The ECS, a Therapeutic Target for Neurological Disorders

The ECS, a Therapeutic Target for Neurological Disorders 

If you got a moment to listen to our story on Instagram the other day, you heard me mention that every chiropractor across the nation will one day integrate cannabinoid medicine into their practice, but I am going to take that a step further and state that every physician will as well. As we dive deeper into the human body and how it functions, we realized that we have overlooked one of the largest receptors systems in the human body simply because it was left out of our medical textbooks. Was it by accident or by choice? Since we have known about this receptor  system since 1992, why is the endocannabinoid system (ECS) still absent from our medical textbooks?

We have been treating people for decades without fully understanding the human body and how it functions and despite the advancements in technology, that is still taking place today! While it is 2024, we think that we have it all figured out. We think that we can successfully treat and address every disease out there, but there are still so many unknowns out there when it comes to different pathologies. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the 90’s is a perfect example. In 1964 Dr. Ralph Mechoulam isolated the first psychoactive plant compound (THC) in 1964, but it wasn’t until 1992 that Dr. Mechoulam was able to isolate an endocannabinoid that the human body made itself, anandamide (1). 

The discovery of anandamide led to the discovery of the ECS, a very complex cell signaling pathway. Dr. Mechoulam discovered that the body makes its own endocannabinoids that have a very big influence in cell to cell communication, helping the body to maintain homeostasis. To keep it short (yeah right, right?!? LoL), this complex receptor system (ECS) controls a variety of biological functions including but not limited to homeostasis, immune function, pain, mood, sleep, appetite, and most importantly (regarding this topic), studies suggest that cannabinoids play a vital role in cellular repair and protection (neuroprotection) (2). 

Since these endocannabinoid receptors are most densely located in our nervous tissue, it’s time we share some vital information to other practitioners so we can learn how we can use these plant cannabinoids (CBD, THC, CBN, etc.) to our advantage. In more direct terms, since this receptor system controls so many different things in the human body, let’s learn how we can use this complex cell signaling system to prevent and address different conditions and disease processes. Afterall, this is how we make advancements in medicine.

When we think of moving something like our finger, our brain sends messages along our nervous system (afferent), which innervates our muscles, telling our finger to move. Since CB1 and CB2 receptors are most densely populated in our nervous tissue, studies show that we can use cannabinoids like CBD to improve 2-way nerve cells communication, offer anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, all while protecting our healthy cells (neuroprotection) from further degradation, which is particularly useful for a variety of neurological disorders. Check this out.  

Recent studies state that CBD, in combination with THC (this is why Full Spectrum rocks!), offers neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulatory properties that were shown to be a promising form of treatment (successfully) for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to malignant brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and childhood seizure disorders like Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes (3). Since modern medicine isn’t fully capable of addressing or halting the progression of these different conditions, this information is an absolute breakthrough in modern medicine! The downside is that no one knows these studies exist, especially healthcare providers, which is where we need to make those changes. We need to introduce these topics of cannabinoid medicine at the doctorate level to improve how we address and treat conditions like the ones I just previously mentioned. This is why I started the Endocannabinoid System Club at Life University, to teach future doctors about the importance of the ECS and how we can use cannabinoid medicine in the clinical setting to improve our quality of life when it comes to health and wellness, as well as improving how we face disease. 

Since chiropractors directly deal with the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves) the ECS is a valuable tool to utilize in practice. In this case, we can directly communicate with the cells in our nervous tissue, potentially alleviating and addressing a variety of neurological conditions like the ones I mentioned above. When I started this educational club, this was the first-time in chiropractic history that the ECS was being integrated into chiropractic education. Most doctors have to go above and beyond on their own to learn about the ECS and I was super excited to meet so many great future chiropractors that are eager to integrate cannabinoid medicine into their practice. This tool gives chiropractors a chance to address neuroinflammation and a variety of neurological conditions like never before! We are literally changing the face of medicine through these movements, for which I am forever grateful for. I give all thanks to God for planting this seed in me!

Many patients suffer from neurological disorders and neuroinflammation and before the discovery of the ECS, physicians had no way to directly deal and communicate with the nervous system at a cellular level (through CB1 and CB2 receptors). Now that we have discovered CB1 (primarily) and CB2 (to a lesser degree) receptors are heavily present in our nervous tissue, this gives medical researchers and practitioners much hope to address different neurological conditions that directly involve the nervous system. I know that may sound like a repeat, but this information is nothing short of a miracle, especially if you suffer from neurodegenerative diseases. You and I both know we need new answers and we need them fast! The ECS seems to be that answer we were looking for all along! Just wait, it gets better…

CBD, one of the biggest stars involved in cannabinoid medicine due its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties, was shown to take it a step further when it comes to neurodegenerative conditions by helping to generate new neurons in the brain.

While we previously thought that neurons were irreplaceable cells and once they were destroyed ( we thought they were gone forever), research suggests that’s simply not the truth anymore. CBD was shown to play a huge factor involved in neurogenesis (the generation of new neurons) (4). One of the biggest lies (with no studies to back up their claims) the FDA stated that cannabis kills brain cells, when in fact the exact opposite is true. CBD was shown to help generate new neurons that were shown to be helpful for not only neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but also to help reverse the damaging and everlasting effects to the brain tissue following strokes and traumatic brain injuries (4). Because of this ability for CBD’s capacity to increase neuronal population by replacing nerve cells that were lost or damaged, CBD is gaining in popularity among medical researchers as a potential treatment option (4). This discovery makes cannabinoid medicine particularly useful (in addition to the other benefits mentioned above) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (4).

One plant with seemingly endless potential. Now, that’s what I call medicine!

Bee Well,

Brandon Farless

*This information is for educational purposes only. I am simply sharing information pertaining to these studies. No medical advice or claims are being made on my behalf, just sharing educational information. We all deserve the right to know what’s being published in medical journals around the world!

References

1. Accarrone M. (2022). Tribute to Professor Raphael Mechoulam, The Founder of Cannabinoid and Endocannabinoid Research. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(1), 323. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010323

2. Lu, H. C., & Mackie, K. (2021). Review of the Endocannabinoid System. Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging, 6(6), 607–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.016

3. Maroon, J., & Bost, J. (2018). Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surgical neurology international, 9, 91. https://doi.org/10.4103/sni.sni_45_18

4. Valeri, A., & Mazzon, E. (2021). Cannabinoids and Neurogenesis: The Promised Solution for Neurodegeneration?. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(20), 6313. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26206313