Digestive System and Cannabinoids - Bongae

The receptors of the endocannabinoid system are found in all the most important physiological systems of the organism and apparently the gastrointestinal system is no exception, positively influencing it by their conspicuous presence. The activation or inhibition of some important functions of the digestive system strictly depends on the active mechanism of cannabinoids.

We have now understood how the endocannabinoid system is really found everywhere in the human body  and how important it is in all systems: the gastrointestinal system is no exception, indeed it is particularly rich in it . For this reason cannabinoids particularly affect the digestive system by facilitating or inhibiting some important functions, let's see together what are the pros and cons of these interactions. 

Brief anatomy of the digestive system

The digestive system, in humans as in other living beings, has the task of introducing, processing, digesting, absorbing nutrients and eliminating in the form of waste all the residues that the body does not need  (we are obviously talking about feces). It is also called the gastrointestinal tract and could be compared to a long hollow tube (an average length of 12 meters) that runs through the body from the mouth to the anus. As we said, its initial opening (from which food enters) is precisely the mouth then from here the system continues with pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine. This last portion also includes the rectum and the anal canal from which the waste material comes out with the evacuation.

In the past it was believed that the entire intestine had the sole task of digesting and assimilating nutrients in the body . But today we know very well that its primary functions do not end there ... in fact it is very important to also talk about the microbiome: a population of microorganisms that inhabit our digestive system (such as bacteria, eukaryotic parasites, protozoa and fungi). It will also seem a dangerous infestation but in truth the microbiome is really necessary for many processes and must be kept healthy and strong in order to support the immune system, assimilate and synthesize beneficial substances (for example several types of vitamins) and manage the toxic ones that must be disposed of. .

The endocannabinoid system in the gastrointestinal tract

After this necessary summary we begin to focus on the endocannabinoid system ... what does it have to do with this giant tube?  Well, endocannabinoids (lipid-based neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors triggering a series of different reactions) are found practically everywhere in the human body: within the various organs, in the brain, nervous systems, glands ... that's why potentially cannabinoids can affect almost any area of ​​the body. 

For decades, scientists from all over the world have discovered the presence of these neurotransmitters within the gastrointestinal tract and today it is now clear to everyone that  the endocannabinoid system is absolutely fundamental for the implementation of metabolic processes, i.e. those that allow to man to process and assimilate food. It is therefore not surprising that cannabis has been used for centuries in the treatment of disorders associated with digestion, precisely because the endocannabinoid system is able to strongly influence intestinal motility and permeability, inflammation of the tissues, the assimilation of certain substances (such as fats and vitamins) but also to regulate the connections between the apparatus and the brain (for example to block the stimulus of nausea and to ignite hunger) or to stimulate the activities of the precious microbiome.

The pros and cons of cannabinoids for the digestive system

Several studies have shown that a stimulus of the endocannabinoid system is able to improve digestion , especially for those suffering from pathologies related to absorption, alterations of the microbiome or inflammation of the intestine. We are talking above all about diseases such as chronic colitis, intestinal ulcers, Crohn's disease, inflammation due to various intolerances or allergies (for example for celiac disease). Part of this beneficial intervention would derive above all from the ability of cannabinoids (such as CBD) to mitigate inflammation inside the cells and therefore to limit painful sensations and restore the functionality of the cells.  

Furthermore, as many of you have experienced, cannabis can also stimulate the appetite , a very important effect for those who are unable, for one reason or another, to eat (such as those suffering from anorexia) but also appease many types of nausea. such as those related to the intake of drugs (for example chemotherapy drugs). In particular , it is the cannabinoid THC that has a really powerful effect on hunger, also because it amplifies the sense of smell, taste and therefore leads to more appreciation of what we eat . 

The cons of taking cannabis for this system are not many but there are . First of all, it should be noted that a small slice of people may react with nausea and block of appetite to the consumption of some types of marijuana, just the reverse of what usually happens. In addition, there are contraindications related to the consumption of marijuana by combustion, perhaps associated with tobacco, a habit that can be harmful to a large part of the digestive system (as well as to other systems), for example it can irritate the tissues of the pharynx and esophagus and aggravate the forms of reflux.
For these reasons it is better to limit this type of intake especially if you have problems at the top of the system 

-- Bongae