“Anandamide... the 'bliss' molecule
Anandamide is a molecule which acts as a neurotransmitter, and which has a structure very similar to that of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active constituent of cannabis. It is messenger molecule that plays a role in many bodily activities, including appetite, memory, pain, depression, and fertility - hence its name, which is derived from the word 'ananda' which means 'extreme delight' or 'bliss' in the Sanskrit language. Anandamide's discovery may lead to the development of an entirely new family of therapeutic drugs.
Why does it work?
For many years scientists wondered why compounds such as morphine, which were derived from plants, should have a biological effect on humans. They reasoned that there must be a receptor in the brain that morphine could bind to. But the question was why should the human brain have a receptor specific to a molecule from a plant? Unless...the brain had its own morphine-like molecule, and the receptors were meant for them - morphine just happened to 'look like' the brain's molecule and so had a similar effect. These morphine-like molecules were eventually discovered, and called enkephalins, the body's natural painkillers.”
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Anandamide: The Brain’s Own Marijuana
Can also be found in dark chocolate