Anandamides are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that binds to the THC receptors. It’s been called the “bliss molecule,” aptly named after Anandaa, the Sanskrit word for “joy, bliss, or happiness.” Anandamides are considered to be endocannabinoids — substances which are produced in the body that bind to cannabinoid receptors.
Anandamide is synthesized in areas of the brain that are important in memory, motivation, higher thought processes, and movement control. It plays an important role in pain, appetite, and fertility. It also helps put the brakes on cancer cell proliferation by increasing neurogenesis which is the formation of new nerve cells, anandamide exhibits both anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. Anandamide, like all neurotransmitters, are fragile and break down quickly in the body, which is why it doesn’t produce a perpetual state of bliss.