How hemp works—and why your body is already wired for it.

You’ve probably heard of systems like the nervous system or digestive system. But did you know your body also has an entire communication network built specifically to help maintain balance? It’s called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and it might just be the most important system you’ve never heard of.

What Is the ECS?

The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of receptors, neurotransmitters, and enzymes that work together to keep your body in a stable, healthy state… what scientists call homeostasis. It’s active in nearly every part of the body, including the brain, immune system, digestive tract, and more.

Discovered in the late 20th century, the ECS helps regulate essential functions like:

• Sleep
• Mood
• Pain
• Inflammation
• Appetite
• Stress response
• Immune function

Even though research is still growing, what we already know is powerful: the ECS is one of your body’s built-in balancing systems.

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How It Works: Locks, Keys, and Balance

To understand how the ECS works, picture a series of locks and keys:

• Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) sit on the surface of your cells. These are the locks.
• Endocannabinoids are compounds your body makes naturally. They’re the keys that unlock those receptors and trigger specific responses, like reducing pain or calming anxiety.

There are two main types of receptors:

• CB1 receptors: Found primarily in the brain and central nervous system, but also in organs like the gut.
• CB2 receptors: More abundant in the immune system and involved in regulating inflammation.

When something in your environment, like stress, pain, or injury, throws your body off balance, the ECS jumps into action. It produces endocannabinoids to bring things back to center.

Cannabis and the ECS

Here’s where it gets really interesting: the cannabis plant contains compounds called phytocannabinoids (phyto = plant) that mimic your body’s natural endocannabinoids.

The most well-known phytocannabinoids include:

• CBD (cannabidiol)
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
• CBN (cannabinol)

These plant-based compounds interact with your ECS, helping to supplement its function and support balance, especially when your body’s own system needs a boost.

What Happens When the ECS Is Out of Balance?

Just like any other system, the ECS can become deficient or underactive. This condition is sometimes referred to as Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD), and may contribute to a wide range of issues like:

• Chronic inflammation
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood imbalances
• Digestive problems

Why does CECD happen? It could be that:

• Your body isn’t producing enough endocannabinoids
• There aren’t enough receptors
• Certain enzymes are breaking down cannabinoids too quickly
• Diet, medications, or lifestyle factors are interfering with ECS signaling

That’s where phytocannabinoids come in. Hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD can help restore harmony, supporting the ECS in doing what it does best—keeping you balanced and well.

What This Means for Herbal Works

At Herbal Works, we create products that work with your body—not against it. Our full-spectrum hemp formulas are crafted with intention to support the ECS, promote wellness, and help you feel more like yourself.

We’re not here to mask symptoms—we’re here to help you restore your natural balance.

Because the secret to feeling better?
You already have it inside you.