Dried saffron spice and Saffron flower

New research has suggested that saffron may help to treat depression and anxiety.

Saffron is a spice that comes from the flowers of the saffron plant. The flower produces dark red stigmas or threads that are removed carefully by hand and dried.

A study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine revealed that the research team carried out a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression. For the study, they enrolled 60 participants suffering from depression and anxiety.

Participants received either a capsule containing 50 milligrams of saffron or a placebo capsule twice a day for 12 weeks. They also answered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires at the beginning of the study and also at six and 12 weeks after the treatment.

Just 54 participants completed the study. Still, the results showed that those who took saffron reported significant changes through their BDI and BAI scores.

The findings concluded that the intake of saffron supplements had a significant effect on the treatment of anxiety and depression disorder.

Earlier studies have highlighted the positive effects of saffron on depression and anxiety. They suggest that saffron is as effective as antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac), but is quicker and does not cause side effects.

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