Intro to Your Endocannabinoid System

The cannabis plant can do amazing things to your brain and body. But did you ever wonder why?

Cannabis affects you because of your endocannabinoid system, or ECS: a complex network of transmitters and receptors that works to keep your body in a state of “homeostasis,” or balance.

Understanding how the plant impacts this system – and which compounds produce which effects – can empower you to make more intentional, informed decisions about the products you consume.

How the endocannabinoid system works

Your Endocannabinoid System is operating all the time, not just when you’re under the influence of cannabis. It regulates many of your body’s functions – including sleep, appetite, pain, inflammation, and stress – by helping to modulate the signals flying around your body’s internal comms system.

For example, if you’re sore after a workout, transmitters within your ECS might interact with your pain receptors to say, “We hear you, our muscles need a break – stop with the pain signals, please!” Other messages the ECS might deliver are: “Time for bed,” or, “We are not in danger, please calm down,” or, “We should eat a snack.”

The goal with all this intra-you communication is to keep your body’s systems in a state of relative harmony. But what happens when the ECS falters, and the balance is thrown off?

If you can’t make your own cannabinoids, store-bought are fine

When most of us hear the word “cannabinoid,” we think of the famous plant-produced ones like CBD or THC. But in fact, a “cannabinoid” refers to any molecule that interacts directly with the receptors of your ECS. Your body makes plenty of (non-intoxicating) cannabinoids on its own – these are technically called “endocannabinoids.”

THC, CBD, CBG, and other hemp derived cannabinoids are technically classified as “phytocannabinoids.” Plenty of people consume these purely for fun, but they can also give your ECS a helping hand when balance, or homeostasis, is proving hard to maintain.

For example, maybe your ECS isn’t properly signaling bedtime, which means you’re not getting enough sleep. Phytocannabinoids like the ones in Wana Optimals Sleep Gummies can help make you drowsy. On a more serious note, let’s say chemotherapy is making you more nauseated than your ECS is equipped to handle alone. The phytocannabinoid THC can come to the rescue, interrupting those queasy-making internal signals and even helping to stimulate appetite.

It’s also worth noting that different phytocannabinoids can work together synergistically, often more effectively than they can work alone – a phenomenon known as “the entourage effect.” This is why products containing multiple cannabinoids, like Wana’s 1:1:1 CBG/CBD/THC ratio gummies or Happi’s Glow-Up Beverage, often have different effects than those with just THC or CBD alone. In fact, the Wanderous team often recommends that those nervous about trying THC begin with a ratio product like these, because non-intoxicating cannabinoids can help prevent some of THC’s less desirable side effects, like anxiety.

Why it matters

When you’re shopping on Wanderous, you don’t necessarily need to understand the specifics of how cannabis affects your ECS, because our expert researchers (and handy “Discover Your Match” quiz) will do the heavy lifting for you.

Still, knowledge is power. By understanding more about the way your body works, and how different cannabinoids might impact it, you’ll always be able to cut through the noise and find the formulation that’s right for you – no matter where your journey takes you.

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