What Is Saffron Saffron Benefits & Recipes To Try
Saffron is one of the most valuable and expensive spices known worldwide, thanks to its color, flavor and medicinal properties. What medicinal properties, you may ask? The list is extensive and continues to grow.
As one of the most important herbs and spices in the world and top 14 herbs of the Bible, experimentation is underway when it comes to exploring the new potential for this versatile spice a spice thats been shown to boost the heart, mind and more for centuries.
Saffron typically comes in very small quantities because its so pricey. Why is saffron so expensive? Youre about to find out!
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
Risks And Side Effects
Saffron is generally safe for most people when taken by mouth as a medicine for up to six weeks. Possible side effects may include anxiety, change in appetite, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea and headache.
It is possible to be allergic to this herb. If you have allergies to plant species like Lolium, Olea and Salsola then you may be allergic to saffron. Seek medical attention if you believe you are exhibiting signs of a serious allergic reaction.
High doses of this spice are typically unsafe and can even cause poisoning, including serious side effects like a yellow appearance of the skin and eyes, dizziness, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or bleeding from the nose, lips and eyelids. Doses of 12-20 grams can cause death.
Saffron is not recommended in amounts larger than what is typically found in food for pregnant women since large amounts may cause the uterus to contract and might cause a miscarriage. Check with your health care provider before taking it medically if you are breastfeeding or being treated for any medical conditions, especially a bipolar disorder, low blood pressure or a heart condition.
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Depression Medicine Types And Tips For Taking Antidepressants Webmd
Depression Medicine Types and Tips for Taking Antidepressants.
The research studies signed up an overall of 1,610 participants diagnosed with major depressive problem. The careful serotonin reuptake inhibitors create weak antinociceptive results how to recover from depression without drugs in pet models of sharp pain . This antinociception is obstructed by serotonin receptor villains and is improved by opioid receptor agonists.
Saffron For Emotional Health
An herb is a friend of the physicians and a praise of the cooks. Charlemagne
Delicious with seafood, rice, tomatoes and plays well with plenty of garlic, saffron hails from the traditional medicine found in Persian cultures. It has served mankind for millennia as both a culinary herb and powerful medicine. Saffron is known for its vibrant color and flavor, and also for being the worlds most expensive spice.
Saffron has been traditionally used as a calmative, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory. This beautiful herb also imparts the gastrointestinal advantage of relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract to reduce spasms and help digest food, as well as being an appetite enhancer .
Studies on Saffron for Mood Support
A number of studies indicate that the stigma of the plant and petal of Crocus sativus plant both have similar mood benefits. Animal studies show the compounds safranal and crocin in the crocus plant may exert anti-depressant effects by keeping balanced levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin .
In another six-week comparison to imipramine , researchers found significantly better results when patients were given a Hamilton Depression scale, which is a well-known questionnaire used to assess mood .
A separate 2013 review, which used an even more stringent criteria for including studies, also found saffron supplementation effective to significantly reduce depression symptoms compared to the placebo control .
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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 .
Saffron Equally Effective Against Depression As Antidepressants
First, researchers directly compared the efficacy of saffron stigma extract to that of the antidepressant Tofranil® against significant degrees of depression.
In a double-blind, single-center trial, scientists randomly divided 30 depressed patients into two groups. They gave 30 milligram capsules of saffron 3 times daily to one group. The other group received 100 milligrams of Tofranil®3 times daily. All subjects met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria for major depression.14
Just 6 weeks later, the saffron dose was declared to be equally as beneficial as Tofranil® in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, only the Tofranil® group suffered anticholinergic symptoms, such as dry mouth. Also, the participants taking Tofranil® experienced significant unwanted sedation. The study author concluded that saffron has therapeutic benefit in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.14
Next, scientists compared the potency of saffron extract to the antidepressant Prozac® .
Forty adult outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria for depression were randomly assigned to receive either twice-daily 30-milligram capsulesof saffron stigma or twice-daily capsules of 20 milligrams of Prozac®.15
These studies clearly establish that saffron is a potent alternative to commonly prescribed antidepressants for treating depressionwithout the adverse effects.
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Preventing Nervous System Disorders
The antioxidants in saffron may play a role in protecting the body from disorders affecting the nervous system.
notes that compounds in saffron, such as crocin, appear to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain, which may lead to beneficial effects.
