Cracked Pepper for Cracked Bones and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

I have written previously on the terpene chemical compound beta-caryophyllene (trans-caryophyllene) that is contained in black pepper and how it activates the CB2 receptor in the ECS (endocannabinoid system). CB2 receptors are abundant in the immune system and have been shown to be involved in inflammation and pain response. CB2 receptors do not produce the 'euphoric high' that CB1 receptors do.

So, technical jargon aside, black pepper has a chemical called beta-caryophyllene that activates the ECS in such a way that it has been shown to play a role in the formation of bones and the maintenance of normal bone mass. Since beta-caryophyllene binds to the CB2 receptor and is an FDA approved food additive, it is the first recognized cannabinoid dietary supplement.

The ECS plays many roles in the human body and there are more discoveries everyday. The targeting of these receptors will lead to more and more pharmacological solutions that target these receptors specifically with the right combination of cannabinoids (cannabis like substances) and or terpenoids.

There is a good amount of anecdotal evidence that black pepper helps to relieve anxiety as well. Is it the pepper itself that relieves anxiety or is it the activation of the CB2 receptor? Remember, it is not the cannabis as much as the receptors the cannabis activates that elicits varied responses in the body.