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Saffron has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. But it is not until only very recently that it has caught the attention of modern science. And caught its attention it has!
Saffron may be one of the most versatile and valuable of all herbs for mental health. An Assyrian botanical dictionary from the 7th century BCE includes in its long list of uses for saffron “diseases of the brain.” So, this beautiful purple flower may have been being used for mental health for almost 3,000 years.
Saffron not only does it well, it seems to do it all. Saffron has been shown in controlled studies to be effective for depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, Alzheimer’s, ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
Saffron for Depression
The first double-blind study on saffron and depression, published in 2004, found that saffron was as effective as imipramine with the important advantage of being safer (BMC Complement Altern Med 2004;4:12).
But that was just the beginning. Several studies have now shown saffron to be as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 controlled studies published in 2019 found saffron to be better than placebo and as effective as antidepressant drugs (Nutr Rev 2019 May;28:nuz023). A year later, a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 double-blind studies again showed saffron to be better than placebo and as good as drugs (J Nerv Ment Dis 2020 Apr;208(4):269-76).
The latest word on saffron comes from a just published and massive systematic review of all the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of saffron and mental health. It included 13 systematic reviews of saffron for depression and found that saffron proved to be superior to placebo and as effective as drugs in every one of them (Avicenna J Phytomed. 2022 Sep-Oct;12(5):475-88).
In addition to being as effective as drugs, saffron has several bonuses. The first is that it is safer (J Integr Med 2013;11(6):377-83).
The second is that a meta-analysis of four studies has shown that adding saffron to antidepressant drugs makes the drugs work significantly better (Nutr Rev 2019 May;28:nuz023).
A third bonus is that you don’t have to be clinically depressed to benefit from saffron. People with subclinical feelings of depression, low mood, anxiety or inability to cope also benefit (Front Nutr Feb 2021;doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.606124).
A third bonus is that saffron helps children struggling with depression, separation anxiety and social phobia (J Affect Disord 2018 May:232:349-57). The fourth bonus is for women. Saffron helps both depression and hot flashes in menopause (Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018 Mar;297(3)717-24) and both depression and anxiety in PMS (Pharmacopsychiatry 2017;50(2):64-8). As for postpartum depression, saffron is as effective as Prozac (Pharmacopsychiatry. 2017;50(2):64–8).
Saffron for Anxiety & Stress
A systematic review and meta-analysis of six studies showed saffron to be better than placebo for anxiety (Nutr Rev 2019 May 28:nuz023). But that’s not all. Saffron has also been shown to be as effective as the drug citalopram for anxiety (Pharmacopsychiatry. 2017 Jul;50(4):152-160).
As we saw in the depression research, saffron also helps separation anxiety and social phobia. Other studies have shown saffron to significantly improve stress.
Saffron for Insomnia
The massive systematic review of systematic reviews found that saffron increases sleep quality. At least six studies have shown saffron to help people with sleepless nights from insomnia. Saffron helps severity of insomnia as well as restorative sleep (J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(6):937–947) and ability to function during the day (Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 2018;46(8):1407–1415). Saffron helps you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, leading to improved quality of life (Nutrients. 2021 May; 13(5):1473; Sleep Medicine Oct 2021;86:7-18; Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1473).
Saffron for Alzheimer’s
Saffron is superior to placebo for Alzheimer’s. When people with Alzheimer’s take a placebo, they continue to get worse; when they take saffron, they significantly improve (J Clin Pharm Ther. 2010;35(5):581-588).
And, again, saffron is not just better than placebo. It’s as effective as drugs. Saffron is as effective as the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (Psychopharmacology. 2010;207(4):637-643).
A review of the research published between 1970 and 2017 concluded that saffron is one of the herbs that improves cognition (Pharmacol Res. 2018 Apr;130:204-212). The review of reviews found three systematic reviews of saffron for Alzheimer’s and cognition. One found positive effect on Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment, and all three found a positive effect versus placebo and equal effect versus drugs.
The mild cognitive impairment study shows that saffron can also help seniors who are not suffering with Alzheimer’s but are struggling with memory and cognition. The one year, single-blind study found that, while the control group continued to deteriorate, those given saffron significantly improved on the Mini-Mental State Examination (J Alzheimers Dis. 2016 Jul 27;54(1):129-33).