A study in the journal Antioxidants noted that saffron might theoretically help with Alzheimers symptoms due to both its memory-enhancing properties and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
People with mild-to-moderate Alzheimers who took saffron for 22 weeks had cognitive improvements that were comparable with those of people who took the drug donepezil, and they also experienced fewer side effects.
While this is early evidence to support the medicinal use of saffron, researchers suggested that future clinical trials could help back up these claims.
May Reduce Pms Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome is a term that describes physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms occurring before the start of a menstrual period.
Studies show that saffron may help treat PMS symptoms.
In women 2045 years of age, taking 30 mg of saffron daily was more effective than a placebo at treating PMS symptoms, such as irritability, headaches, cravings, and pain .
Another study found that simply smelling saffron for 20 minutes helped reduce PMS symptoms like anxiety and lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol (
eating and smelling saffron appears to help treat PMS symptoms, such as irritability, headaches, cravings, pain, and anxiety.
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Weight Loss And Appetite Management
When used as a weight-loss aid, saffron supplements are purported to curb appetite and reduce cravings. Some proponents suggest that saffron increases brain levels of serotonin and, in turn, helps prevent compulsive overeating and the associated weight gain.
Saffron extract shows promise as a means of controlling compulsive eating, according to a small study published in Nutrition Research in 2010. For the study, healthy women who were mildly overweight took either a saffron-containing supplement or a placebo every day for eight weeks. Caloric intake was unrestricted. Study results showed that members of the saffron group experienced a significantly greater decrease in snacking and a significantly greater reduction in body weight compared to members of the placebo group. The study’s authors note that saffron’s supposedly mood-enhancing effects could contribute to the decrease in snacking frequency.
Sexual Dysfunction Plagues Over Half Of Antidepressant Users
Although antidepressants are associated with a wide array of negative reactions,6-10 adverse sexual effectswhich can include loss of sexual drive, failure to reach orgasm and erectile dysfunctionare among the most common.9,10 While men are affected more often, women report more serious sexual side effects.10
These unwanted sexual symptoms are considered to be commonly underestimated.10 Still, research pegs the incidence of sexual dysfunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Effexor® to be between 58 and 73%!10 And these sexual symptoms can persist long after the medication has been discontinuedfor months, years, or indefinitely!9
About 40% of people taking antidepressants report a low tolerance for their negative sexual effects,10 which can lead to non-compliance and relapse.39 This situation has prompted scientists to call on clinicians to consider the impact of pharmacotherapy on patients sexual functioning.39
Unfortunately, when depressed and even suicidal individuals have struggled for years with different antidepressants before finally attaining stable relief with a specific dosage of a specific drugdoctors are reluctant to change their regimen simply to avoid the sexual symptoms.
Scientists knew that, in addition to its antidepressant potency, saffron had shown aphrodisiac and other positive effects on sexual function in both animal and human studies.16,49-51
The results were startling.
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Easy To Add To Your Diet
In small doses, saffron has a subtle taste and aroma and pairs well with savory dishes, such as paella, risottos, and other rice dishes.
The best way to draw out saffrons unique flavor is to soak the threads in hot but not boiling water. Add the threads and the liquid to your recipe to achieve a deeper, richer flavor.
Saffron is readily available at most specialty markets and can be purchased as threads or in powdered form. However, its best to buy the threads, as they give you more versatility and are less likely to be adulterated.
Though saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, a small amount goes a long way, and you often wont need more than a pinch in your recipes. In fact, using too much saffron can give your recipes an overpowering medicinal taste.
In addition, saffron is available in supplement form.
Summary Saffron has a subtle taste and aroma, which makes it easy to add to your diet. It pairs well with savory dishes and should be soaked in hot water to give a deeper flavor. Alternatively, you can purchase saffron in supplement form to reap its benefits.
Saffron is generally safe with little to no side effects.
In standard cooking amounts, saffron does not appear to cause adverse effects in humans.
