. There are over one hundred cannabinoids in marijuana, and these chemicals work with the human body in different ways.
The reason that cannabinoids have an effect on the human body is that they are similarly structured to chemicals that your body produces naturally. Essentially, the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant trick your body.
Let’s back up for a moment and talk about the body.
Substances and Receptors
If your body was a house, the cells would be the bricks that built the house.
Now, our cells carry out various functions, and different parts of the cell are responsible for different functions.
On the surface of cells, there are things called “receptors”. A receptor is like a lock on a door. When the right key comes along and unlocks that door, the cell is given a signal to perform a certain function.
The “key” that we are talking about here can be a range of substances like hormones, medications, or neurotransmitters. Specific keys unlock specific locks on the cell surface. For example, an ‘A’ key can open an ‘A’ door, but it could not open a ‘B’ door.
In a healthy human body, for example, cells have receptors for insulin. When insulin is produced and binds with those receptors, the insulin key unlocks the insulin receptor lock and tells the cell to let glucose inside. The cell then converts that glucose to energy for fuel. This fuel then allows the body to carry out the necessary functions.
Endocannabinoid Receptors
One type of receptor in our body is the endocannabinoid receptor. This receptor is activated by endocannabinoids that are naturally produced in the body. To date, we know of two such endocannabinoids – anandamide (AEA) and
2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG).
Anandamide plays an important role in the stimulation of appetite as well as in mood regulation, the management of pain, and fertility.
2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the more prevalent endocannabinoid found in the body and it too plays a role in the management of pain and regulation of the appetite. 2-AG also plays a role in immune system function.
Endo-cannabinoid “keys” like 2-AG unlock endocannabinoid receptors on cells because they are the correctly shaped key to activate that lock.
It just so happens, though, that when cannabis is consumed, the endocannabinoids found in marijuana are the right shape to activate our endocannabinoid receptors too. So, these “fake keys” pass signals on to the locks on the surface of our cells.
Let’s look at an example…
There are a variety of factors and processes in your body that cause you to feel pain. One of those factors is an increase in anandamide levels in the body. When anandamide levels increase in the body, the endocannabinoid receptors receive more pain signals and you feel rough.
If you were to consume medical cannabis, however, the “fake keys” from the cannabis will attach to those endocannabinoid receptors and block them from binding to anandamide. This means that you feel less pain.
Research into Cannabis
Further research is required to better understand the effects of cannabis cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system in the body so that we can get a better understanding of how this system functions. While we have a rough idea, there simply isn’t enough evidence for us to get a complete picture of how the endocannabinoid system works with cannabis.
Why isn’t there more research? Because the government classified marijuana as an illegal substance which limits access to it and how it can be used.
Are You Looking For a Reputable FL Medical Cannabis Doctor?
If you live in or around the Cape Coral area and you are looking for a reputable Florida medical cannabis doctor, we can help. Begin by making an appointment with our clinic by using our simple online appointment tool! We will set you up with an appointment at a time that is convenient for you and from there, Dr. Tirmal will work with you to help you to find a comfortable solution that is best suited to your individual needs.