What Are The Benefits Of Saffron
Saffron is a powerful medicinal herb because it contains more than 150 chemical compounds, some of which can have a big impact on health, says Yelena Deshko, a naturopathic doctor and family practitioner based in Toronto.
Here are some of the science-backed health benefits of saffron:
Improves mood and fights depression
“Saffron is most well-known and most well-researched for its positive effects on mood,” Deshko says. In fact, some research suggests that saffron may help stave off depression.
- A 2019 medical review that included nine studies of the effect of saffron on mild to moderate depression found that the spice had a “significant effect” on reducing the severity of depression.
- Another 2019 medical review found that saffron was comparable to SSRIs, the first-line treatment for depression. Researchers found that pharmacological doses of saffron, in dried, extract, and encapsulated forms, seem to regulate neurotransmitters, including serotonin, the same neurotransmitter that SSRIs aim to increase in the brain.
Reduces inflammation and acts as an antioxidant
Bishara says that saffron contains several antioxidants including:
Antioxidants help reduce and prevent cell damage and lower the risk of certain diseases. In saffron’s case, its antioxidant properties help it to reduce inflammation, a condition that is linked to a host of diseases.
These chemicals can help protect the body from many illnesses, Bishara says, including:
Affects sexual and reproductive health
A Safer Alternative For Managing Depression
About 90% of patients taking antidepressant medications experience at least one adverse side effect such as suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Compelling new findings indicate that saffron is equally as effective as certain medications in treating depressionbut without the unwanted side effects. In addition, saffron can safely treat other mood disorders including anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder .
Scientifically reviewed by Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in May 2022. Written by: Michael Downey, Health & Wellness Author.
More Americans suffer from depression today than ever before. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control reveal that 1 in 10 US adults say they are suffering from depression,1 and by 2020, depression is expected to be the worlds second-leading cause of disability.2
But within this tragedy is another.
In the words of one 2013 study, this problem continues to escalate after more than half a century of modern psychopharmacology, with billions of dollars spent on antidepressants annually world-wide.3 Over the last 25 years, the use of antidepressant medication in the US has gone up 400%,4 and 11% of Americans aged 12 years and over now take antidepressant medication.4
In fact, while antidepressants often lose their efficacy over the course of treatment,12 their sexual side effects can continue long aftereven years afterdrug use is discontinued!9
Safety And Toxicity Of Saffron
According to Bostan et al., generally, the therapeutic doses of saffron exhibited no significant toxicity in both clinical and experimental investigations. In double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Ayatollahi et al., the result showed that on saffron tablet treatment for 1 week, no adverse effect as coagulation was reported. The safety of saffron and crocin in patients with schizophrenia was investigated as well by Mousavi et al. in a clinical trial. The dosage of 15 mg twice daily of saffron and crocin reported no toxic effects on kidney, liver, thyroid, and hematologic system.
As a herb supplement, it is also important to know whether it can be used safely in pregnancy. Teratogenicity test has been conducted on more than 4000 chemical substances, and results revealed that 65% were nonteratogenic. Also, the results showed that approximately 7% in more than one species and 18% in most species were a teratogen.
Hosseini et al. tested teratogenicity of aqueous extract of saffron with different doses of 0.8%, 0.4%, and 0.2% in laboratory bred strain of albino mice. The study reported morphological abnormalities such as reduction of tail length, biparietal diameter, mean fetal weight, and placental weight and diameter in gestational period. In addition, increasing mortality rate was reported as well. Saffron extracts elevated the number of a resorbed fetuses of the tested group relative to control group in dose-dependent pattern.
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How Does Saffron Feel
Many neurohackers report supplementing with Saffron has helped them stop eating junk food, avoid nighttime snacking, and theyre no longer obsessed with thinking about food all the time.
Saffron has been proven to help with Age-Related Macular Degeneration . Vision may be sharper. And you can see a line or two further down the Snellen chart at your next eye appointment.
Glare from headlights during nighttime driving and flicker from monitors is no longer a problem.
You may experience an improvement in mood when supplementing with Saffron. No longer over-reacting, and work-related stress now feels like you are again in control.
Many neurohackers report an increase in energy and better libido with Saffron.
Feeling tired and emotional is a thing of the past. Youre back to your bright, positive, happy self!
A Look At The Research
Scientists are still figuring out the mechanisms of action on how saffron benefits the mind, but it may activate certain neurotransmitter pathways, reduce inflammation in the brain, and support the growth and survival of our neurons.
Saffron may increase the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs, which is the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants.
A 2015 randomized trial had 40 patients with major depressive disorder take an SSRI with either crocin tablets or placebo tablets for 4 weeks.
While both groups experienced improvements in mood and quality of life by the end of the trial, those who took crocin had greater improvements in all of these measures.8
So far, the research appears to be consistent in showing the benefits of saffron flower petals or stigma threads as an effective supplement for improving mood.