As a dietary supplement, people can safely take up to 1.5 grams of saffron per day. However, only 30 mg of saffron per day have been shown to be enough to reap its health benefits (
Nasal Spray Vs Iv Ketamine For Depression
Just consider this treatment if you are ready to devote to being under the led treatment of your healthcare professional. These medications can have severe interactions with various foods so a limited diet regimen is required to use them safely. Handling the adverse effects also requires constant interaction in between you and your dedicated psychological health care expert. Be sure that you have a health specialist who is readily available and also that you can maintain how to use saffron for depression good interaction with if you are taking into consideration utilizing this course of drugs. There seems to be an organization in between atypical depression and also the problems that lead to emotional instability due to an inability to effectively regulate mood. It is unclear whether atypical depression is additional to alcohol and drug usage or whether individuals that suffer from atypical depression are more probable to seek out drugs and alcohol in order to relieve their symptoms.
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How Much Saffron Extract Should I Take Recommended & Safe Daily Dosages
Saffron , is the worlds most expensive spice. Did you know that up to 75,000 saffron blossoms are harvested by hand to produce only a pound of saffron spice?
Whilst saffron has traditionally been used to flavour food, what we are interested in are its historical medicinal uses as well as the recent research focusing on saffrons potential antidepressant and serotonin boosting properties. In this article we are going to look at the recommended and safe dosages for optimum results.
Saffron contains over 150 actives including Picrocrocin, for instance, which is the primary substance responsible for the strong taste. Safranal brings saffron its characteristic odour and fragrance. As well as Crocin, which delivers the intense orange colour along with many of its potential medicinal qualities from powerful carotenoids and antioxidants that can protect your body from free radical damage.
To help you evaluate the optimal saffron dosage for your needs, lets review the beneficial dosages used in recent studies:
Saffron Extract May Help Prevent Depression In Teens Study Shows
07 Mar 2018 — Depressed teenagers treated with saffron extract showed improvements in symptoms, according to a study published in The Journal of Affective Disorders. The study had positive effects although it is needed to replicate these studies to confirm our initial positive findings, says Adrian Lopresti, Senior Research Administrator at Murdoch University. Saffron is most commonly known as an expensive, golden-hued ingredient mostly used in cooking. However, it has been traditionally used as a treatment for depression in Iran.
Lopresti tells NutritionInsight how teenagers can experience depression differently than adults, especially in terms of increased withdrawal and reduced interaction with peers, irritability, drug use, and at times engagement in risky/dangerous behaviors. These factors make a study focusing on teenagers exclusively particularly important.
Results from 80 volunteers between 12-16 years old with mild to moderate depression symptoms were analyzed. The administration of the standardised form of saffron extract Affron, manufactured by Pharmative for eight weeks improved anxiety and depressive symptoms in the volunteers, at least from the perspective of the adolescent.
The study found improvement amongst the internalizing symptoms of separation anxiety, social phobia and depression in the teens. The total scores of internalizing symptoms decreased by an average of 33 percent in the affron group, as opposed to 17 percent in the placebo group.
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Fair Report Exposes The Unanswered Questions On How To Recover From Depression Without Drugs
Due to the fact that IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information given here specifies to the German healthcare system. The viability of any of the defined choices in an individual case can be established by speaking with a doctor. But its still vital to ensure that extreme depression is identified and treated correctly. Antidepressants can be practical here, and for some people may how to recover from depression without drugs be the only way that they can come back right into an everyday routine or begin mosting likely to psychotherapy. Antidepressants can cause lightheadedness and also unsteadiness, boosting the danger of falls as well as bone fractures, especially in older individuals. This details is about utilizing medicine to treat one of the most usual type of depression, known as unipolar depression. The therapy options for manic depression arent gone over here.
Antioxidants Promote Saffron For Health
Crocin and crocetin are two of the antioxidants responsible for saffrons crimson color. Studies indicate that both of these compounds may relieve depression. They may also protect brains cells along with being anti-inflammatory.
Studies are ongoing to learn how effective this traditional remedy may be for related conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, which are usually treated with the same types of medications. Some researchers hold high hopes for the results of these studies, as mood enhancement and brain function seem to go hand in hand for these types of health issues. If you feel better, you tend to think more clearly and rationally.
Saffrons ability to brighten your mood has earned it the nickname sunshine spice. Of course, saffron is well known in the culinary world for its taste and aroma. These qualities are due in part to another antioxidant, safranal, which is also believed to enhance mood as well as increase mental function and memory and decrease oxidative stress in brain cells.
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