Endocannabinoids are your body’s home-made cannabinoids – chemicals you produce yourself to help keep things balanced. They’re part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which scientists describe as a signalling system involved in things like mood, sleep, appetite, temperature control and more.
Instead of sitting around waiting, endocannabinoids are made on demand. Your body creates them when they’re needed, they deliver their “message”, and then specific enzymes break them down. It’s a built-in “send → deliver → delete” system.
You’ll most often see two names:
Anandamide (AEA) – sometimes nicknamed the “bliss molecule” in popular science.
2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol) – another key endocannabinoid involved in ECS signalling.
Don’t worry about spelling them; what matters is understanding that your body already has its own cannabinoid toolkit.
Endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors (mainly CB1 and CB2) scattered around the body. Together with the enzymes that break them down, this forms the ECS:
Endocannabinoids = messages
Receptors = “locks” the messages fit into
Enzymes = clean-up crew
The ECS is thought to help maintain homeostasis, i.e. keeping internal conditions within a healthy range even when the outside world is doing its thing.
CBD isn’t an endocannabinoid – it’s a phytocannabinoid (plant cannabinoid) from hemp. But people talk about CBD in the context of endocannabinoids and the ECS because:
The ECS is involved in many bodily processes
CBD is being researched for how it may influence parts of this system, rather than replace it
So when you see brands mention “supporting your endocannabinoid system”, they’re really talking about your existing biology, not something CBD magically creates.
On a site like Strain Station, “endocannabinoid” is mainly a background education term. It gives context for:
Why people build CBD oil routines (same time, same amount)
Why different people can respond differently to the same CBD product
Why we talk about “balance” rather than wild miracle claims
Are endocannabinoids the same as CBD?
No – endocannabinoids are made by your body; CBD is made by the hemp plant.
Can CBD “boost” my endocannabinoids?
Research is ongoing. What we can say safely: CBD interacts with the wider ECS, but we’re not making medical promises.
Do endocannabinoids get you high?
They’re natural signalling molecules. The ECS is about regulation and homeostasis, not getting “stoned”.
If my ECS is already working, why use CBD at all?
People are simply exploring CBD as part of their wellness routines – oils, capsules, vapes – and like understanding the ECS story behind it.
Freelance writer
I have always been passionate about natural wellness and innovation in health. As a writer
specializing in CBD and hemp-based products, I decipher and simplify the complex world of cannabinoids and the benefits they can offer.
