The Endocannabinoid System? Never heard of it!

CBD – there is no doubt that these three little letters have been popping up everywhere in the last few years. You may have seen a CBD bath bomb at the grocery store, perhaps your brother-in-law swears by a CBD tincture, a friend from high school bombards your social media feed with an “amazing” CBD salve via network marketing or maybe you’ve even walked past CBD soft gel capsules at the gas station. It’s. Every. Where. But how can this single ingredient have head-to-toe, inside out applications? Is it this generation’s snake oil, or can one ingredient have this much of a reach? Are all CBD products created equally? The answer may be found by exploring three other letters that are not as well-known but are very important; the ECS.

Estheticians, skincare professionals and medical practitioners alike understand and appreciate the fact that the body is an intricate machine, with many systems working together in synchronicity. We also understand that when there is a malfunction or miscommunication in one system, many others are affected. In esthetic school, we learn how systems communicate and effect the integumentary system, our largest organ and first line of immune defense. But what were we taught about the Endocannabinoid System? Nothing. This imperative system, commonly referred to as the ECS, is one of the most important things to understand as skincare professionals. It is now being taught in medical schools and will be incorporated into esthetic education programs in due time.

Before you call your esthetic school demanding to know why you were not taught about the vastly reaching ECS, understand it is a relatively new revelation that was not known until late in the 20^th Century. Lead by Dr. Raphael Mechoulum, the ECS was discovered in the late 1980s, after decades of study by a group of Israeli and American scientists. While researching chemical components of cannabis and how they communicate within the body and in following the cannabis components, they made one of the most important connections in understanding our bodies, health and healing.

The ECS, or Endocannabinoid System, communicates with EVERY system in the body and is imperative for survival. It is called into action at every moment; as you eat, rest, workout and breathe.

A thermostat, like those found in our homes, or our cars, is a component that senses the temperature of a system (heating or cooling) and performs actions so that the system’s temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint, 72 degrees for example. The ECS works like the body’s thermostat, sensing the “temperature” or status of all of the body’s systems. Prompted by a properly functioning ECS, the body will shift into high gear to repair deficiencies or ease off over-stimulation. It is constantly working to establish and maintain balance, overall health and well-being; homeostasis.

Imagine if you had to work 24-7, you are bound to feel depleted and exhausted. This overexertion is known as Endocannabinoid deficiency, and scientists believe many human conditions, illnesses and diseases – including pain, arthritis and skin disorders – begin with an ECS deficiency or weakness. The use of phytocannabinoids (from plants) act as support staff, filling in and picking up the slack so endocannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System have time to recover full strength and function.

Phytocannabinoids, like CBD, assist the ECS in calming inflammation, regulating body temperature, managing stress responses, strengthening immune response, regulating mood and support many other balancing functions.

The use of CBD on the skin has shown clinical evidence of positive effects that could alleviate many skin complaints we see as skincare professionals.  In the skin, we recognize inflammation can create a host of problems, from acne to pigment and beyond. One of the chief responses of using effective CBD formulations topically is a decrease in inflammation. Studies show CBD provides sebocyte differentiation, balancing oil production in skin that is either too dry, or too oily. Additional peer reviewed and published papers indicate phytocannabinoids have an ability to assist in proper cell proliferation (cell turnover rates) and melanogenesis (pigment).

Whether you are a CBD skeptic or enthusiastic about relief potential, there is no denying phytocannabinoids are creating quite the buzz in the healthcare, personal care and scientific communities. Because the ECS has such a vast effect on all the body’s systems, and with so many phytocannabinoid compounds found in hemp, it is no wonder we are seeing hemp infused products everywhere. This explains the large variety of product offerings and application opportunities and is a mirrored reflection of the wide-reaching function of the ECS.

However, not all CBD infused products are equal, and products should be selected with a skeptical eye. Don’t be lured into investing into just any product. Because your clientele trusts you to be the expert, don’t commit to the first product line to knock on your door just because, but rather, select the best. Consider where the hemp is sourced, how it is extracted, and most importantly, what ingredients make up the entire formulation. With research and scientific studies on going, we can expect only an increase in the understanding of the supportive opportunity phytocannabiniods, along with terpenes and other cannabis components, will have on our daily lives, including our skincare routines.

Stay tuned and brace yourselves for chapter two, Exploring the ECS, where we will take a deeper dive into how the ECS functions, explore CB receptors and how to select products that will effectively communicate with the ECS and your skin.

Watch our video where our education specialist Ella Cress talks about the Endocannabinoid Systems: