Digging It…

January 23, 2025 by Angel Wings Wellness

YES! You Have An Endocannabinoid System!

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a recently discovered network within the human body. Scientists studying THC first identified the ECS in the 1990s. The system is named for cannabinoids. The prefix endo- means “within” or “inside.”

Think of it like your body’s air traffic controller. The ECS makes sure that important messages are delivered from the brain to cells and back again – with no traffic jams or detours.

The ECS includes neurotransmitters (chemical signals) and cannabinoid receptors in the brain and all over the body. Those receptors regulate immunity, sleep, mood, learning and memory, appetite and digestion, metabolism, bone and muscle formation, skin and nerve function and motor control. As you can imagine, the ECS plays a significant role in overall health.

How does the ECS work? Your body is always looking for balance, or homeostasis. The ECS helps with that goal, by increasing or decreasing the activity of different systems in the body as needed. The ECS exists (and is active) in your body even if you don’t consume cannabinoids – but those compounds stimulate your body’s receptors. That’s how they influence things like pain, inflammation, sleep, etc.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE ECS?

The ECS is made up of two types of cannabinoid receptors, internal neurotransmitters (endocannabinoids) and cannabinoid receptor proteins expressed throughout the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. The ECS actively regulates functions involved in physiological and cognitive processes. It also contributes to homeostasis by modulating the immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems.

The endocannabinoids of the ECS are AEA (the predominant player, also known as anandamide and N-arachidonoylethanolamine) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol), and the enzymes that break those endocannabinoids down are FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) and MAG lipase (monoacylglycerol lipase).

The two types of cannabinoid receptors vary in both location and function:

CB1 Receptors: Found in the brain and central nervous system. These receptors manage the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and glutamate. When THC binds to CB1 receptors, it induces the high associated with cannabis by interrupting the release of neurotransmitters.

CB2 Receptors: Found in the peripheral nervous system, these receptors are most abundant in the immune system. They help regulate inflammation, cell survival and proliferation. Think of them as a switch that turns these intracellular processes off and on as needed. Binding to CB2 receptors does not cause any intoxication.

AngelWingsShop.com

Drop by Friday Saturday 11-4 and grab some free samples or get a free wellness consultation and find out how CBD can improve the quality of your life! Or call for an appointment….978-985-4592

YES! You Have An Endocannabinoid System!

Drop by Friday Saturday 11-4 and grab some free samples or get a free wellness consultation and find out how CBD can improve the quality of your life! Or call for an appointment….978-985-4592

We attended a recent O’Maley Shamrocks Ice Hockey game recently to keep an eye on a couple of our favorite eighth grade players. It happened to be the game at which the 8th graders were recognized …there are 14 of them I believe so the impact for the future of the high school teams is significant. The team performed very well and although the lighting stinks, here’s a bit of a photo dump. Both teams started in white jerseys so the Gloucester team put on red or black jerseys in order to play. This made it difficult for me to try to make sure I got most of the players hightlighted, so I apologize for anyone overlooked in the following selection.

They aren’t even on the shelves yet. Gotta ask to see them if you go downtown today or tomorrow. They’re in the back room!

I wasn’t going to release these til spring but if you’re reading this you’re among the insiders that will know to ask for first dibs! Just keep that between us, k?

Come join us for lunch this special weekend only for Gloucester So Salty and win Margarita Raffle Basket!

Receive your free raffle ticket when you arrive this Saturday & Sunday from 12:00pm – 5:00pm  

Gloucester So Salty Margarita Raffle Basket: Bottle Tequila Arette Blanco 

32 oz Home-made Sour-mix 

Limes and of course SALT!

Machaca

Tacos & Tequila

14 Rogers St

Gloucester, MA