What is the immune system?
The immune system in our body controls and fights colds on the one hand and prevents serious diseases on the other. It consists of cells, tissues, organs and processes that control the organism and protect it from pathogens coming from the environment. A key feature of the immune system is the separation between the body's own molecules and foreign ones, where under normal circumstances they trigger an immune response only to foreign molecules.
The immune system is one of the more complex systems in our body, surpassed in complexity only by the nervous system. It needs to be balanced in order to function properly. Endocannabinoid system in our body is helping and regulating the immune system. The system is also affected by age and lifestyle, environmental pollution, diet and eating habits. Micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and amino acids play an important role in maintaining a stable immune system, all of which are classified as immune boosters and supporters. A balanced endocannabinoid system further provides a balanced immune system. If our endocannabinoid system is out of balance, our immune system will be unbalanced, as well.
Immune system disorders can lead to autoimmune diseases, increased inflammation and cancer. Autoimmune diseases are caused by an excessive response of the immune system to the body's own cells. These cells are mistakenly recognized by our immune system as foreign cells and consequently want to destroy them, leading to severe inflammation, causing damage to the affected organs. Because the immune system constantly attacks the organs and tissues, such damage can occur that the organ loses its original physiological function, resulting in a weakening of the immune system and the body becoming more susceptible to infections and the development of cancer cells. Therapies in classical medicine mainly include the use of immunosuppressive drugs that suppress the immune system. All these drugs have many negative and side effects, as a result, new and, above all, safer drugs are being developed all the time.
Immunity can be innate or acquired and is established over the years when we come in contact with pathogenic organisms. Immunity can also be boosted with the help of vaccines that help the body create a number of antibodies to fight many diseases.
What is the endocannabinoid system (ECS)?
The endocannabinoid system is a biological system and signaling mechanism that is present in all vertebrates. It consists of endocannabinoids (anandamide or AEA and 2-arachidonoylglycerol or 2-AG), receptors (CB1, CB2, GPR55 is predicted as the third) and enzymes (DAGL-α, DAGL-β, NAPE selective phospholipase-D, MAGL and FAAH). Receptors, which are an integral part of our cells, sense the amount or. the concentration of cannabinoids in the cells. Our brains also detect changes in the concentration of cannabinoids in our body and consequently respond accordingly. The role of EKS in our bodies is very broad, as all cells on their surface contain receptors that sense the amount of cannabinoids present.
Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors in our cells. Basically, according to their origin, we divide them into three groups. Endocannabinoids are synthesized under certain conditions in our bodies and in all vertebrates, phytocannabinoids are synthesized in certain plants, and synthetic cannabinoids are synthesized artificially in the laboratory.
Phytocannabinoids are very similar in structure to endocannabinoids and can consequently bind to the same receptors in our bodies. Endocannabinoid AEA is a phytocannabinoid analogue of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while 2-AG is an analogue of cannabidiol (CBD).
AEA and THC bind primarily to CB1 receptors in our bodies, which are present primarily in the central nervous system and brain. Activation of these receptors causes a feeling of intoxication. d9-THC is one of the few cannabinoids that causes intoxication. The other two are d8-THC and THCV, but both significantly less than d9-THC. In addition to natural tetrahydrocannabinol, we also know a synthetic analogue that is prepared in the laboratory. Research shows that natural is significantly more effective than a synthetic analogue, which is attributed to the combination of several molecules, especially cannabinoids and terpenes, which gives a synergistic effect ("entourage" effect).
On the other hand, the CB2 receptor is more distributed throughout the body. It is present mainly in the peripheral nervous system and in the cells of the immune system. It is mainly bound to the endocannabinoid AEA and the phytocannabinoid CBD, which, like most phytocannabinoids, has no psychoactive effect. In recent years, it has been the most researched cannabinoid. The amount of research and studies in the field of cannabinoids and their positive and beneficial effects on our body is increasing exponentially.
Immune and endocannabinoid system in association with cannabinoids
Cannabinoids bind to receptors in the body and are divided into three groups. The first group includes agonists, which bind to receptors and trigger responses in cells. The second group includes antagonists that bind to receptors and do not trigger responses in cells. In the third group are modulators that have different affinities for receptors or directly or indirectly take care of the binding of agonists and antagonists.
In case our endocannabinoid system is unbalanced, cannabinoid intake can have a positive effect on our well-being as the endocannabinoid system takes care of the balance in our body.
CB1 and CB2 receptors are, among other things, crucial for intestinal function. In a 2016 study, Sharkey and colleagues found that overall gastrointestinal function is controlled by the endocannabinoid system. In a 2006 study, Aguado and colleagues showed that CB1 and CB2 receptors are involved in brain embryonic development, health, protection, and regulation of intellectual nerve cell functions.
But how are cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system related to the immune system? Cannabinoids can stimulate or suppress our immune system, which they achieve by reducing and inhibiting inflammation. Inflammation is a completely normal response of the body to any external threat or infection. Some people perceive inflammation as a negative phenomenon, but the truth is not so simple. Inflammation helps us detect, isolate, and eventually capture infected or damaged parts of our body, leaving healthy parts safe and undamaged. The immune and endocannabinoid systems were involved.
In certain cases, cannabinoids strengthen the immune system. This is a completely natural process in patients with cancer and HIV.
In some cases, it is necessary to suppress the immune system and slow down its operation. This is most pronounced in autoimmune diseases, where our immune system overreacts and also attacks healthy cells. This constant activation of the immune system causes chronic inflammation, which results in devastating effects on general well-being. Among the diseases or conditions most affected by chronic inflammation are migraines and headaches, anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, fatigue, intestinal problems, indigestion, etc. In all of these conditions, suppression of the immune system response is crucial, which can be achieved by consuming precise and regulated doses of cannabinoids in the right amounts and proportions. There are also diseases or conditions where the immune system is the main culprit for the development of diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's disease.
Conclusion
The action of cannabinoids on the immune system is a complex topic, as there are many different conditions and diseases that cause this system to function too much or too little. The most important thing to consider is the flexibility of the endocannabinoid system, which directly determines the type of reaction that our cells will express or trigger upon contact with cannabinoids. There is another essential factor for a fully functional cannabis treatment. The exact dosage of the amount of cannabinoids to be ingested can only be advised if you consider what is bothering you personally. It is also important to determine the appropriate type or ratio of individual cannabinoids and terpenes for treatment. Under some conditions, it is better to use cannabis products that contain only THC, while other conditions are much better treated with CBD. THC and CBD need to be used together in most disorders that can be treated with cannabis because they interact with and with terpenes, which increases their therapeutic potential in what is colloquially known as the accompanying effect.
Consumption of cannabis and its extracts certainly helps with many diseases and conditions in which the immune system is affected or weakened. But in order to take full advantage of the healing powers of this plant, two factors must be taken into account - the adapted method of use according to the individual and the carefully selected combination of cannabinoids and terpenes according to the disease or condition.
To strengthen our immune system, Hempethica has prepared hemp drops for better energy and well-being where the composition of cannabinoids and terpenes is prepared according to the strengthening of our endocannabinoid system, which strengthens the immune system.
In the video below, you can watch the article on the immunomodulatory effects of cannabis and its ingredients, which was presented by Michael Roth, MD, who is also a member of UCLA Health Cannabis Research Initiative.
Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789136/
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27133395/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16452678/
https://greencamp.com/how-cannabis-affects-immune-system/
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