When we think of Cannabis, we may conjure visions of smoke
filled rooms, dirty hippies and reefer madness. Some may
have fond memories of past times, while others have opinions
shaped by propaganda, politics and policy. Many people
across the nation do not understand what has fueled the
medical marijuana movement across 28 states and the
District of Columbia. I heard over and over that the medical
marijuana movement was just a back door to legalization,
however with a little research we find what really launched
this movement to where we find ourselves today. A quiet
scientist in Israel, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, held the key to a
movement that is sweeping the world.
Dr. Mechoulam has spent most of his career studying cannabis, in fact, he is the scientist who identified THC as the active constituent in cannabis. He started this work to learn how cannabis effects our moods, after all the opiate receptors had been identified almost 150 years prior to Dr. Mechoulam work, it was time we understood the effects of cannabis. Over the course of his career, Dr. Mechoulam has made great strides understanding the constituents of cannabis, the importance of good policy and a very important function of the human body. He identified a system within our physiological process, one that modulates energy intake, nutrient transport, metabolism and storage. He happened to be studying cannabis when he discovered this, so he named the new system, the endocannabinoid system or ECS.
The ECS is a group of receptors found within the brain and throughout our body, It is comprised of two main cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. There are other receptors that have been identified, just not studied as well, GPR18, GPR119 and GPR55. These receptors respond to both endocannabinoid, created within our own bodies, and phyto cannabinoids, those
Dr. Mechoulam has spent most of his career studying cannabis, in fact, he is the scientist who identified THC as the active constituent in cannabis. He started this work to learn how cannabis effects our moods, after all the opiate receptors had been identified almost 150 years prior to Dr. Mechoulam work, it was time we understood the effects of cannabis. Over the course of his career, Dr. Mechoulam has made great strides understanding the constituents of cannabis, the importance of good policy and a very important function of the human body. He identified a system within our physiological process, one that modulates energy intake, nutrient transport, metabolism and storage. He happened to be studying cannabis when he discovered this, so he named the new system, the endocannabinoid system or ECS.
The ECS is a group of receptors found within the brain and throughout our body, It is comprised of two main cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. There are other receptors that have been identified, just not studied as well, GPR18, GPR119 and GPR55. These receptors respond to both endocannabinoid, created within our own bodies, and phyto cannabinoids, those
found in cannabis, and surprisingly a few other plants as well.
The brain is plentiful with CB1 receptors, in fact there are
more CB1 receptors present than any other type of receptor
thus far identified. CB1 receptors are also present in other
areas of our nervous system with none being found within the
brainstem, which is why lethal overdose is not a risk with
cannabis. CB2 receptors are found more within the immune
system, the gastrointestinal system, as well as in our glands,
organs and tissues. Since the identification of these receptors
and this physiological system, increased research suggests
that the ECS plays a major role in regulating psychological
and physiological health and disease.
It is important to remember that our own bodies make cannabinoids, they are found throughout our bodies, released on demand and have been found to be present in breast milk. There are currently two identified endogenous cannabinoids, Anandamide, which mean bliss in sanskrit, and AG2. Scientist have researched these to some extent, but its my understanding that it has been easier to research the phytocannibinoids due to poor policy.
Phytocannibinoids, are of course present in cannabis. A few of these are THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, there are reportedly over 100 in process being identified. However many do not realize that plants such as echinacea, kava, black pepper and Liverwort all stimulate the endocannabinoid system as well. Many others are being studied at this time for suspicion of stimulating the ECS, and one Naturopathic physician in Washington State, Dr. Michelle Sexton, has gone as far as to call cannabis an adaptogen, and hinted that plants in this category will definitely be studied with respect to our ECS. The ECS performs different tasks, dependent on the tissue, however the goal seems to always be the same, homeostasis,
It is important to remember that our own bodies make cannabinoids, they are found throughout our bodies, released on demand and have been found to be present in breast milk. There are currently two identified endogenous cannabinoids, Anandamide, which mean bliss in sanskrit, and AG2. Scientist have researched these to some extent, but its my understanding that it has been easier to research the phytocannibinoids due to poor policy.
Phytocannibinoids, are of course present in cannabis. A few of these are THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, there are reportedly over 100 in process being identified. However many do not realize that plants such as echinacea, kava, black pepper and Liverwort all stimulate the endocannabinoid system as well. Many others are being studied at this time for suspicion of stimulating the ECS, and one Naturopathic physician in Washington State, Dr. Michelle Sexton, has gone as far as to call cannabis an adaptogen, and hinted that plants in this category will definitely be studied with respect to our ECS. The ECS performs different tasks, dependent on the tissue, however the goal seems to always be the same, homeostasis,
Maintaining our internal environment despite what is
happening in our external environment. Cannabinoids
promote health and homeostasis at every level, one example
is Apoptosis, programmed cell death. The ECS mediates this
process, this is the process that gives us the idea that
cannabis may have some effects on cancers.