A 2019 review and meta-analysis of 11 studies suggests that use of dried saffron or saffron extract for 6 to 8 weeks was significantly better than a placebo at improving mood-related symptoms and was generally equivalent to the standard treatment.9
While most of the research on the mood-enhancing benefits of saffron are focused on depression, there is evidence that saffron may be effective for other mental health issues as well.
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How To Use Saffron
Saffron flower petals look like thin, red threads. Soak a few threads in hot water to make saffron tea, or mix the liquid into savory dishes for flavor. And be prepared for the price its one of the most expensive spices in the world.
You can also purchase saffron capsules to swallow if you dont like the flavor. But before taking any supplements, ask your healthcare provider if its safe for you. Some supplements can have unwanted side effects, especially if youre pregnant, taking medications or have any health conditions.
Saffron is usually safe when people use small amounts in cooking or as a tea, says Czerwony. Its also packed with antioxidants, so we know it has health benefits. Before taking saffron, however, check with your provider to be sure its safe for you.
Where To Get Saffron
For me personally, I am still trying to locate a reputable source for the pistils and petals to make a tincture but until then I have been using the Life Extension capsule saffron.
- Saffr Activ ® is an extract derived from the red stigma of the saffron. It comes in liquid and tablets. It is NOT available in the US. If you are outside the US and have used this brand or will try this brand, I would love to hear your results with the product.
- Other products are based on roughly 88.5 mg. tablets of saffron extract standardized to a minimum of .3% safranal . These products are touted on weight loss and decreased snacking.
- Consumerlabs.com is a good site to use to check if a product has the ingredients is says it has on the label. For herbs, many generic products seem to not have what it says on the label. When in doubt, purchase a quality brand and not a big box store brand when it comes to herbs.
- Know what parts of the herb are used: Saffron pistils and petals have shown to help depression in studies. When I researched products, some say they contain leaf and stem. This would be a waste of your money
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Method Of Analysis Of Saffron
Several analytical methods have been developed for the systematic separation and quantification of saffron metabolites. Several methodologies have been reported using different analytical tools to analyze the bioactive constituents of saffron, that is, picrocrocin, safranal, and crocin. UV-vis spectrometry method is recommended by the International Standardization Organization to characterize the quality of saffron. The technique has been used for quality and stability studies of saffron, whereby the process is considered to be appropriate for recognizing the taste, color, and flavor of the spice . However, this method is not suitable for the identification and quantification of each component of saffron extract. This is because the technique is not specific and cannot adequately separate. Hence, because of mentioned reasons, the advanced stationary phases of analytical and preparative methods have been developed such as high-performance liquid chromatography , gel column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, multilayer coil counter current chromatography with silica gel, aluminum oxide, and Sephadex LH-20.
Tarantilis et al. and Tarantilis and Polissiou in their studies reported other analytical methods such as reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled together with mass spectrometry and photodiode array detector, and for the detection of volatile compounds, gas chromatography with mass spectrometer .
May Act As An Aphrodisiac
Aphrodisiacs are foods or supplements that help boost your libido. Studies have shown that saffron may have aphrodisiac properties especially in people taking antidepressants.
For instance, taking 30 mg of saffron daily over 4 weeks significantly improved erectile function over a placebo in men with antidepressant-related erectile dysfunction .
In women with low sexual desire due to taking antidepressants, 30 mg of saffron daily over 4 weeks reduced sex-related pain and increased sexual desire and lubrication, compared with a placebo .
Summary
Saffron may have aphrodisiac properties for both men and women and may especially help those taking antidepressants.
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Galvanic Skin Response And Heart Rate
Galvanic skin response and heart rate were measured using the Vilistus Digital Sampling Unit . The GSR sensors, which measured relative changes in skin conductance, were attached to the middle and forth fingertips of the participants’ non-dominant hand using Velcro straps. The HR sensor clip, which measured blood volume pulse, was placed on the tip of the index finger or thumb of the non-dominant hand. These sensors were attached at least 1 min prior to the commencement of recording to allow for stabilization of the readings. The unit measured at a rate of 32 or 128 samples per second for GSR and HR, respectively. The software that accompanies this device also calculates a number of HRV measures including root mean square of the successive differences HRV index , pnn50 , and a stress index . No sensitivity data were provided by the manufacturer however this device has been successfully used by our lab and others in the assessment of changes in electrodermal activity in response to an intervention .
Treatment Compliance And Tolerance Blinding And Baseline Differences
There were no significant between-group differences on any baseline demographic measure . Overall compliance, assessed by pill count, was excellent a t-test confirmed that compliance was not significantly different between the treatment groups . Success of blinding was confirmed via treatment guess at the end of the study. Fifty-two percent of participants in the placebo group and 41% of participants in the saffron group believed they had received placebo. Chi-squared analysis confirmed this to be a non-significant difference . A lack of any between-group differences on the satisfaction questionnaire indicated that participants who received saffron found the product to be as tolerable as the placebo, and a similar number of adverse events were reported by each group .
