Health, Wellness, and a Balanced Endocannabinoid System

The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network of cannabinoids, receptors, and signaling molecules that regulate physiological processes such as mood, appetite, pain, sleep, and immune function. First mapped in 1990, the ECS plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body by responding to or minimizing the potential for stress, inflammation, and pain (Nature 1990;346:561–564; U. Blesching, The Cannabis Health Index, 3rd ed. [Logos, 2022]). Our growing understanding of ECS physiology and the components of the cannabis plant has allowed researchers to identify clinical relevance for cannabinoid therapeutics in more than 200 clinical conditions.