Saffron and Ginkgo Rollercoaster

[nickwarrior5]

This happens every time I take Saffron, especially with Ginkgo. At first it helps my libido, then the saffron overtime numbs my emotions, my penis, and my libido. Once I get off the saffron and continue the Ginkgo, I get insane euphoria and libido for two weeks at least.

Last cycle when I stopped Ginkgo and did saffron right after my libido was through the roof and had zero anhedonia for two weeks before the numbness happened again with saffron. When I stopped it and did Ginkgo, I had zero anhedonia again. I'm not sure what's causing the rollercoaster.

I read that Saffron is a 5ht1a agonist on some studies as well as a 5ht2c antagonist. 5ht2c has atypical properties of downregulate. I assume the 5ht2c is being downregulated cause my hunger is increased every saffron cycle. I also read studies on Ginkgo helping 5ht1a. I might be causing high 5ht1a and low 5ht2c only sometimes, causing the libido surge ocassionaly. Saffron being a agonist of 5ht1a would help then hurt overtime.

Edit: Also want to add that I take schisandra everyday.

[nickwarrior5]

Here's the studies:

Saffron and 5ht1a/5ht2a: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9783496/

Saffron and 5ht2c: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/do ... .2021.6669

5ht2c atypical downregulation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12650852/

Ginkgo and 5ht1a in aged rats: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8051617 ... 20membrane.

[nickwarrior5]

Update: When I lower schisandra dose, the saffron works better for my anhedonia. Due to 5ht2c potential modulation by schisandra, it lowered the saffron 5ht2c antangonist. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20804838/

[nickwarrior5]

Update: When I exercise then take saffron, my libido is through the roof again. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sy ... 67420/full

[Llonyddwch]

Hi Nickwarrior5,
Its interesting to read bout that. I'm experimenting with saffron too with very good results.
Let me see if I got it right: you take saffron with ginkgo, it works for some time then numbs you, right? How long does it take to do that?
Then when that happens you stop the saffron and continue the ginkgo or the other way? (Your scond paragraph confuses me a bit)

[nickwarrior5]

Hi Nickwarrior5,
Its interesting to read bout that. I'm experimenting with saffron too with very good results.
Let me see if I got it right: you take saffron with ginkgo, it works for some time then numbs you, right? How long does it take to do that?
Then when that happens you stop the saffron and continue the ginkgo or the other way? (Your scond paragraph confuses me a bit)

It takes a couple to few weeks for the numbing to happen. Happens on saffron without ginkgo for me. When I stop saffron then continue with Ginkgo and schisandra, after few days, I get high libido again. I take schisandra just one dose(two pills) of the Nature's Way everyday too.

Saffron + Schisandra Nature's Way(one dose a day) with/without Ginkgo for couple to few weeks feel good. Then it's numb. Then Ginkgo + Schisandra after few days feel good then numb after a week.

[Llonyddwch]

I see...
I'm taking saffron. Its been aprox. a month and up to now everything is working very good. I'll be paying attention if something like that happens to me. Sounds as if the body tries to compensate the effect and stabilize in the low libido status (I haven't tried ginkgo. Not sure about schizandra, I think I did and nothing happened)

[nickwarrior5]

I see...
I'm taking saffron. Its been aprox. a month and up to now everything is working very good. I'll be paying attention if something like that happens to me. Sounds as if the body tries to compensate the effect and stabilize in the low libido status (I haven't tried ginkgo. Not sure about schizandra, I think I did and nothing happened)

Recently I found even just one day off brings back the magic. Might just be simple of saffron induced anemia, not sure. I will be happy if this continues working, works better even without schisandra I think recently. Not sure if its normal too but works better every cycle I think.

[Llonyddwch]

I'll try to get some ginkgo too and see what happens.
What form and dose do you take?

[nickwarrior5]

I'll try to get some ginkgo too and see what happens.
What form and dose do you take?

Life extension ginkgo. Non affiliated link https://www.iherb.com/pr/life-extension ... gLAX_D_BwE