Saffron for ADHD
At least four studies show saffron to be at least as good as Ritalin while being safer. An unblinded study found that the two were comparable for ADHD symptoms and executive function. Saffron was better for hyperactivity; Ritalin was better for inattention. Kids with ADHD often have sleep disturbances and daytime drowsiness. Both treatments improved length of time sleeping, but only saffron improved the time it took to fall asleep, giving the herb the advantage over the drug (Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4046).
An important double-blind study found that when kids take Ritalin or saffron, the effect is significant and equal. On parent’s rating scale, 100 percent of the saffron group were responders versus 96 percent in the Ritalin group. Ninety-six percent of the saffron group were marked responders versus 84 percent of the Ritalin group (not a significant difference). There was no significant difference on teachers’ rating scale. Given the side effects of Ritalin, this performance by saffron is impressive and important (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2019 Apr;29(3):205-212).
Two studies have also proven the significant benefit of adding saffron to Ritalin for both children (Iran. J. Psychiatry Behav. Sci. 2021,15,e108390) and adults (Adv. Integr. Med. 2022,9,37–43) with ADHD.
Saffron for OCD
Two studies show saffron to be at least as good as drugs for OCD. The first one compared saffron to the SSRI fluvoxamine that is commonly used for OCD. OCD scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale went down comparably with the improvement being slightly, but non-significantly, better in the saffron group (Iran J Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;12(3):154-162). In a study that compared crocin, one of the active ingredients in saffron, with Prozac, Scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive scale went down significantly in both groups, but the crocin was safer (Hum Psychopharmacol. 2021 Jul;36(4):e2780).
This huge and growing body of research points to saffron as one of the most exciting emerging herbs for mental health. It is safe, effective and versatile, helping everything from depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia to OCD, ADHD and Alzheimer’s. VR
Linda Woolven is a master herbalist, acupuncturist and solution-focused counsellor with a virtual practice in Toronto, ON, Canada. For comprehensive natural help with your health, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health. You can see their books at www.thenaturalpathnewsletter.com. They are also the authors of the natural health newsletter The Natural Path. For more information, contact Snider at tedsnider@bell.net or (416) 782-8211.
Saffron has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. But it is not until only very recently that it has caught the attention of modern science. And caught its attention it has!
Saffron may be one of the most versatile and valuable of all herbs for mental health. An Assyrian botanical dictionary from the 7th century BCE includes in its long list of uses for saffron “diseases of the brain.” So, this beautiful purple flower may have been being used for mental health for almost 3,000 years.
Saffron not only does it well, it seems to do it all. Saffron has been shown in controlled studies to be effective for depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, Alzheimer’s, ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
Saffron for Depression
The first double-blind study on saffron and depression, published in 2004, found that saffron was as effective as imipramine with the important advantage of being safer (BMC Complement Altern Med 2004;4:12).
But that was just the beginning. Several studies have now shown saffron to be as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 controlled studies published in 2019 found saffron to be better than placebo and as effective as antidepressant drugs (Nutr Rev 2019 May;28:nuz023). A year later, a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 double-blind studies again showed saffron to be better than placebo and as good as drugs (J Nerv Ment Dis 2020 Apr;208(4):269-76).
The latest word on saffron comes from a just published and massive systematic review of all the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of saffron and mental health. It included 13 systematic reviews of saffron for depression and found that saffron proved to be superior to placebo and as effective as drugs in every one of them (Avicenna J Phytomed. 2022 Sep-Oct;12(5):475-88).
In addition to being as effective as drugs, saffron has several bonuses. The first is that it is safer (J Integr Med 2013;11(6):377-83).
The second is that a meta-analysis of four studies has shown that adding saffron to antidepressant drugs makes the drugs work significantly better (Nutr Rev 2019 May;28:nuz023).
A third bonus is that you don’t have to be clinically depressed to benefit from saffron. People with subclinical feelings of depression, low mood, anxiety or inability to cope also benefit (Front Nutr Feb 2021;doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.606124).
A third bonus is that saffron helps children struggling with depression, separation anxiety and social phobia (J Affect Disord 2018 May:232:349-57). The fourth bonus is for women. Saffron helps both depression and hot flashes in menopause (Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018 Mar;297(3)717-24) and both depression and anxiety in PMS (Pharmacopsychiatry 2017;50(2):64-8). As for postpartum depression, saffron is as effective as Prozac (Pharmacopsychiatry. 2017;50(2):64–8).