Endocannabinoid's and cannabinoids are also found where
our bodies systems meet up, helping the cells communicate.
For example, cannabinoids can be found in injured tissue,
stabilizing the nerve cells, calming the immune cells and
decreasing the release of sensitizers, in other words
protecting from damage and decreasing pain.Three different
tasks, performed by the same constituent.
Over the course of the last few decades, researchers have found that the ECS is involved in an enormous array of functions within our bodies. These include helping to control brain and nerve function, including memory and pain, energy metabolism, heart function, the immune system and reproduction. Because of the diversity of the ECS, it is implicated in a large range of disease, such as obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, chrohn’s disease, IBS, chronic pain, cancer, to name just a few.
I’m sure many of us have heard the claims that cannabis has become a miracle cure for many conditions, I must admit the first time I heard that cannabis cured cancer, I was not a believer, I happened to teach DOT drug screening protocol at the time. However a cursory search on the internet, or a few minutes spent on youtube, will show us a green rush is sweeping the nation. An illegal industry being brought into the light, with entrepreneurs, investors, growers, distribution, taxes, policies, regulations and legitimate job creation.
Over the course of the last few decades, researchers have found that the ECS is involved in an enormous array of functions within our bodies. These include helping to control brain and nerve function, including memory and pain, energy metabolism, heart function, the immune system and reproduction. Because of the diversity of the ECS, it is implicated in a large range of disease, such as obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, chrohn’s disease, IBS, chronic pain, cancer, to name just a few.
I’m sure many of us have heard the claims that cannabis has become a miracle cure for many conditions, I must admit the first time I heard that cannabis cured cancer, I was not a believer, I happened to teach DOT drug screening protocol at the time. However a cursory search on the internet, or a few minutes spent on youtube, will show us a green rush is sweeping the nation. An illegal industry being brought into the light, with entrepreneurs, investors, growers, distribution, taxes, policies, regulations and legitimate job creation.
Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying, researching, trying
to beat the others out with the first “clean and pure” product
on the market. Millions are being invested, all with the
promise of being pioneers in a budding new industry, an
industry that vows to expand and grow over the next 5 years.
This movement, these claims, the snake oil salesmen, the
legitimate caregivers, the 20,000+ research articles on
PubMed, the policy changes, the new regulations, this whole
industry is possible because of Dr. Mechoulam’s identification
of the ECS within the human body.
So what does this mean to those of us using plants and herbs as our healthcare? How will we, as herbalist’s incorporate this information into our routine practices? While this information is slowly making it’s way into mainstream medicine, how will this effect our understanding of how different plants are used in herbalism?
I imagine that the majority of herbalist’s are sitting back with a smile on their face thinking ‘told ya so”. Not just about cannabis, but about many other herbs that are definitely effecting our body in a positive way against all of the pollution we face on a daily basis. This information is affirming what herbalist already know, phytotherapy works, it is the heart of herbalism and the foundation of allopathic medicine. There are over 20,000 scientific studies on one plant, all proving action of some sort in the human body. This alone, should remind not only the herbalist, but all main steam healthcare practitioners that plants and herbs are more important than ever, our efforts to understand them have only just begun. This scientific research into one plant, has lit a fire in the research community to understand more and more about the actions of plant constituents and how they effect the body, bringing herbalist more information than ever before on how
So what does this mean to those of us using plants and herbs as our healthcare? How will we, as herbalist’s incorporate this information into our routine practices? While this information is slowly making it’s way into mainstream medicine, how will this effect our understanding of how different plants are used in herbalism?
I imagine that the majority of herbalist’s are sitting back with a smile on their face thinking ‘told ya so”. Not just about cannabis, but about many other herbs that are definitely effecting our body in a positive way against all of the pollution we face on a daily basis. This information is affirming what herbalist already know, phytotherapy works, it is the heart of herbalism and the foundation of allopathic medicine. There are over 20,000 scientific studies on one plant, all proving action of some sort in the human body. This alone, should remind not only the herbalist, but all main steam healthcare practitioners that plants and herbs are more important than ever, our efforts to understand them have only just begun. This scientific research into one plant, has lit a fire in the research community to understand more and more about the actions of plant constituents and how they effect the body, bringing herbalist more information than ever before on how
these plants interact within our body. I’m sure that within a
decade, these new studies will help us as herbalist’s
understand the action of several plants and why they work,
helping us to be more precise in our practices.
