CB1 Upregulation

[KurtAurelius]

There was a part earlier on it was mentioned 9:28 but 16:30 Dr Felice discusses microdosing THC to naturally upregulate the Endocannabanoid system.

I’ve found using small amounts of THC with prioritising Terpenes and CBD/CBG, means I’ve never had to raise my dose. I smoke the same amount of cannabis I have been for the past year or so.

 

[Allylbenzene]

What's interesting is how the endocannabinoid system works & operates as a whole, it's very dynamic. There's the endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes that inactivate the endocannabinoids (eCB).

Afaik, when the body makes eCBs and releases them they are active for a few seconds max before an enzyme inactivates them. Contrast that with THC or CBG which hang around for much longer (days? weeks?) and activate CB1. There's also other dietary cannabinoids.

...using small amounts of THC with prioritising Terpenes and CBD/CBG, means I’ve never had to raise my dose.

Synergy is gold. Several terpenes trigger the release of eCBs and at least 1 does so for endogenous opioids (myrcene). Imo the presence of CBD helps to keep the THC effect grounded, stable and importantly sustainable (ie minimal tolerance build-up).

On the UK medical reddit group there's people using 25%+ THC (0% CBD) daily for years and wondering why they're having tolerance and withdrawal issues. The UK medical flower is generally quite poor in content and diversity of medicinal terpenes. I worked it out recently and it turns out that flower sold at £6/g rated at 3% terpenes is equivalent to selling terpenes at £180+/ml. That's eye-watering when natural steam-distilled terpenes cost around 50p/ml.

That's a 10ml bottle of steam-distilled essential oil from 1 of thousands of botanicals.

 

[KurtAurelius]

What's interesting is how the endocannabinoid system works and operates as a whole. There's the endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes that inactivate the endocannabinoids (eCB).

Afaik, when the body makes eCBs and releases them they are active for a few seconds max before an enzyme inactivates them. Contrast that with THC or CBG which hang around for much longer (days? weeks?) and activate CB1.


Synergy is gold. Several terpenes trigger the release of eCBs and at least 1 does so for endogenous opioids (myrcene). Imo the presence of CBD helps to keep the THC effect grounded, stable and importantly sustainable (ie minimal tolerance build-up).

On the UK medical reddit group there's people using 25%+ THC (0% CBD) daily for years and wondering why they're having tolerance and withdrawal issues. The UK medical flower is generally quite poor in content and diversity of medicinal terpenes. I worked it out recently and it turns out that flower sold at £6/g rated at 3% terpenes is equivalent to selling terpenes at £200+/ml. That's eye-watering when natural steam-distilled terpenes cost around 50p/ml.

You’re bang on. I was mesmerised this morning when I learnt how vast the endocannabanoid system is versus say opioid.. this guy said it was the largest system in the body I believe?

I remember you posting before Allyl how dire UK medical is. I’m applying for a card but only as a cost measure and safety measure..

I.e if I can get a silly amount of THC for a small price, I will have THC sufficent for a long period. I only need to obtain my own CBD/CBG and terpenes..

 

[Allylbenzene]

discusses microdosing THC to naturally unregulate the Endocannabanoid system.

Curcumin might be an OTC way to unregulate the CB receptors:

...the authors noted an enhanced expression of CB1 receptors, which could have an important role in the antidepressant potency of curcumin.
Hassanzadeh and Hassanzadeh suggested that the endocannabinoid system could have a pivotal role in emotion regulation and neuroplasticity exerted by curcumin as they showed in their study that chronic curcumin administration in rats could increase endocannabinoid levels as well as nerve growth factor levels in key structures like the amygdala and the hippocampus. Witkin et al. noted that curcumin had no effect on depression-like behavior on CB1 KO (–/–) mice, highlighting the role of CB1 receptors in curcumin efficacy.
— https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.572533

You’re bang on. I was mesmerised this morning when I learnt how vast the endocannabanoid system is versus say opioid.. this guy said it was the largest system in the body I believe?

Afaik the ECS recruits the opioid, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, adenosine, glutamate, orexin +others, so yes...quite large!

I remember you posting before Allyl how dire UK medical is. I’m applying for a card but only as a cost measure and safety measure..

I.e if I can get a silly amount of THC for a small price, I will have THC sufficent for a long period. I only need to obtain my own CBD/CBG and terpenes..

It's a good strategy imo. With medical you can legally order THC oil/flower every month or so. Then buy CBG/CBD & terpenes from any plant (myrrh ones are worth trying) and diy THC via CBD. Add the other parts to make a full-spectrum type thing and there's your prescription oil that you're legally able to have.

 

[Allylbenzene]

Dr Felice discusses microdosing THC to naturally unregulate the Endocannabanoid system.

Here's a good overview of the endocannabinoid system including the 'extended' bit:

The ECS is comprised of two main cannabinoid receptors (CB1, 2), endogenous lipid ligands (endocannabinoids ie anandamide, 2‐arachydonoil glycerol), and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid metabolism (FAAH, MAGL).

There are additional extensions to the ECS, termed the “extended” ECS, that are comprised of multiple receptors... Some of these receptors include PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activated receptors), G‐protein coupled receptors (eg GPR18, GPR55, GPR119), nociception ion channels (TRP* channels), and transporters.

...the extended ECS receptors functionally interact with endocannabinoids, phyto-cannabinoids present in the Cannabis plant, and other endogenous lipid mediators, including oleoyl‐ethanolamide (OEA), palmitoyl‐ethanolamide (PEA), and linoleoyl‐ethanolamide (LEA).

From this paper.

Btw palmitoylethanolamide is OTC and has an endocannabinoid-esque influence.