14/01/2020
Preliminary studies suggest this culinary spice is helpful in treating mood disorders. In a 2016 double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 adults with anxiety and depression received either 50 milligrams (mg) of saffron or a placebo twice daily for 12 months.According to researchers, saffron appeared to have a significant impact on anxiety and depression compared to those receiving a placebo, and side effects were rare.
In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, adults with major depressive disorder took crocin (an active constituent of saffron) or a placebo along with Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), or Celexa (citalopram), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs (SSRI) that are commonly used for depression. Results revealed that the group taking crocin had significantly improved scores on self-reported assessments compared to those taking the placebo.
