Supporting the Endocannabinoid System with Supplements

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS), named after the plant that led to its discovery, is the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human and virtually every creature’s’ health. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the Cannabinoid System performs different tasks, but the goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment.

In conjunction with the ECS is the Endocannabinoid Deficiency Theory by famed researcher Dr. Ethan Russo. It’s based on the concept that many brain disorders are associated with neurotransmitter deficiencies and that a comparable deficiency in Endocannabinoid levels might manifest similarly in certain disorders that display predictable clinical features, of a consequence to a previous disease or injury, of the ECS deficiency.

Smoking pot is not the only way a person can supplement their Endocannabinoid System, nor being a daily consumer negate an unhealthy lifestyle of a bad diet and lack of exercise. Research is demonstrating how important the ECS is and proper maintenance could lead to an overall healthier life. Supplementing your ECS is as simple as living a healthy life, eating fresher food and activity, a process that can be broken into four parts.

1) Eliminate: Eliminate the unhealthy habits like fast food and lack of exercise
2) Prime: Priming the ECS with a healthy diet and exercise
3) Stress Management: Promote healthy lifestyle with diet and activity
4) Vitamin Weed

Hippocrates said,“All disease begins in the gut,” wonder what he would say about the quality of food we gorge ourselves with nowadays. The Endocannabinoid System regulates numerous physiological processes, including intestinal function, glucose metabolism, and energy homeostasis (1). One recent research article suggests that modern-day chronic metabolic disorders began with “a mismatch between ancient genes and high caloric diets” (2).

We are not here to re-work your diet, just pass along a few suggestions for additions to "Prime" your ECS. The tips below are from Bryan Krumm, a Psychiatric Nurse who specializes in PTSD, leading expert in alternative treatments and Patients Out of Time speaker.

Recommended supplements that will support and modulate the Endocannabinoid System.

2: Turmeric with Black Pepper
Both turmeric and black pepper act at Cannabinoid receptors to reduce pain and inflammation. Black pepper augments the effects of turmeric by increasing the bio-availability. Turmeric has been used for centuries to treat pain and inflammation. Recommended 500 mg twice a day with black pepper.

3: Magnesium Citrate
Low magnesium levels can contribute to stress, seizures, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, depression, Parkinson’s, inflammatory processes, cerebral palsy, loss of bone mass, vascular calcification, asthma and decreased kidney function.

4: Probiotic
Probiotics help reduce inflammatory processes and modulate CB1 receptor expression. Recommended a good probiotic (at least 50 billion cultures).

5: Vitamin E
Vitamin E is depleted by Omega 3’s and adding Vitamin E gives a boost to the efficacy of Omega 3’s. Vitamin E helps modulate Endocannabinoid function. Recommended 400 IU daily.

6: Vitamin D3
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a number of autoimmune disorders and Vitamin D supplementation can help to support CB2 receptor function. Recommended dose 5000 IU daily.

Dr. Michele Ross, PhD, author of Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency calls vitamin D a little miracle vitamin. The Federal Government has stated that we get enough vitamin D from our food and sunlight. The state of our fast-food culture and avoidance of direct sunlight with use of UV blocking sunscreens could be causing some to be Endocannabinoid Deficient. A global epidemic, up to 50% of humans are deficient in vitamin D, with a higher incidence rate in chronically ill patients. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to multiple sclerosis, migraines, depression, weight gain, cancer, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. (8 - 11)

7: Tart Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice contains anthocyanins that interact at Cannabinoid receptors to reduce pain and inflammation (6, 7). Tart cherry juice may be especially helpful for gout and arthritic pain.

References
1) Silvestri, C,Di Marzo, C, The Endocannabinoid System in Energy Homeostasis and the Etiopathology of Metabolic Disorders, Cell Metabolism Review, Volume 17, Issue 4, 2 April 2013, Pages 475-490 — Link
2) Gertsch, J., Cannabimimetic Phytochemicals in the Diet – an Evolutionary Link to Food Selection and Metabolic Stress Adaptation?, British Journal of Pharmacology, (2017) 174 1464–1483. — Link
3) Lafourcade, M., Larrieu, T., Mato, S., Duffaud, A., Sepers, M., Matias, I., De Smedt-Pevrusse, V., Labrousse, V. F., Brettillon, L., Matute, C., Rodriquez-Puertas, R., Laye, S., Manzoni, O. J., Nutritional Omega-3 Deficiency Abolishes Endocannabinoid-Mediated Neuronal Functions, Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 345–350 (2011) — Link
4) Joseph. R. Hibbelna and Rachel V. Gowb, Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Nutrient Deficits in Adverse Neurodevelopment and Childhood Behaviors., Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 July ; 23(3): 555–590 — Link
5) Charu Sharma, Bassem Sadek, Sameer N. Goyal, Satyesh Sinha, Mohammad Amjad Kamal, and Shreesh Ojha; Small Molecules from Nature Targeting G-Protein Coupled Cannabinoid Receptors: Potential Leads for Drug Discovery and Development. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2015, Article ID 238482, 26 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/238482 — Link
6) Tart cherry anthocyanins suppress inflammation-induced pain behavior in rat, Behavioural Brain Research 153(1):181-8 · September 2004 — Link
7) Korte G, Dreiseitel A, Schreier P, Oehme A, Locher S, Hajak G, Sand PG., An Examination of Anthocyanins' and Anthocyanidins' Affinity for Cannabinoid Receptors. J Med Food. 2009 Dec;12(6):1407-10 — Link
8) Michele N. Ross, PhD; Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency; Greenstone Books, 2018, p. 51 - 52
9) Holick, M.F. and T.C. Chen, Vitamin D Deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr, 2008. 87(4): p 1080S-62 — Link
10) Garland, C.F., et al., Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2007, 103(3-5): p. 708-11 — Link
11) Prakash, S., et al., The prevalence of headache may be related with the latitude: a possible role of vitamin D insufficiency? Journal of Headache and Pain, 2010. 11(4): p. 301-7 — Link