Stress and inflammation, another much quieter but equally deadly pandemic, has been plaguing the modern world longer than COVID-19. Unhealthy diets, persistent overworking, harmful environmental factors, and low-quality sleep result in stress and inflammation.
In the long term, these two make the key ingredients for hormone imbalance, compromised immune systems, and poor metabolism, which — when left unaddressed — lead to cancers, heart attacks, obesity, diabetes, and many other diseases.
However, there was a time in the past when people were much less likely to become at risk of these ailments. The majority of the theories surrounding this issue have pointed to the simple fact that people were simply more active, eating healthier, and were less exposed to toxic elements.
But a more interesting speculation has caused the healthcare industry to focus on CBD and its effects on the body’s homeostasis today (more on this below).
So, what is homeostasis, and why is it important?
In this article, we delve into these questions in depth to shed light on this less-talked-about matter and give you all the insights needed to take greater control of your health.
Let’s begin.
What Is Homeostasis?
Homeostasis refers to a state of internal balance where all body systems are functioning optimally despite ever-changing external factors. It is critical for a living organism’s overall long-term health and survival.
The physician Walter Cannon coined the term "homeostasis" in 1930. Homeostasis pertains to how the human body when functioning ideally, maintains “normal” levels of bodily variables. Including temperature, water, salt, sugar, protein, fat, calcium, and oxygen levels.
Why Is Managing Your Homeostasis Important?
Managing your homeostasis is vital for maintaining overall health and well-being. Homeostasis refers to the body's natural ability to regulate its internal environment and keep it stable despite external changes.
This balance impacts essential functions like body temperature, blood pressure, pH levels, and hormone stability. When homeostasis is unbalanced, health issues like chronic stress, inflammation, anxiety, and other imbalances can occur.
Therefore, actively working to support and restore homeostasis is crucial for achieving and sustaining optimal health. In this context, we explore the potential of CBD oil and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. It aids in promoting homeostasis, managing stress, and supporting various aspects of wellness.
How Do Our Bodies Manage Homeostasis?
The function of homeostasis in our body ensures that our organs remain stable and maintain overall bodily balance. Our body's balancing act involves a myriad of systems and mechanisms working in harmony.
One key player in this process is the central nervous system, which regulates unforeseen functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing rate. Responsible for maintaining stability parameters such as blood pressure, body temperature, and pH levels.
During times of stress or danger, our bodies activate its 'fight or flight' response, causing rapid changes to cope with the situation. On the other hand, during moments of relaxation or rest, the "rest and digest" response prevails, allowing the body to restore and maintain homeostasis.
The endocrine system, primarily through the release of hormones, plays a pivotal role in homeostasis by influencing various functions. Hormones like insulin regulate blood sugar levels, while others like cortisol control stress responses.
The endocannabinoid system is another integral part of this intricate web, helping to modulate pain, mood, appetite, and immune function. It does so by producing endocannabinoids, which bind to receptors found throughout the body, regulating various processes.
An essential aspect of homeostasis is the ability to adapt to changing conditions, and our bodies have evolved to do precisely that. Understanding how these systems work together to maintain balance provides insights into how interventions, such as CBD, might assist in supporting our natural homeostatic processes.
CBD Oil For Homeostasis
What correlation do homeostasis and CBD have? Cannabidiol (CBD) is slowly becoming a health staple in millions of households. We look into how CBD interacts inside the body and how it may assist in maintaining homeostasis.
CBD oil for homeostasis is still the subject of further research. To positively impact our bodies, we need to receive a proper dosage amount of CBD. Its possible role as a therapeutic daily supplement is worth exploring so that you can talk to your doctor more about it.
The Endocannabinoid System and Homeostasis
For thousands of years, humans have made hemp a part of their daily lives as a food and medicine source.
As a result, we have evolved to develop an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate and control many critical bodily functions — including emotion regulation, learning, memory, temperature control, discomfort management and immune responses, sleep, and eating.
In short, the ECS is one of two systems responsible for maintaining bodily homeostasis. As you may have gathered from its name, the ECS is highly receptive to the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants like marijuana and hemp.
Through millennia, humans became less reliant on hemp for their day-to-day medical needs mostly because of three reasons:
- Hemp’s potency and reliability as a drug became variable and erratic depending on how it’s prepared,
- New, more stable alternatives became available and
- the prohibition of hemp and cannabis under the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.
With these points, the world experienced a sudden and complete restriction of cannabinoids. But could this have played a role in today’s chronic illnesses?
The answer isn’t quite clear, and researchers are still studying this theory. Now that people have openly embraced cannabis, researchers will perform more studies.
Hypothalamic and Homeostasis
The second system responsible for bodily homeostasis is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — the system responsible for regulating cortisol levels, a.k.a. the stress hormone.
The HPA axis is also critical for homeostasis because of its role as the major hormonal system responsible for rapidly responding to and defending against stress, as well as regulating many organs, including immune responses, metabolism, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
The ECS and HPA axis work together in regulating and stabilizing not just homeostasis but also numerous other bodily processes, including inflammation, metabolism, mood, memory, pain regulation, and many more.
How Does CBD For Homeostasis Work?
CBD naturally derives from the cannabis hemp plant. It doesn't quite fit into CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors like THC does.
Instead, it stimulates these receptors without binding directly to them, resulting in:
- The synthesis of 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endocannabinoid compound naturally produced by the body, binds to and activates CB1 and CB2 receptors without triggering psychoactive effects
- The inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an integral membrane enzyme that breaks down an endocannabinoid called anandamide and other related lipids, possibly assists in producing a sense of happiness and mental wellness.
However, studies have shown that CBD binds to the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TrpV1), a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that actively regulates body temperature and physical discomfort.
Through its interaction with TrpV1 and by stimulating anandamide and 2-AG, CBD indirectly encourages healthy endocannabinoid activity and, in turn, shows much promise in possibly assisting with the body’s homeostatic process.
Sum It Up!
Those seeking to support their overall well-being look to the potential of CBD oil for managing homeostasis. Our bodies are finely tuned systems designed to maintain balance in the face of various internal and external challenges.
The interactions between CBD and the endocannabinoid system suggest a promising role for CBD in promoting homeostasis. CBD oil has emerged as a valuable natural product that assists with supporting mood and other aspects of wellness.
As science continues to unlock the secrets of this remarkable compound, it's essential to approach its use with informed caution, understanding that individual responses may vary.
Consulting with healthcare professionals and embarking on a holistic approach to well-being can help harness the full potential of CBD oil in the journey toward a balanced and healthier life.
Zatural CBD Products For Managing Homeostasis?
At Zatural, we go the extra mile when it comes to developing CBD products that are safe and effective.
From isolates to full-spectrum options, rest assured that you’re getting only fast-acting, easy-to-take, high-quality, and organically grown CBD products that cater to your most pressing wellness and vitality needs.
If you’re looking for great third-party tested softgels, gummies, edibles, topicals, and CBD oil for homeostasis, then check out all our doctor-formulated choices here.
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*FDA DISCLAIMER -These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.