April 9, 2014 | What do breast milk, tea and a cannabis cigarette have in common? As mind-boggling as it may seem, quite a bit. In addition to providing a soothing sense of comfort and bliss, they also facilitate in stimulating and nourishing the endocannabinoid system, which plays a significant role in a variety of physiological processes.
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that promote homeostasis by interacting with specific receptors found in the human body. Thus far, two receptors have been determined – CB1 and CB2. This intricate system of cannabinoids, receptors and other binding substances manufactured in the brain is called the endocannabinoid system.
Breast milk has been revered by many for generations as the most wholesome and beneficial source of nutrition that a mother can provide for her growing infant. Since cannabinoids exist in breast milk, clearly, humans are designed to utilize them.
The ability and the desire to suckle are essential for an infant’s development. According to the European Journal of Pharmacology, the cannabinoids found in breast milk activate the CB1 receptor. This activates the oral-motor musculature, which is imperative for suckling. It is also believed that these cannabinoids promote an infant’s desire to eat, much like an adult cannabis user gets the munchies.
By Jane Hash
Read the full story at alternet.org
