When most people think of saffron, they picture a luxurious golden spice used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Asian dishes. It is famous for its colour and flavour yet its uses reach well beyond cooking.

For centuries, saffron has been valued in traditional healing systems across ancient Greece, the Middle East, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was used for everything from low mood and anxiety to digestion, sleep, and even colds ⁽¹⁾. Even Hippocrates reportedly turned to saffron for its medicinal properties.

These days, saffron has picked up the nickname “sunshine spice” and not just because of its warm golden hue. Researchers are increasingly interested in how it may support mood and emotional wellbeing.

With increasing awareness of the side effects linked to some antidepressant medications, researchers have been exploring natural alternatives. Saffron has become one of the more fascinating options.

Several studies have explored saffron’s effects on mild to moderate depression. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found that saffron significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to a placebo ⁽²⁾. Even more interesting, in some studies it performed similarly to standard antidepressant medications when it came to improving mood ⁽³⁾.

There’s also emerging research around anxiety. While much of this is still based on animal studies, the results are promising. Saffron appears to have calming, anti-anxiety effects and may interact with the brain’s serotonin system, the same pathway targeted by many conventional medications ⁽⁴⁾.

And the research doesn’t stop there. Early studies suggest saffron could even have a role in conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, although we definitely need more human trials before drawing firm conclusions ⁽⁵⁾.

Of course, while it’s exciting to explore natural options, it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind. Mental health challenges are incredibly common and can affect anyone.

Here in Australia, organisations like Beyond Blue estimate that nearly half of us will experience a mental health condition at some point in our lives. In any given year, around one million Australian adults experience depression, and around two million experience anxiety ⁽⁶⁾.

Symptoms can look different for everyone, but often include ongoing low mood, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, and physical effects like fatigue, headaches, or disrupted sleep.

While saffron shows promise, it’s not a replacement for medical treatment. If you’re currently taking antidepressants or managing a mental health condition, it’s essential to speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes.

For more information about saffron, drop into Go Vita, Your Health Shop at 5 North Street, Batemans Bay. You can also call us on (02) 4472 9737 or visit us online at www.govitabatemansbay.com.au. Don’t miss our weekly segment on 2EC radio, where Marianne and Go Vita's Nutritionist Sofia chat about health and wellness with Kimmi Saker every Wednesday after 12.30pm.

References

(1) Srivastava R, Ahmed H, Dixit RK, Dharamveer, Saraf SA. Crocus sativus L.: A comprehensive review. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul;4(8):200-8. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.70919. PMID: 22228962; PMCID: PMC3249922.

(2) Hausenblas HA, Saha D, Dubyak PJ, Anton SD. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Integr Med. 2013 Nov;11(6):377-83. doi: 10.3736/jintegrmed2013056. PMID: 24299602; PMCID: PMC4643654.

(3) Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27. doi: 10.1002/hup.2434. Epub 2014 Sep 22. PMID: 25384672.

(4) Pitsikas N. Constituents of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) as Potential Candidates for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders and Schizophrenia. Molecules. 2016 Mar 2;21(3):303. doi: 10.3390/molecules21030303. PMID: 26950102; PMCID: PMC6273654.

(5) Esalatmanesh S, Biuseh M, Noorbala AA, Mostafavi SA, Rezaei F, Mesgarpour B, Mohammadinejad P, Akhondzadeh S. Comparison of Saffron and Fluvoxamine in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Iran J Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;12(3):154-162. PMID: 29062366; PMCID: PMC5640576.

(6) Beyond Blue. (2023). Mental health in Australia statistics. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health