Functional Endocrinology: The Endocrine System and CBD

Do you feel:

• Unpredictable abdominal swelling?
• Inflammation?
• Acne and unhealthy skin?
• Hormone imbalance?
• Shaky, jittery, or have tremors?

If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might be having problems with your endocrine system. How about trying some CBD oils to help calm down your system.

Making the headlines since 2018, the usage of cannabis or even CBD oil to treat ailments have been gaining popularity. Even though some states don’t legalize this plant yet, it has been sweeping through the U.S. with pop-up vendors, smoke shops, and even just selling the product on its own or with other products that contain it. When it comes to the body, however, the effects of cannabinoids, CBD oil, and cannabis itself can help dampen the chronic effects of inflammation, pain, anxiety disorders, neurological symptoms, and endocrine disorders that the body may have encounter. By figuring out how this plant and its oil affect the endocrine system, it will give people a better understanding of the beneficial effects it provides.

The Endocrine System

Lets first take a look at the endocrine system and how it functions. The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that are located throughout the body. This system helps with the production of hormones that are sent out to the specifically targeted organs and tissues that the body not only needs but function properly. Research shows that when hormone levels are too high or even too low, it can indicate a problem with the endocrine system and the entire body as well. When the body does not respond to hormones in the appropriate ways, dysfunction in the body tends to come.

Many factors can cause hormonal change, and some of the most commonly known ones are the ones that happen to anyone daily. Stress, infections, changes in the bloodstream, and even diabetes can influence the hormonal levels and can lead to many chronic illnesses. So making sure that the hormone levels are functioning correctly is key to making sure that the endocrine system is healthy as well.

Cannabis and Its Products

Everyone throughout their childhood has heard that cannabis (marijuana) is an illicit drug and should stay away from it. The plant itself comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and has been harvested by humans for hundreds of years and been used in various cultures. Some evidence shows that the plant itself or some of its components like CBD can be useful to relieve severe pain, inflammation, nausea, and other chronic conditions.

With the rise of CBD oil in recent years, there is still some confusion and controversy of what it is and how does it affect the human body, mainly affecting the endocrine system. CBD is one of the compounds in marijuana that has a different effect than delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the most active constituent of marijuana. THC creates a mind-altering “high” for the person, while CBD does not change the person’s state of mind at all when it is used. What is interesting is that the human body itself produces certain cannabinoids on its own. The two receptors for the cannabinoids are CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors that are in the body to function.

CB1 receptors are mainly in the brain, providing neurological coordination, movement, and other functions that make the body respond. While with CB2 receptors are more common in the immune system, and these receptors are affecting inflammation and pain. When it comes to CBD oil or the CBD compound itself, it does not attach to the CB receptors but can direct the body to use more of its cannabinoids and has beneficial properties for a person’s health in a variety of ways.

The Benefits of CBD Oil

Since CBD is one of the compounds in the cannabis plant, researchers have been looking at the many possible therapeutic uses and benefits of CBD. Since CBD oils are a concentrated form of CBD, the uses can help the symptoms that the body may encounter, including:

• Being a natural pain reliever
• Treating epilepsy
• Treat neurological disorders
• Delay the development of type 1 diabetes
• Slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease

The Effects of CBD and the Endocrine System

In the endocrine system, there is a complex cell-signaling system known as an endocannabinoid system. What this system does is that its endocannabinoid molecules and receptors in the body and help signal any dysfunction. Studies have found that the endocannabinoid system’s ability is that it can control a person’s appetite in the hypothalamus by attaching itself to CB1 receptors. While another study stated that the CB1 receptor could activate and inhibit the release of GnRH through the effects in the hypothalamus as well.

With more upcoming studies about the usage of cannabinoids, it is incredible how the participation of the endocannabinoids system can help with the secretion of the pituitary hormones that have been documented. Surprisingly, cannabinoids can affect the function of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in multiple directions.

Conclusion

With more and more people using CBD oils to help alleviate their ailments and more information that has been surrounding this oil. It is essential to know that it is better to not be in pain than to suffer in pain. Using CBD oils can help not only the body system but also helps the endocrine system as well. Some products are used to help alleviate the pain that the body may encounter as well as providing the body a chance to relax and have a good night’s sleep.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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References:

Borowska, Magdalena, et al. “The Effects of Cannabinoids on the Endocrine System.” Endokrynologia Polska, 20 Dec. 2018, journals.viamedica.pl/endokrynologia_polska/article/view/EP.a2018.0072/47154.

Hillard, Cecilia J. “Endocannabinoids and the Endocrine System in Health and Disease.” Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6813821/.

Johnson, Jon. “CBD Oil: Uses, Health Benefits, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 27 July 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317221.php.

Kathleen Davis, FNP. “Marijuana (Cannabis): Facts, Effects, and Hazards.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 1 Aug. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246392.php.

Raypole, Crystal. “A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System.” Healthline, 17 May, 2019, www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system-2.

Seladi-Schulman, Jill. “Endocrine System Overview.” Healthline, 22 Apr. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/the-endocrine-system.

Zimmermann, Kim Ann. “Endocrine System: Facts, Functions and Diseases.” LiveScience, Purch, 16 Feb. 2018, www.livescience.com/26496-endocrine-system.html.