To date, studies have come to explain the interplay between cannabidiol (CBD) and how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to maintain homeostasis.
Perhaps you could be wondering what homeostasis is and what CBD has to do with it. No worries, you are in the right place.
This post explores the meaning of homeostasis, its importance, and how CBD maintains it. Take a look!
What is Homeostasis and Why is it Important?
Generally, homeostasis is the balance within the system to keep bodily functions operating. In other words, it is the body’s ability to achieve and maintain internal balance to fight external stress.
In the absence of bodily balance, the body becomes overwhelmed by preventing damage. This can result in illness. Homeostasis helps the body be at a state of equilibrium and capable of addressing challenges that may arise.
It helps maintain stability in external and internal environments. This allows body organs to function harmoniously.
Also, it monitors body systems to detect changes and offer mechanisms that can interact with them to restore balance.
It helps living organisms to grow, work, and survive because it regulates the immune system helping avoid conditions that deteriorate immunity. Its absence could lead to fatal ailments.
So, homeostatic balance promotes the health of an organism.
Generally, homeostasis is a crucial cell function and organisms’ overall balance.
In humans, it helps keep salt and water levels at balance. Besides, it promotes inhalation and exhalation of O2, CO2, and food digestion.
It helps speed up the enzymes’ reactions to keep the cell alive and at the optimal temperature to function efficiently.
Homeostasis helps the body to attain stability to resist changes outside the organism’s environment.
That said, homeostasis is an automated process in which the biological system maintains a balance for optimal survival. If the homeostatic process is successful, life continues. If it is unsuccessful, complications or even death can occur.
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What are 3 Examples of Homeostasis?
One can achieve homeostasis in different ways.
Since it covers a broad range of functions, here are some examples of bodily balance.
Internal body temperature
The human’s internal body temperature is one of the most fantastic examples of homeostasis. The thermoregulation process helps maintain an ideal temperature for a healthy body.
In humans, the normal temperature is either 37 degrees Celsius or 98.60 degrees Fahrenheit. Homeostasis helps control the temperature by emitting excess heat or producing more heat to maintain this temperature limit.
Nevertheless, if the body temperatures exceed 98.6F, the individual is likely to experience fever. And if it drops below the limit, the person experiences hypothermia.
Notably, when you play or bask in the sun or winter snow, the body temperatures rise or drop by one or two degrees.
That means body temperatures should stay close to the optimal temperature. A winder variance can result in significant damages.
That’s why it’s ideal for maintaining and controlling the optimal body temperature range. When an individual sweats in the sun or shivers in the cold, the body is trying to achieve balance.
Blood pressure
A healthy person has a blood pressure (BP) of 120 systolic pressure and 80 diastolic pressure. So healthy BP for humans is 120/80.
When blood pressure rises, the brain sends signals to the heart to slow down the heartbeat bringing back the pressure to normalcy.
In contrast, when blood pressure is too low, the brain sends signals to the heart to increase pressure in the arteries.
Proper glucose levels
Glucose is a special type of sugar found in the bloodstream. And for a healthy body, its concentration level must be at balance.
Besides, the body must have sufficient glucose levels to boost the immune system. When the glucose concentration is too high, the pancreases produce lots of insulin to balance blood sugar.
When the glucose levels drop, glycogen converts into glucose to raise its (glucose) levels. That’s how the body system works to maintain homeostasis by balancing the blood sugar.
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CBD Oil and Homeostasis
When we talk about CBD oil and homeostasis, we talk about CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS comprises endocannabinoid receptors and neurotransmitters.
These receptors have an extensive effect on physiological processes. These include energy regulation, immune response, digestion, pain, and inflammation, to name a few.
CBD oils stimulate the physiological processes to allow the body to function harmoniously. The ECS maintains homeostasis by utilizing cannabinoid receptors located in the immune system and the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Upon detecting imbalance, the body naturally synthesizes cannabinoids to react with the cannabinoid receptors. In turn, this triggers the ideal chemicals needed to normalize the body processes.
