Like a tightrope walker, the human body seeks balance. Your body\nhas developed a highly honed ability to achieve an internal state of\nequilibrium, referred to as homeostasis. This system of checks and\nbalances to keep you functioning on an even keel is influenced by the\nendocannabinoid system. Both internal (endogenous) and external\ncannabinoids (those found in marijuana) affect the cannabinoid system,\nwhich means they have a role in this balancing act.
\nHomeostatic Acts
\nDeep within the brain just above the brain stem is a cluster of nerve\ncells called the\nhypothalamus.\nThis structure is involved in the endocrine (hormone) system and helps\nregulate key processes such as:
\nAll of these processes are essential to maintaining homeostasis, both of\nthe body as a whole and of specific systems such as the circulatory or\nrespiratory system. The hypothalamus acts as a central command post,\nrecognizing changes in the environment and releasing hormones and\nneurotransmitters, chemicals that allow communication between the\nvarious cells and structures of the body, to counteract the change or\ninitiate a reaction. Here's an example: Your body prefers an even 98.6\ndegrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature for organ and system\nfunctioning. When you exercise, your body temperature goes up. To combat\nthe exercise-induced temperature spike, your hypothalamus stimulates the\nmillions of\neccrine\nor sweat glands in the skin. The resulting sweat helps cool the body,\npreventing your core temperature from getting too high. Other\nhomeostatic responses to exercise include flushing, which is the result\nof dilated blood vessels that also help reduce body temperature, and\nincreased breathing and heart rate to keep oxygen levels at optimum\nlevels. All these responses are intended to return the body to balance.
\nEndocannabinoid System and Homeostasis
\nThe endocannabinoid\nsystem\nconsists of cannabinoid receptors located throughout the central and\nperipheral nervous system and immune system. These receptors bind to\nboth endocannabinoids and external cannabinoids, such as\nΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
\nThe hypothalamus contains cannabinoid receptors, and\nresearch\nshows that the endocannabinoids that bind to these receptors help\nregulate homeostasis. Disruptions in this process, through illness,\ninjury or medication, can affect homeostasis.
\nHomeostatic Disease
\nMost homeostatic responses are nonconscious acts; you are not aware of\nthem; they just occur. Think about your car's engine. When the engine is\nworking, and you get to your destination without mishap, you probably\ndon't think about the oil in the car. But without that oil, or if the\noil is old and contaminated, the engine grinds, systems fail, and your\ntrip is halted. Similarly, when the homeostatic process in your body is\ninterrupted due to illness, medication or injury, balance is prevented.
\nThere are a number of diseases and\nconditions\ncaused by homeostasis imbalance, including:
\nIn diabetes, for instance, the balance between blood glucose levels and\ninsulin production is off. Medical intervention is needed in the form of\ninsulin pills or injections to restore balance and prevent organ damage\nand death.
\nAge is another factor that affects homeostasis. Let's face it; things\ndon't always work as well as we get older, including on the cellular\nlevel.\nAccording to Dr. Robert\nMelamede,\nretired chairman of the Biology Department at the University of\nColorado, Colorado Springs, \"cannabinoid deficiency has been implicated\nin a number of age-related illnesses.\"
\nSome age-related illnesses are also homeostatic in origin, such as\nosteoporosis and arthritis. Other conditions may result in homeostatic\nsymptoms because they disrupt the normal cannabinoid cycle. In patients\nwith chronic pain, for example, heart rate, blood pressure and\ndepression are elevated and sleep is disturbed. These\nsymptoms\nare the result of overreaction of the cannabinoid system in response to\nthe constant pain stimulus. The cycle of stimulation and cannabinoid\ntrigger does not stop, and balance cannot be achieved.
\nCannabis for Restoring Balance
\nCannabinoids from cannabis have the ability to bind to cannabinoid\nreceptors and restore balance. Let's look at the patients with chronic\npain. THC is not only an\nanalgesic, it\nalso blocks the pain from stimulating the cannabinoid receptors that are\ntriggering the increased heart rate, blood pressure, mood effects and\nsleep deprivation.
\nCannabis has been shown to offer health benefits in treating a number of\nconditions associated with homeostatic imbalance, including:
\nResearchers are also looking at the effects of cannabis on\nschizophrenia\nand obesity.\nSchizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that may be due to an\nunbalanced dopamine cycle in the brain. Obesity is a metabolic disease\nin which food intake surpasses energy needs, and it has reached epidemic\nproportions, affecting more than\none-third of all adults in\nthe United States. Again, due to an absence of homeostasis.
\nAristotle once said that \"nature abhors a vacuum.\" Nature also abhors\nimbalance, and like the tightrope walker, we need to be able to restore\nbalance for ultimate functioning and performance. Using cannabis may\nhelp us walk that health tightrope.
\n","timeToRead":5},"headerYoutubeVideo":null,"autoplayHeaderYoutubeVideo":null},"allArticle":{"nodes":[{"id":"Article_2371-markdown","title":"New Research Proves Marijuana Effectively Controls Chronic Pain ","slug":"new-research-proves-marijuana-effectively-controls-chronic-pain","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.278688524590164,"src":"/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/cc196/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png","srcSet":"/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/f5a60/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 78w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/2199e/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 156w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/cc196/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 311w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/21564/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 467w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/b0675/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 622w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/bca7f/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.png 1162w","srcWebp":"/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/de783/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/dc369/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 78w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/09bb5/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 156w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/de783/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 311w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/40086/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 467w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/3df30/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 622w,\n/static/2df6135a9f301ff11f0b87458a914d50/23145/8982bd7b129251e3e68cad0b61641666.webp 1162w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_2364-markdown","title":"New Research Shows Cannabis Inhibits Growth of Cancerous Tumors","slug":"new-research-shows-cannabis-inhibits-growth-of-cancerous-tumors","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3220338983050848,"src":"/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/10fcc/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg","srcSet":"/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/f37cf/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 78w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/6620e/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 156w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/10fcc/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 311w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/7c4aa/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 467w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/ab499/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 622w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/54ac5/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/de783/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/dc369/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 78w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/09bb5/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 156w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/de783/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 311w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/40086/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 467w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/3df30/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 622w,\n/static/b57a6a59e12a30f7a42636372369410f/5e0b8/75e2668c37d08d90577b4018892f19f0.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_2392-markdown","title":"New Study Finds Cannabis Effective in Treatment for Migraines","slug":"new-study-finds-cannabis-effective-in-treatment-for-migraines","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3220338983050848,"src":"/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/10fcc/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/f37cf/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 78w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/6620e/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 156w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/10fcc/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 311w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/7c4aa/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 467w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/ab499/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 622w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/54ac5/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/de783/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/dc369/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 78w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/09bb5/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 156w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/de783/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 311w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/40086/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 467w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/3df30/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 622w,\n/static/7aff1fdecdc3c028ef80bb7b6f77ed5a/5e0b8/504f39508a240cfe102bb72994d094af.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":2017,"slug":"marijuana-cannabinoids-and-homeostasis-a-balancing-act","tags":[5051,5353,5724],"country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}