Saffron, Stress and Sex

Stress related disorders such as depression and anxiety are leading sources of disability, and there is also a direct lifestyle connection between stress and sex.  Stress prevents us from getting in the mood for sex. It undermines our desires and appetite for sex, and worse it affects our ability to perform sexually. The underlying basis for this is found in the adrenal gland’s increase of the stress-related hormonal secretions; cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, and the corresponding reductions in the sexual stimulating hormones; testosterone and estrogen in both men and women. This results in the physiological changes observed, which include reduced arousal responses, reduced blood dilation and arterial blood flow in sexual regions, and in women – often dramatic changes in their ovulation and menstrual cycles. Prolonged stress may lead to chronic levels of Cortisol, increased levels of cytokines, weakened immune systems and healing responses with the heightened risk of developing serious, chronic diseases.

Stress is extremely harmful to those people who experience it frequently. This can often compound into viscous stress-sex cycles, as the inability to become sexually aroused or to sexually perform only deepens the existing levels of stress, and the resulting sexual relationship. This is especially pronounced in men and in their reported erectile dysfunction clinical reports. Anything we can do to reduce our stress, anxiety, and to improve our moods, directly improves our sexual appetite and our ability to enjoy our sexual experiences.

Saffron does just that. It reduces stress, anxiety and depression. It also improves both mood and sexual appetite. We believe that Saffron should be included in our western diets as a natural and safe natural plant product that lowers the incidence of these stress-sex cycles.