After you’ve consumed CBD, it will begin to interact with your endocannabinoid system or ECS. This system wasn’t discovered until the 1990s, yet it impacts several major processes in the body.

The ECS has three components:

1. Endocannabinoids — substances that complement the body by keeping internal functions running smoothly
2. Receptors — substances to which endocannabinoids bind that exist throughout the body; and 
3. Enzymes — two types of which break down endocannabinoids.

These parts function regardless of CBD use, but it’s the relationship between the endocannabinoids and receptors that lead to us understanding the effects of CBD on your body.

There are two types of receptors:

1. CB1 — located mainly in the central nervous system and responsible for coordination, movement, pain, appetite, memory, and mood.
2. CB2 — located in the peripheral nervous system, these receptors influence pain and inflammation.

After the enzymes break down the endocannabinoids they activate the receptors, which allows for many of the health benefits that people associate with CBD.

This is why CBD can influence a variety of conditions, whether emotional or physical.