Dr. Greg Gerdeman, PhD, is a pioneer in researching the endocannabinoid system's physiology. In this episode, he describes cannabinoids as the 'first responders' of herbal medicine. Greg researched the ECS for over 20 years, and talks about cannabis as a gateway to understanding the roots of our biological evolution and how we can learn to change our health's narrative with this knowledge. He clears up over-simplifications of the ECS, which he sees as a complex conductor of a ‘symphony of biological interaction.’ Common misinformation is spread unwittingly through popular demand for sound-byte explanations.

As a Ph.D. student, he discovered that endocannabinoids act as "retrograde messengers" to regulate synaptic plasticity in the brain, findings that have become foundational to a modern understanding of the ECS and the neuroprotective actions of cannabinoids. He later co-directed research on exercise-mediated endocannabinoid signaling, revealing new insights into the "runner's high" and its evolutionary roles in exercise's neurological benefits.

As a college professor, his lab focused on the ancient evolutionary origins of cannabinoid receptors. Upon co-founding a medical cannabis company in Florida, he directed scientific activities at every level of the supply chain, ranging from integrative pest management to product development to physician education. He is Chief Scientific Officer of UCANN and a voluntary Assistant Professor at the USF College of Pharmacy.

Instagram quotes:
"The endocannabinoid system has liberated cannabis from the drug abuse paradigm into the wellness paradigm. "

Cannabis Voices Cannabis Voices, May 2020 Greg Gerdeman ECS
Min 103:12. Personalized medicine and testing to help targeted approaches.

Useful links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrGerdeman/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganjanesh/

Research, articles and books as referenced within this podcast.
https://www.projectcbd.org/science/brain-science-endocannabinoid-system-greg-gerdeman
projectcbd.org/science/endocannabinoid-system-and-biology-wellness
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gregory_Gerdeman
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226385957_The_Endocannabinoid_System_in_the_Physiology_and_Pathology_of_the_Basal_Ganglia
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227031210_Endocannabinoids_at_the_Synapse_Retrograde_Signaling_and_Presynaptic_Plasticity_in_the_Brain
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Cannabis-Evolution-Endocannabinoid-Cannabinoids/dp/1510751866

To learn more about plants & your health from Colleen at LabAroma check out this informative PDF: https://www.labaroma-education.com/pl/2147628476

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor if you are in need of medical care, and before making any changes to your health routine.