I suffer from anxiety and depression. It’s much better than it was but the inner struggle is still real. I’m always on the lookout for the best mood enhancers on the market because, at this point in my mental health journey, I choose to treat myself naturally. I can’t wait to share many proven saffron health benefits with you. But first…

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What is Saffron?

Saffron is a spice from the dried stigmas (dried, thread-like part of a flower’s female reproductive organ) of the Crocus sativus flower. Surprise, surprise—here’s yet another gift our planet has given us to heal. According to PubMed, harvesting and processing saffron is not quick and easy. It is a meticulous process– it cannot be done by machine. Someone’s hands must do all the work, and carefully at that! This is why saffron can be seen as expensive; it is very labor-intensive and has a low return. 

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Saffron is used to color and (you guessed it!) spice foods, particularly Indian, Moroccan, and Iranian cuisine. It’s also used in Spanish paella, Italian risotto, and French bouillabaisse—yum! But what I think is even more special about this plant is its medicinal properties and how these properties benefit our health as human beings. The three main active components of saffron are picrocrocin, safranin, and crocin. These three compounds are at play when discussing saffron's health benefits. These compounds help reduce oxidative brain damage and inflammation with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties while boosting memory. 

Health Benefits of Saffron

Saffron aids in improving the following:

• mood
• brain health
• sleep
• skin
• hormone imbalances
• weight loss
• sexual health
• immune system
• ocular health
• cardiovascular health

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I thought wow, I’d love an upgrade in these areas! Who doesn’t want to be in a more stable mood, and have a clearer headspace with a sharper mental focus? Who doesn’t want radiant skin and a deeper night’s sleep without the grogginess in the morning from sedatives? Painful/emotional periods? Saffron is said to help with hormonal imbalances and appetite control, too!

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Side Effects and Who Shouldn’t Use Saffron

It’s wise to talk to your doctor when consuming a daily supplement, but if taken at the recommended dosage, saffron has been shown to have little to no side effects. People with bipolar disorder and/or blood pressure conditions need to talk to their doctor before taking saffron supplements, as there have been some negative side effects in people with these diagnoses. If pregnant, breastfeeding, or thinking about giving a saffron supplement to a child, please consult your health care practitioner beforehand, as there haven’t been conclusive reports done on saffron’s effects on pregnant/breastfeeding women or children.

Saffron as an Anti-depressant

Depression runs rampant in our society. Most people have experienced at least a bout of depression while others (mostly women) struggle on a more consistent basis. I am one of those women. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, but when my depression was major (suicidal ideations for years and a constant state of sadness) I was on pharmaceuticals. 

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Depression and anxiety take less of a toll on me than they used to, so I felt I could switch gears. Besides, I became tolerant to the medicine I was taking, had to up my dose, didn’t want to, and quite frankly- I was obsessing. So today, natural supplements, like saffron, align with me more than ever.

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According to a PubMed article about saffron and its positive effects on depression, herbal remedies are becoming just as popular/effective at getting a hold on your depression (if it is at a mild-moderate level) as pharmaceutical drugs. Saffron is believed to keep the serotonin in your brain from “reuptaking” meaning serotonin stays around longer, boosting your mood, as you may already know, this is how pharmaceutical antidepressants work, too. 

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Saffron’s healing components also influence dopamine levels. When serotonin and dopamine are in optimal states, our mood is better and more stable, we are more equipped for highly emotion-evoking situations, and our stress response is significantly more balanced. Clinical studies have proven that a mild to moderate degree of depression can be treated just as well with saffron as with pharmaceutical drugs. What’s another benefit of going the natural route if you want to do so? Far fewer side effects!

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Pure and Potent Saffron Brands I Recommend:

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Double Woods Saffron Extract - $19.95

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This consciously- sourced brand is committed to transparency and science. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and third-party testing. It’s compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices. This clean, awesome brand offers free shipping!

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Resciency Liposomal Saffron Extract - $19.67

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This is a liquid compounded saffron extract. It includes 88.5 mg of saffron + ashwaganda + turmeric + more. The liposomal technology used makes for a higher rate of absorption, and only 2 drops are needed per dose.

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Golden Saffron - $39.95 and comes with bundle deals

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This product is non-GMO certified and made in the USA. This brand provides a top-quality, all-natural product with great customer reviews. This brand has the desired 88.5 mg of pure saffron.

Ancient Medicinal Uses of Saffron

Many cultures have used and honored saffron for centuries. Persians, for example, have one of the most traditional and well-respected holistic medical systems to date. They use saffron as a diuretic, anti-depressant, and an aphrodisiac. Persians use this spice, and many others, to help with ailments such as vomiting, epilepsy, inflammation, and cancer. The list goes on.

Saffron (Fan Hong Hua) is also widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) because of its powerful medicinal properties. According to the academic journal Chinese Medicine and Culture, saffron has over 70 bioactive ingredients, and safranal, crocin, and crocetin give this spice its special taste and color. They can help heal the following:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cancer
• Digestive system disorders
• Ocular issues
• COVID-19 infections

In TCM, Saffron is said to invigorate blood circulation, eliminate blood stasis, cool the blood, and eliminate toxins while treating the following:

• asthma
• phlegm
• insomnia
• depression
• fright
• shock
• hemoptysis (coughing up blood or having blood-stained mucus)
• heartburn
• pain 

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What to Look for When Picking a Saffron Supplement 

Ok, so you’re interested in saffron as a medicine. I’ll tell you what to look for when shopping for the best quality saffron supplement. What do I mean by best?  The cleanest and most potent! Let’s search for clean and potent saffron brands that use ethical harvesting practices, so the healing powers are more effective. Here are a few things to look out for:

1. Organic. I think we all know about the word organic and what it means. Not only is the plant not bombarded with pesticides, additives, and fertilizers galore, but the harvesting and packaging processes are done consciously with a “do-no-harm” intention and execution for our planet.

2. Amount of saffron compounds. Make sure the brand has 88.5 mg of saffron extract, not 88.5 mg of other ingredients- just saffron! You don’t want your product diluted! The more potent the product, the better the results! 

3. Where was it processed? Make sure it’s manufactured in the USA, as they have strict manufacturing standards. Also, check to see if it was 3rd party tested in a private lab to ensure quality and safety.

4. Is there a money-back guarantee? I’d make sure they provided one. Sometimes when supplement companies don’t offer this option, you start to wonder why not…

Third-Party Lab Supplement to Ensure Quality

There are companies out there that test supplements for quality and safety. Consumerlabs and iherb are highly reputable sources that use some of the highest testing standards when assessing the quality of a supplement. One of the quality tests from Consumerlabs revealed such a small amount of picrocrocin (a main healing compound naturally found in saffron) in the saffron supplement that it implied it was mixed with other ingredients.  Not good!

According to consumerlabs.com, “saffron supplements that provide about 14 mg of extract standardized to 2% safranals (free + bound) or 3.5% lepticrosalides, or about 88 mg of extract standardized to 0.3% to 0.4% safranals are most consistent with products used in clinical trials — assuming they contain what they claim, which is not always the case. These doses are typically taken twice daily.”

A Natural Spice Called Saffron with Significant Health Benefits– Why Not?

With no significant side effects reported and its long list of health benefits, adding a potent and clean saffron supplement to my daily regimen is a no-brainer for me! How the Earth gives us (mostly) all of the medicine we need to thrive is nothing short of a miracle.

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