Are you feeling stressed? Don’t sweat. There is ample evidence to suggest that your body excretes “homegrown” cannabinoid compounds that help cool you down.
In addition to cannabidiol (CBD), the human body naturally produces a chemical very similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. You might be surprised.
known as endocannabinoid, these compounds were only identified in 1992 and are still poorly understood by scientists. But emerging evidence suggests that it may play a profound role in many bodily functions, from learning and memory to pain control and immune responses.
Humans are not the only ones who produce endocannabinoids. Scientists believe that endocannabinoids are produced by all vertebrate species. probably evolved Millions of years before the emergence of cannabinoids produced by plants cannabis sativa.
In a new study, Northwestern University scientists found that stressed mice release endocannabinoids in the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. This compound then dampens stress signals coming in from the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory and emotion.
Chemical structures of different cannabinoids such as CBD and THC.
Image credit: Net Vector/Shutterstock.com
To prove their point, scientists “switched off” the cannabinoid receptor (CB1) in the brains of mice. This appears to reduce their ability to cope with stress. After exposure to stress, they had a decreased preference for sugary liquid treats, which the researchers say is related to decreased pleasure commonly seen in people with stress-related disorders.
Again, this phenomenon has so far only been observed in mice. However, the researchers suggest that it most likely applies to humans as well, and if it does, it could represent a new avenue for treating stress-related mental disorders.
“Understanding how the brain adapts to stress at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels may provide important insights into how stress is translated into mood disorders and may provide insight into stress-related This may reveal new therapeutic targets for the treatment of disorders,” said Sachin Patel, corresponding study author. said the president and psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine in a paper. statement.
“Determining whether increasing levels of endocannabinoids can be used as a potential treatment for stress-related disorders is a logical next step from this study and our previous work,” Patel said. added. “Clinical trials are underway in this area and may be able to answer this question in the near future.”
The research will be published in a journal cell report.
