Does Cannabinoid Deficiency Explain Health Issues? An Ethan Russo Theroy

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency

Medical and recreational cannabis are creating positive uses in media today. We know the wide variety of effects that cannabis help but what relevance do these cannabinoids have with our body? Cannabinoid deficiency might explain how our endocannabinoid system impacts our health.

The theory of clinical endocannabinoid deficiency explains; if you do not have enough endocannabinoids you have pain where there shouldn’t be pain. You develop a cannabinoid deficiency when our bodies do not have enough endocannabinoids.

Cannabinoid Deficiency Theory

Ethan Russo, Medical Director for Phytecs said, “For each neurotransmitter system there are pathological conditions attributable to its deficiency: dementia in Alzheimer disease due to loss of acetylcholine activity and Parkinsonism due to dopamine deficiency.” If there are deficiencies linked to these conditions then why would the endocannabinoid system be any different?

It occurred to Russo that there were similarities that dealt with the endocannabinoid system within a variety of conditions. He looked at migraines, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome to determine the relationship of clinical endocannabinoid deficiency. All of these conditions have one thing in common; they are all hyperalgesic syndromes. This means that there is an over sensitivity to pain.

According to Russo, “If you don’t have enough endocannabinoids you have pain where there shouldn’t be pain”. The body is in optimal health when our systems are in balance. Ultimately, a lack of endocannabinoids mean the system will become out of balance. Therefore, the endocananbinoid system is unable to do its job properly and keep vital body functions in homeostasis.

This is what he calls an endocannabinoid tone.

Endocannabinoid Tone

“Endocannabinoid deficiency is a hypothesis that all humans have an underlying endocannabinoid tone that is a reflection of the levels of anandamide and 2-AG, their production, metabolism, and the relative abundance and state of cannabinoid receptors,” said Russo. Respectable doctors and researchers have picked up on this theory of the endocannabinoid deficiency.

When there is a lack of natural cannabinoids in your body, substitute for plant derived cannabinoids. These will reverse the effects and improve your conditions.

Research is expensive and it is difficult to measure therefore the idea of a cannabinoid deficiency and endocannabinoid tone are still a theory. Based on the research from Dr. Russo, this theory has become prevalent in medical cannabis professionals for years.