If you follow any trends in health and wellness, it seems as if cannabidiol (CBD) is absolutely everywhere these days. It’s showing up in lattes, gummy bears, dog treats, and even cheeseburgers, all the while being pitched as a kind of cure-all for every and any ailment. But what is it exactly? Is it all hype? What does it actually do?
Turns out that there is quite a bit of hype and hyperbole, but there is also some pretty solid evidence that Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with quite a few conditions. So without further ado, let’s examine what CBD is and how it works, primarily via its interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and a state of being known as homeostasis.
Cannabidiol (CBD) belongs to a group of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. These cannabinoids can be broken down into the following categories:
For the purposes of this article, let’s focus on the first two exclusively, starting with phytocannabinoids. Cannabis is a highly complex plant with over 500 distinct chemical compounds, 104 of which are phytocannabinoids. Furthermore, the two most notable phytocannabinoids are:
CBD has a wide range of benefits while also having over 50 different mechanisms of action. As a result, it is sometimes referred to as a multitarget therapy and can act as a:
So all of this is just a fancy way of saying that CBD helps the human body reach a state of balance and harmony, also known as homeostasis.
The great writer Margaret Atwood once stated, “I like a balanced universe.” Aren’t we all just searching for a little balance in our lives? This includes our bodies and the physiological processes that run them; these complex systems require balance and equilibrium in order to function properly. In other words, our bodies work best when we are in homeostasis.
Homeostasis and Cannabidiol (CBD) are intertwined. The concept of homeostasis originated in the 1800s when French scientist Claude Bernard stated that our bodies must have stable internal environments in order to support life. However, the term “homeostasis” was coined in 1926 by American researcher Walter Cannon in his highly influential book Organization for Physiological Homeostasis. In this landmark text, he concluded that the human body uses various processes to maintain an internal temperature that is consistent and independent of outside factors.
What does all this mean? Homeostasis is the human body maintaining stable internal conditions while changes are occurring internally and externally.
联系我们
浙江米勒洁净设备科技有限公司 公司地址:浙江省温州市永中罗东南街刘宅段608号 技术支持:制药网扫一扫 更多精彩
微信二维码
网站二维码