With the questionable legality of the cannabis plant, many herbalist across the nation will not have immediate access to it. At the time of this writing 28 states have passed some form of cannabis legalization, in medical programs or full recreational. This is a challenge in those states where no form of legalization has passed and or large criminal penalties exist for possession of this plant. Herbalist in those states should not ignore this information, nor should they jump into buying and preparing formulas against local laws. However, we as herbalist, have a responsibility to educate ourselves on these findings and then educate others. There are many resources on the ECS available, even in states that harbor criminal penalties for cannabis possession and consumption. The more we educate ourselves and others on this crucial role of the ECS in our health and how plants play a role in the balance of this system, the closer these regions will come to passing legislation that brings relief to the millions of people looking for alternatives to opiate’s and other harsh pharmaceutical chemicals.
In states that have passed legislation legalizing cannabis and its constituents for medical or recreational, the laws are still fuzzy, regulations change weekly and it is difficult to keep up with what the rules are, when and where. There are still federal raids happening in states that have voted for full legality, there are still cease and desist letters being sent out to small companies by the FDA, asset forfeitures are still a top line item in many law enforcement agencies budgets. This is no time to ignore the legal ramifications and pay attention only
With the questionable legality of the cannabis plant, many herbalist across the nation will not have immediate access to it. At the time of this writing 28 states have passed some form of cannabis legalization, in medical programs or full recreational. This is a challenge in those states where no form of legalization has passed and or large criminal penalties exist for possession of this plant. Herbalist in those states should not ignore this information, nor should they jump into buying and preparing formulas against local laws. However, we as herbalist, have a responsibility to educate ourselves on these findings and then educate others. There are many resources on the ECS available, even in states that harbor criminal penalties for cannabis possession and consumption. The more we educate ourselves and others on this crucial role of the ECS in our health and how plants play a role in the balance of this system, the closer these regions will come to passing legislation that brings relief to the millions of people looking for alternatives to opiate’s and other harsh pharmaceutical chemicals.
In states that have passed legislation legalizing cannabis and its constituents for medical or recreational, the laws are still fuzzy, regulations change weekly and it is difficult to keep up with what the rules are, when and where. There are still federal raids happening in states that have voted for full legality, there are still cease and desist letters being sent out to small companies by the FDA, asset forfeitures are still a top line item in many law enforcement agencies budgets. This is no time to ignore the legal ramifications and pay attention only
to the materia medica. This is a time to educate ourselves, not
only on the ECS and how plants effect it, but on the law and
making sure that we are working within the confines of the law
for our clients. A quick google search will show us horror
stories of desperate parents being prosecuted for treating
their child with cannabis, or themselves while the child is in
the home. These are the types of situations that an herbalist
in a legal state should be very aware of. There are many
stories of people who thought they were doing everything
legally, only to be facing years in prison for by passing an
unknown regulation. As the logistics of the regulations and
laws shake out over the next decade, we as herbalist are
responsible for staying on top of these so that our clients
remain safe and within the law.
It’s exciting to me that we are on the precipice of a new dynamic in healthcare with the discovery of the ECS. I can only compare the possibilities I see to what those individuals who saw the birth of penicillin must have imagined as they witnessed a miracle that changed the course of medicine. We are witnessing a moment in time that will shape medical history for decades to come. An affirmation of the importance of nature to the body, new understandings of how our body constantly works to create homeostasis, rather than disease. We are seeing the death of the age of disease, and the birth of an age of well being. Where our scientific research is mutating from studying pathogens and the harm they cause, to studying the balance of the body and how to support it. This will not only effect herbalist, it will spill over into the mainstream healthcare, into mainstream thinking, and as a result we will see not only more plants and herbs being used for health, we will have a better understanding of exactly how they are working in the body.
It’s exciting to me that we are on the precipice of a new dynamic in healthcare with the discovery of the ECS. I can only compare the possibilities I see to what those individuals who saw the birth of penicillin must have imagined as they witnessed a miracle that changed the course of medicine. We are witnessing a moment in time that will shape medical history for decades to come. An affirmation of the importance of nature to the body, new understandings of how our body constantly works to create homeostasis, rather than disease. We are seeing the death of the age of disease, and the birth of an age of well being. Where our scientific research is mutating from studying pathogens and the harm they cause, to studying the balance of the body and how to support it. This will not only effect herbalist, it will spill over into the mainstream healthcare, into mainstream thinking, and as a result we will see not only more plants and herbs being used for health, we will have a better understanding of exactly how they are working in the body.
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