CBD has shown therapeutic potential in many different areas and has proven specifically beneficial for those suffering from high stress levels. But can CBD help with stress and sex?
Well, to start, in a study focused on ewes, evidence suggested that stressors interfere with precise timings of reproductive hormone release within the follicular stage. Not only that, but in another study on mice, it was found that the corticosterone hormone blocks ovarian cyclicity, which then results in the suppression of the hormones responsible for getting you ‘in the mood’.
When it comes to stress, CBD seems to have you covered. CBD has been found to have potent anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) effects, with some studies suggesting that CBD enhances 5-HT1A transmission, a subtype serotonin receptor, and may affect serotonin faster than the antidepressant and anxiolytic pharmaceutical drugs currently on the market.
For those suffering from stress and anxiety related issues causing low libido, this is very welcome news! Though these studies are still at preclinical phases and have not been tested on human subjects, anecdotal evidence suggests that these studies have hit the mark on human counterparts as well; with less stress, the mind can relax, becoming more amenable to acts of intimacy.
The simplest way to use CBD in this scenario is by taking high quality CBD oil orally, so that it's rapidly absorbed into the body and takes effect quickly.
How does CBD work on stress and sex?
The brain has two connected systems that regulate sexual desire: the sexual inhibition system (SIS) and the sexual excitation system (SES). These systems interact with each other and are responsible for generating desire and feelings of intimacy or shutting down your libido.
They work as a counterbalance, and so when one is offset, the other takes over. But, when you pile stress and anxiety into the equation, things get a little more difficult. As the SIS inhibits desire, stress and anxiety can make it even more difficult for the SES to take over.
One study that focussed on women aged 19-35 suggested that an increase in distraction led to a decrease in sexual arousal. Although this particular study found no direct correlation between stress and sex drive, what is interesting is that distraction of any kind, whether mental or physical, did show significant influence on a woman’s ability to become ‘turned on’.
Whether its decreasing stress levels or being less distracted, CBD works for both. CBD acts as a neuroprotectant by reducing oxidative damage in the brain while also stimulating the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This, in turn, initiates the repair of damaged neurons and the growth of new neurons, as well as generating cerebral blood flow, allowing the brain to produce clearer and more focussed thought. With less distraction and enhanced cognition, focusing on you and your partners needs in the bedroom will be far less daunting and much more rewarding
Though high stress levels may cause low libido, chronic inflammation and pain has been counted as one of the major factors for people not engaging in sex, dragging sufferers through a perverse cycle of distress, anxiety and depression as a result.
Problems that chronic pain and inflammation sufferers may face in the bedroom can be due to the medication they take to manage their inflammation and the associated pain, which causes low libido, mood disorders and of course sex stress, which involves doubts about not being able to perform as a consequence of pain.
One of the better known therapeutic benefits of CBD is its ability to moderate both chronic inflammation and chronic pain. A study published in the Journal Rheumatology by Dr. Sheng-Ming Dai of China’s Second Military Medical University found that CB2 receptors, which are endocannabinoid receptors in the body, are found in unusually high levels in the joint tissue of arthritis patients.
The use of cannabis and CBD oil has been shown to fight inflammation by activating the pathways of CB2 receptors. Not only that, but a 2008 review that assessed how well CBD worked on chronic pain relief suggested that when used in tandem with THC, it was quite effective in pain management without any adverse side effects.Seemingly, CBD not only dims the effects of pain and inflammation, but allows what mental distress encountered from pain symptoms to deteriorate, permitting a far more relaxed and comfortable sexual experience as a result.
