Similar sentiment to Relkin’s is shared by many clinicians practicing allelopathic medicine. Federal prohibition of cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic has effectively prohibited most clinical research for the last 75-plus years. Medical schools have incorporated very little training in cannabis as part of the standard curriculum—and the information is usually limited to cannabis addiction. Only recently has the discovery of the value of cannabis as a therapeutic tool in the arsenal of medicine entered the mainstream, and yet many physicians practicing western medicine continue to refute its clinical efficacy.

   

First observed in Israel in 1992, the discovery of the ECS rightfully should have rocked the world of medicine. But, largely due to prohibition of cannabis, the breakthrough went mostly unnoticed by the scientific community until recently. Research has shown the ECS serves a biological function as a molecular signaling system for other functional systems, such as metabolic regulation.

   

“The most valuable feature of the ECS seems to be neuromodulatory, helping the body to maintain homeostasis,” says Relkin, a noted neurologist. “We are in the early stages of research. While there appears to be a multitude of immune, endocrine, antimicrobial and antifungal properties of cannabinoids, more research is needed, but the ECS certainly helps keep our body’s systems in balance.”

   

Understanding how the ECS works in the body is a major component to unleashing the optimal biological potential of the cannabinoids (CBD, CBG and THC are just a few of hundreds in the cannabis plant) and terpenes (the molecules that give each cannabis cultivar its unique taste and smell profile) within the cannabis plant. Terpenes and cannabinoids work synergistically within the body to produce an ensemble effect to achieve maximum molecular potential, much in the way a symphony works in concert to produce melodies.

   

When choosing cannabis/CBD products, it is important to know how our body will react to the cannabinoids and terpenes therein. Knowing that cannabinoids can work within a complex system of receptors naturally occurring in our body can help to select the most appropriate products for a particular set of needs. Many people find relief through micro-doses of cannabis products. Always start with small doses until familiar with the effect before scaling up the dose.

   

Many users find that when they unlock the power of the ECS, they can eliminate some of the prescription or over-the-counter medications they were previously relying on to maintain health. It always helps to do research. One major component of research involves the certificate of analysis (COA). Always ask to see the COA, which will tell the customer exactly what cannabinoids and terpenes are present in the product.

   

With the combination of a little knowledge and the right products, we can unlock the potential of one very powerful system within our own body.