The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a homeostatic regulator of neurotransmitter activity and almost every other physiological system in the body.

Its name derives from cannabis, the plant that produces cannabinoids (tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, caryophyllene, and others), and whose investigation elucidated the myriad functions of the ECS.

In the past two decades, additional research has discovered that many other plant foods and herbs modulate the ECS directly and indirectly. Advancing this knowledge may have important implications for human health and nutrition.