The cannabinoids act as the linkage between various cells within the body, to allow the necessary communication.
When equilibrium in the body is needed, the body naturally produces cannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-ag, to bring relaxation.
If the ECS isn’t synthesizing enough cannabinoids, CBD helps synthesize them to bring stability in the psychological processes. In turn, this allows the ECS to work efficiently, resulting in improved health.
With this, the human cells work harmoniously due to the achieved stability.
Does CBD Oil Help Homeostasis?
Does CBD oil help homeostasis? Yes, CBD homeostasis works.
Here is how the CBD interacts with the major body system to achieve body balance.
Immune system
Generally, homeostasis relies on inflammation and anti-inflammatory signals from the immune system. An inflammation may signal a threat to your health, which can result in imbalance.
The body naturally activates the immune system to counter the attacker.
The inflammation would also signal that you may be suffering from autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or skin infections such as psoriasis.
Fortunately, CBD interacts with the ECS surmount inflammation. The interaction brings much-balance as needed.
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The central nervous system (CNS)
In the central nervous system, it achieves CBD homeostasis by inhibiting and relaxing excitation forces. When the CNS is overly excited, it can result in mental ailments, including anxiety.
Besides, inflammation can affect the CNS, resulting in imbalance. CBD activates anti-inflammatory biochemicals in the immune system, to curb this and bring balance in the CNS.
CBD up-regulates the GABA system to bring calmness and relaxation in CNS. In the same vein, CBD down-regulates inflammation-causing genes in the immune system and down-regulates the glutamate system-in CNS responsible for excitation.
Hormone or endocrine system
The endocrine system helps balance catabolic hormones (forces that break down tissue) and anabolic hormones (forces that build up tissue) to maintain homeostasis.
For example, the pancreas must produce insulin for the body to function correctly.
With this, the pancreatic cells will have to produce plentiful insulin to bring equilibrium in the blood sugar. However, higher insulin would lead to hyperglycemia, while lower amounts would result in hypoglycemia.
It doesn’t end here. The ECS regulates glucose and lipid metabolism levels. In an unbalanced energy intake, the ECS is dysregulated. This will become hyperactive in organs responsible for maintaining energy balance.
Scientists posit that ECS dysregulation results in the accumulation of viscera fat and low adiponectin release from adipose tissue. With this, CBD bolsters ECS by reducing the extent of the dysregulation.
Moreover, CBD helps homeostasis through interaction with cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid receptors.
What Happens If Homeostasis Is Not Maintained?
If the body cannot maintain homeostasis, a disease or disorder may occur. Ideally, the body systems must work together harmoniously to maintain balance.
On balance disruption, homeostasis isn’t supported, resulting in abnormal bodily organisms’ functions and processes.
Moreover, homeostatic imbalance may result in a state of disease classified into two: deficiency and toxicity.
Deficiency occurs on blockage of beneficial pathways in cells, causing deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Toxicity happens when there are excess toxins or poisons in the cells.
Notably, cells are delicate and need the right levels of every substance. When the levels are too low or too high, the effect can cause severe consequences.
To maintain the concise levels, the cells undergo homeostasis. However, on disruption, the body’s immune system may deteriorate.
Finally, it’s important to note that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any CBD product for homeostasis. Therefore, they are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
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Learn More About Homeostasis
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What maintains homeostasis in the human body?
The body maintains homeostasis via a complex system consisting of individual units and physiological processes that work at a balanced and constant internal environment.
The balance of the system results in homeostatic regulation. Balance in the nervous system and ECS helps maintain homeostasis.
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How does CBD improve human health?
CBD hosts anti-inflammation properties that ease the symptoms of many health stressors. Besides, CBD is a natural therapy that helps counter acne, anxiety, stress, depression. CBD doesn’t lethally react with the body.
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What are some examples of homeostasis in humans?
Some of the examples of homeostasis from the body include maintenance of the body’s internal temperature and maintenance of glucose levels. It also includes the protection of infection, maintenance of blood pressure, and removal of waste or toxins.