Homeostasis

Nature demands balance.... from the tiny microbiomes (communities of bacteria and other one-celled organisms) to the vast marine ecosystem (largest ecosystem on Earth), balance is crucial for survival. In this article we are going to take a look at Homeostasis and how everything in nature, including our own bodies, is always fighting to achieve balance to live on. 

What is Homeostasis?

The word homeostasis originates from the Greek word 'homeo' meaning similar and 'stasis' meaning standing still & is defined by Merriam Webster as "a relatively stable state of equilibrium or a tendency toward such a state between the different but interdependent elements or groups of elements of an organism, population, or group". The resulting balance is known as Dynamic Equilibrium, which means as external factors change the body works to maintain relatively stable conditions.

In the human body what this means is that without Homeostasis, our cells would die. It can get very very complex, but basically our bodies are constantly monitoring for any changes that need to be brought back into balance. A perfect example is our body's ability to maintain a healthy, consistent temperature.

• If we get a fever, our immune system ramps up and gives us what we need to bring it back down
• If we overheat, our sweat glands go to work to cool us back down
• If we get too cold, our bodies will shiver to produce heat

There are 3 primary components to homeostasis

1. Receptors: Structures in the body that detect changes in the internal or external environment
2. Control Center: The control center is typically the brain or endocrine system and it processes the information sent by the receptors to determine the appropriate response
3. Effectors: Organs or cells that execute the response assigned by the control center, hence restoring balance

The most popular example of this process is the regulation of our blood sugars.  The receptors in the pancreas detect a rise in blood sugar, the beta cells of the pancreas asses the information from the receptors to determine the necessary response to restore the system to balance by releasing insulin into the blood stream.  The increase in insulin triggers the effectors (liver and muscle cells) to increase uptake of sugars from the blood, ultimately lowering the blood sugar and restoring balance. 

The microbiomes within our bodies are an absolute gold mine of examples of homeostasis. We have a plethora of microbes within our bodies that are in constant fluctuation depending on the state of our body and what we put into it. When we consume bad bacteria, our body gets to work purging it in many ways... vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, etc. are our body's way of restoring balance. This microbiome is established at birth for those of us who are born vaginally. A baby born vaginally gets in essence it's first inoculation when traveling through the birth canal. Exposure to this beneficial bacteria early in life is crucial to the development of a healthy immune system. Babies born via C-Section have been associated with an increased risk of developing immune system disorders and metabolic diseases. C-Section babies swabbed with microbes from thier mothers birth canal has shown promise of helping to restore the infants microbiome. Infants also get beneficial microbes when breastfed giving them much needed gut flora.

Examples of balance in nature and how important that balance is

1. Predator vs. Prey: Predator and prey populations ebb and flow and follow a cycle. When the food for prey decreases prey population decreases, predator populations also decrease due to lack of food. When prey populations begin to increase, predators have more food to feed their young - increasing the predator populations. This continues in a cycle of environmental balance
2. Deforestation: A heavy decrease in forest flora leads to drought, drought causes a decrease in food sources, which leads to death and can lead to a complete extension of a species. 
3. Water Cycle: The sun takes water from large bodies of water, the water falls to the earth & waters the plants, excess water goes back into the large bodes of water.... and so on and so on
4. Plants: Plants go to great lengths to maintain homeostasis. For example, sunflowers "turn their heads" following the sun to maximize photosynthesis. Another great example is the fight plants face against gravity. They put down roots with the gravitational pull, while at the same time pushing their shoots up against it.
5. Animal microbiome: All I can say about this one is thank goodness that we humans are born with the proper bugs we need to maintain homeostasis in the gut. Some young animals eat the feces of their parents to obtain and maintain their microbiome... YUK!

No matter how you look at it, my first statement stands very true.... Nature. Demands. Balance. Your Endocannabinoid Systems only job is to promote and maintain balance and it needs cannabinoids to function properly. You do not have to have some sort of "ailment" to need cannabinoids like CBD, your body is designed to run on it. It's all about that Homeostasis! 

 

 

 

 

*The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require this notice.