Day 1 between-group differences were analyzed for the pre-OMS questionnaire and GSR outcomes. Results indicated that participants who received saffron had significantly higher religious coping and positive reinterpretation coping on the COPE questionnaire before treatment.
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Reasons To Drink Saffron Tea For Your Depression/anxiety
Remember when it was just the normal stressors of life keeping you awake at night? Right. We cant remember either.
As the world continues to get back to normal, we get how truly difficult that might actually be. According to a study done by Good RX, depression and anxiety continue to rise to an all-time high and more prescription drugs were filled in 2020 than ever before.
But there is hope! And that hope can be found in saffron tea with its unique benefits. Heres why saffron tea might be able to help mellow out those everyday stressors the natural way:
1. Saffron has natural antidepressant effects that were even comparable to prescription antidepressants , but is a completely natural alternative. Translation: Saffron doesnt make you feel like youre taking crazy pills, but can curb depression/anxiety all the same? #winning
2. Saffron tea is a great coffee alternative.
3. Saffron is an all-natural mood booster. When you consume saffron, it changes the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain aka helps keep your mood balanced.So feel free to sip away towards a good mood!
4. Saffron can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle built for longevity.
*Disclaimer: This cannot replace professional treatment. If you have severe sleep/anxiety/psychological troubles please consult your physician.
How To Use It
One simple way to supplement a meal with saffron is to add a few strands to a cup of hot water. Doing this pulls most of the flavor from the saffron. A person can then add both the water and saffron to a savory dish at the end of cooking.
Saffron is also becoming more available as a supplement, generally in the form of powdered stigmas in capsules. It is important to read the instructions on the packaging and speak to a doctor before taking any new supplements.
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Table : Compilation Of Clinical Trials On The Use Of Saffron In Depression
15 mg BID vs. fluoxetine 20 mg
Remission and partial response rates almost identical between the two groups
SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors HDRS: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale BDI: Beck’s Depression Inventory
In even more recent studies, this trend of efficacy of saffron in treatment of depression continues. A 2016 12-week, placebo-controlled study by Mazidi et al included 60 adult patients and used a slightly higher dose of saffron at 50 mg daily. Significant lowering of depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory was noted.14 Talaie et al looked specifically at crocin as an adjunctive treatment to an SSRI in 40 patients and found statistically significant score improvement on the BDI after four weeks when compared with placebo.15 A 2017 study by Kashani et al compared saffron to fluoxetine in the treatment of postpartum depression over six weeks although the number of participants was low, the results suggested equal efficacy of the two agents.16
Is There A Role For Saffron Phytotherapy In Treating Depression
Patients often have questions concerning integrative therapeutic modalities, and it is important to know the existing evidence as well as limitations of current research.
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BRIEF COMMUNICATION
The field of integrative psychiatry is rapidly expanding, fueled in part by patients seeking natural remedies over conventional pharmaceuticals. A 2010 survey demonstrates that the majority of integrative medicine visits involve a mental health condition, of which depression is the most common.1 As psychiatrists trained in Western medicine, we are disconnected from such therapeutic modalities and their evidence basis, often struggling to provide appropriate psychoeducation to our patients. Here, we adopted an open-minded approach and examined the evidence behind the use of saffron in patients with depressive disorders.
Saffron is the dried stigma of the crocus sativa plant and has been used in Eastern medicine for centuries for various ailments including mood.2 Cultivation of the stigmas, which contain the components believed to have therapeutic properties, is extremely labor intensive. Stigmas contain 4 bioactive compounds: crocins and crocetins, which are responsible for the characteristic deep yellow color of saffron picrocrocin, responsible for the characteristic bitter taste and safranin, responsible for the hay-like aroma.3 These compounds exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, serotonergic, neuroendocrine, and neuroprotective effects.
Clinical bottom line
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Uses Of Saffron For Treating Depression:
The miraculous saffron strands can be used in many different ways for healing anxiety, depression and uplifting the mood. Some of the proven therapeutic uses of saffron are
- Red-colored saffron, when mixed in lukewarm milk, can not only improve your mood, but also will give your skin a sparkling glow.
- Sniffing the healing aura of this unique spice, by mixing its extract or essential oil in lukewarm water. Will give your mind a soothing feel.
- The addition of saffron strands in your everyday routine, for an extended period will help you get rid of your anti-depressant medications.
- Adding some saffron strands in your diet, will help you stay fragrant and happy all day long.
Saffron can help depressed people
Several online stores, including Qaenatare delivering this unique spice at your doorstep. So order your premium saffron products today and start living a fragrant and refreshing life.
Mental health and wellbeing are essential aspects of human life. Unfortunately, patients suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health-related problems, struggle to find a magic pill, that can heal their symptoms throughout their lives.
While saffron is not a substitute for allopathic drugs. A Growing body of evidence indicates that its addition to ones routine, helps relieve the adverse symptoms of mental health disorders.
So, take your life under your control and give this natural mood reliever a try to help heal your mental faculties.