Each May, Mental Health Month encourages us to reflect on the emotional well-being of society and its impact on daily life. For professionals in health and nutrition, it represents a key moment to ask: What do people really need to feel better? How can we deliver value through science-driven formulation?
This article explores three essential pillars of emotional discomfort today: stress, anxiety, and sleep.
🧠 Stress: a chronic baseline in modern life
What once was an acute response has become a persistent state: millions worldwide live under chronic stress. A 2021 international survey revealed that 35% of adults report high levels of perceived stress (Sibley et al., 2021).
Prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disrupts immune, hormonal, and metabolic systems (McEwen, 2007). Understanding these pathways is crucial for creating nutrition and botanical strategies that target stress in a safe and effective way.
🧠 Anxiety: an invisible but tangible burden
Anxiety disorders affect hundreds of millions globally, making them the most widespread mental health condition (GBD 2019). Though not always visible, their consequences are evident: reduced concentration, physical discomfort, digestive issues, and overall decline in quality of life.
Research links anxiety to overactivity in the amygdala, altered GABA signaling, and imbalances in serotonin pathways (Ressler & Nemeroff, 2000). These insights are driving demand for natural, non-sedative solutions that support resilience and emotional balance.
🧠 Sleep: the underestimated foundation of emotional health
Insomnia and poor sleep quality affect 10–30% of the population, with up to 10% living with chronic insomnia (Bhaskar et al., 2016). Lack of sleep doesn’t just reduce energy—it also worsens mood and accelerates cognitive decline.
Science shows that sleep actively supports neuroplasticity, emotional memory consolidation, and metabolic detoxification via the glymphatic system (Xie et al., 2013). Recognizing sleep as a cornerstone of emotional well-being is essential in modern formulation design.
🔬 Science applied to formulation
At Pharmactive, our research bridges emotional health, neurobiology, and phytotherapy. This work has led to clinically validated solutions such as Affron®, a saffron extract standardized to ≥3.5% Lepticrosalides® and supported by over 10 clinical trials on stress, low mood, and sleep quality.
For example, in a controlled trial, perimenopausal women taking Affron® for 12 weeks experienced significant improvements in low mood and occasional stress—without hormonal side effects (Lopresti et al., 2022).
Our mission as formulation partners goes beyond supplying ingredients: we share science, insight, and a holistic perspective on emotional wellness. Because understanding comes first—only then can we formulate with purpose.
📚 References
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Sibley CG, et al. PLoS One. 2021;16(10):e0257059.
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McEwen BS. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;583(2-3):174–85.
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Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. GBD 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204–1222.
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Ressler KJ, Nemeroff CB. Depress Anxiety. 2000;12 Suppl 1:2–19.
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Bhaskar S, et al. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780–784.
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Xie L, et al. Science. 2013;342(6156):373–377.
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Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. J Menopausal Med. 2022;28(3):145–152.
