Saffron can effectively fight depression with fewer side effects

A record number of Americans suffer from depression and anxiety; there is no solution. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that by 2015, more than 16 million Americans had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the previous year. By 2020, depression is expected to become the second leading cause of disability in the world.

As the incidence of depression increases, the use of antidepressants continues to grow. Some estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013 indicate that the use of these drugs has increased by more than 400% in just 25 years. About 11% of Americans take some form of antidepressant to treat their condition.

The Life Extension report estimates that about 90% of people taking medication for depression suffer from adverse effects of prescription drugs to varying degrees. Some of the most common side effects people experience include drowsiness, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. Data shows that 73% of people taking antidepressants experience sexual dysfunction, which can be very disturbing.

Not surprisingly, many people are looking for alternative methods to avoid the adverse effects of traditional medications. But, have you ever thought that something as simple as spices can actually help treat depression?


Can saffron help treat depression?

In the past few years, research has continued to elucidate the potential use of saffron (an exotic spice) in the treatment of depression.

A review of six independent studies involving 230 patients led the Australian study duo to conclude that the evidence suggests that saffron is as effective as antidepressants in most cases, but its side effects are far less than the drugs. The research was published in "Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental".

It even compared saffron with the iconic antidepressants Prozac and Tofranil. The lead author of the study, Dr. Adrian Lopresti from Murdoch University's School of Psychology and Exercise Science pointed out: "So far, saffron is as effective as medicine."

"Saffron has conducted many very well-designed, powerful studies to study the properties of its antidepressants, and almost all of the studies are positive."

Lopresti also commented that the side effects of saffron are significantly less related to antidepressants, pointing out that at most minor digestive problems have been carried out by some personal experiences.

In the study abstract, the research team wrote that saffron showed a significant therapeutic effect in a trial comparing it with a placebo. Moreover, in studies comparing saffron with traditional antidepressants, its efficacy is similar. The research team believes that the antidepressant effect of saffron may be due to the spice's serotonergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroendocrine and neuroprotective effects.

The researchers wrote in their summary: "The research conducted so far provides preliminary support for the use of saffron to treat mild to moderate depression."

Numerous studies have pointed out that saffron is a possible natural alternative treatment for depression. In 2001, 15 years ago, research on the antidepressant effects of spices began to appear.

Recent studies have also shown that saffron is very useful in the treatment of depression and anxiety. In June 2016, the Journal of Complementarity and Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine published a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that analyzed the potential therapeutic benefits of saffron. Sixty adults with anxiety and/or depression participated in the study, and each was randomly assigned to take 50 mg saffron or placebo capsules twice a day for 12 weeks.

The Baker Depression Inventory (BDI) and Baker Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires were used at the beginning, midpoint and conclusion of the study to assess the effects of spices. The researchers found that saffron had a "significant effect" on patients' BDI and BAI scores compared with patients taking placebo.