The human endocrine system is comprised of a collection of glands that produce and secrete hormones directly into the circulatory system to then be carried to distant organs. The major components of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, hypothalamus, gastrointestinal tract and adrenal glands. The endocrine system is an information signaling system, like the nervous system; yet the mechanisms are classifiably different. The endocrine system's effects are slow to initiate and prolonged in its response, lasting from a few hours up to weeks. The nervous system sends information very quickly and its responses are generally short lived. The hypothalamus is the brain's control center for all endocrine functions and the hypothalamus communicates with the pituitary gland in order to directly release the endocrine hormones in the body. These hormones play critical roles in human health.

 

The endocannabinoid system and the endocrine system interact with one another, and clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) plays a role in diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer.  

​

Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown early promise in the adjunctive management of several common endocrine conditions in the reduction of inflammatory response in both animal and clinical studies. As a result, the following dermatological conditions are currently being researched by scientists exploring the link between reported improvements in these conditions after the adjunctive use of CBD. 

​

• Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder with a strong hereditary component in which blood-glucose levels in the body are too high. There are two forms of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes refers to a condition in which the pancreas does not make insulin, a crucial hormone that helps the body absorb glucose and use it for energy. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and refers to a condition in which the body does not make or use insulin very well. Either type of diabetes can lead to several serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage and diabetic ulcers. The potential benefit of CBD to help reduce insulin resistance, along with it being a hypoglycemic agent to help lower blood sugar levels, suggests that CBD may be beneficial, as a preventative, for individuals at risk for developing diabetes.

​

• Hypothyroidism is a disease that affects the thyroid gland's ability to secrete thyroid hormones, leading to weight gain, fatigue, immune dysfunction and an increased sensitivity to cold. Researchers are exploring the connections between the thyroid-brain communication network and the body's endocannabinoid system. As the research that suggests CBD has a more direct effect of reversing hypothyroidism via CB1 receptors is being further explored, the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD may be used synergistically to help with the effects of thyroid disorders.  ​

​

​