Anandamide is a type of endocannabinoid — a natural cannabinoid made by the human body. Its scientific name is N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), and the two terms are used interchangeably.
Anandamide attaches to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the body, as well as other channels linked to functions like mood, pain, and anxiety. Because of this, it plays a role in processes such as stress response, emotional balance, and how we experience discomfort.
What is the link between anandamide and medical cannabis?
Anandamide is sometimes called the body’s “natural cannabis” because it works in a similar way to plant cannabinoids. Both anandamide and compounds in medical cannabis act on cannabinoid receptors, which helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, pain, and other important functions.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the main cannabinoids in cannabis, can bind to the same receptors in the body as anandamide (mainly CB1 and CB2). This is why THC can influence things like mood, appetite, and pain. Cannabidiol (CBD), another key cannabinoid, does not bind to these receptors in the same way, but it may help anandamide stay active in the body for longer by slowing down the enzyme that normally breaks it down.
In this way, medical cannabis can sometimes enhance or complement the activity of the body’s own endocannabinoids like anandamide. Research is ongoing, and the exact role of anandamide and cannabinoids in health is still being studied.
