ABSTRACT
Pain is a universal constant that has plagued humankind since our very beginning. Pain management has been at the forefront of the medical field and opioids are often some of the strongest tools we have when it comes to managing pain. With the understanding of how opioid peptides produced and how they maximized throughout the body, we can investigate the health benefits of binding these receptors. Just as there are three general families of opioid peptides, there are also three major opioid receptors: Mu, Kappa and Delta. Each of these receptors has a different function and different binding characteristics. This chapter covers the production, bioavailability, health benefits, complications and regulations surrounding opioid peptides. We hope this chapter will provide a solid foundation about opioid peptides, their origin, their applications and the drawbacks that arise from their use.