Saffron for Anxiety & Stress
A systematic review and meta-analysis of six studies showed saffron to be better than placebo for anxiety (Nutr Rev 2019 May 28:nuz023). But that’s not all. Saffron has also been shown to be as effective as the drug citalopram for anxiety (Pharmacopsychiatry. 2017 Jul;50(4):152-160).
As we saw in the depression research, saffron also helps separation anxiety and social phobia. Other studies have shown saffron to significantly improve stress.
Saffron for Insomnia
The massive systematic review of systematic reviews found that saffron increases sleep quality. At least six studies have shown saffron to help people with sleepless nights from insomnia. Saffron helps severity of insomnia as well as restorative sleep (J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(6):937–947) and ability to function during the day (Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 2018;46(8):1407–1415). Saffron helps you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, leading to improved quality of life (Nutrients. 2021 May; 13(5):1473; Sleep Medicine Oct 2021;86:7-18; Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1473).
Saffron for Alzheimer’s
Saffron is superior to placebo for Alzheimer’s. When people with Alzheimer’s take a placebo, they continue to get worse; when they take saffron, they significantly improve (J Clin Pharm Ther. 2010;35(5):581-588).
And, again, saffron is not just better than placebo. It’s as effective as drugs. Saffron is as effective as the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (Psychopharmacology. 2010;207(4):637-643).
A review of the research published between 1970 and 2017 concluded that saffron is one of the herbs that improves cognition (Pharmacol Res. 2018 Apr;130:204-212). The review of reviews found three systematic reviews of saffron for Alzheimer’s and cognition. One found positive effect on Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment, and all three found a positive effect versus placebo and equal effect versus drugs.
The mild cognitive impairment study shows that saffron can also help seniors who are not suffering with Alzheimer’s but are struggling with memory and cognition. The one year, single-blind study found that, while the control group continued to deteriorate, those given saffron significantly improved on the Mini-Mental State Examination (J Alzheimers Dis. 2016 Jul 27;54(1):129-33).
Saffron for ADHD
At least four studies show saffron to be at least as good as Ritalin while being safer. An unblinded study found that the two were comparable for ADHD symptoms and executive function. Saffron was better for hyperactivity; Ritalin was better for inattention. Kids with ADHD often have sleep disturbances and daytime drowsiness. Both treatments improved length of time sleeping, but only saffron improved the time it took to fall asleep, giving the herb the advantage over the drug (Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4046).
An important double-blind study found that when kids take Ritalin or saffron, the effect is significant and equal. On parent’s rating scale, 100 percent of the saffron group were responders versus 96 percent in the Ritalin group. Ninety-six percent of the saffron group were marked responders versus 84 percent of the Ritalin group (not a significant difference). There was no significant difference on teachers’ rating scale. Given the side effects of Ritalin, this performance by saffron is impressive and important (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2019 Apr;29(3):205-212).
Two studies have also proven the significant benefit of adding saffron to Ritalin for both children (Iran. J. Psychiatry Behav. Sci. 2021,15,e108390) and adults (Adv. Integr. Med. 2022,9,37–43) with ADHD.
Saffron for OCD
Two studies show saffron to be at least as good as drugs for OCD. The first one compared saffron to the SSRI fluvoxamine that is commonly used for OCD. OCD scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale went down comparably with the improvement being slightly, but non-significantly, better in the saffron group (Iran J Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;12(3):154-162). In a study that compared crocin, one of the active ingredients in saffron, with Prozac, Scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive scale went down significantly in both groups, but the crocin was safer (Hum Psychopharmacol. 2021 Jul;36(4):e2780).
This huge and growing body of research points to saffron as one of the most exciting emerging herbs for mental health. It is safe, effective and versatile, helping everything from depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia to OCD, ADHD and Alzheimer’s. VR
Linda Woolven is a master herbalist, acupuncturist and solution-focused counsellor with a virtual practice in Toronto, ON, Canada. For comprehensive natural help with your health, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health. You can see their books at www.thenaturalpathnewsletter.com. They are also the authors of the natural health newsletter The Natural Path. For more information, contact Snider at tedsnider@bell.net or (416) 782-8211.
