The Spice for Mood and Depression?

Depression goes well beyond the normal experience of sadness most people go through from time to time.

Symptoms of depression

While sadness is one of the symptoms of depressive disorders, depression can also include a loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, poor concentration, fatigue, and/or suicidal thoughts.

How to recognize depression

Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, the condition may involve angry outbursts, reduced interest in sexual activity, or difficulty remembering things or making decisions. If you’re feeling depressed or suicidal, it’s important to reach out to a doctor, therapist, minister, friend, or loved one.

What might cause depression

There are many causes of depression, including early childhood trauma, brain chemistry or hormonal imbalances, family history of depression, substance use, as well as underlying medical conditions.

Additional risk factors

·         vitamin D deficiency

·         financial problems

·         use of medications such as birth control pills, beta blockers, or corticosteroids

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men.

Promising research for depression sufferers

Lauren Hauswirth, new product development manager at Genuine Health, is excited about the promising research into saffron’s effectiveness in improving mood. She recommends using the standardized extract of saffron known as Affron, since published research using this product is showing good results in decreasing negative moods.

Affron research shows results

Not just for those suffering from depression, Affron improved mood in healthy adults by decreasing negative moods and symptoms related to stress, as well as improving sleep quality, according to a study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

Several studies support Hauswirth’s assertions, suggesting saffron may offer help for those suffering from depression or who simply need support to balance their low moods.

In one study published in the journal Pharmacopsychiatry, researchers assessed the effectiveness of saffron compared to the drug citalopram, known as Celexa, used in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Participants who received 30 mg of saffron experienced similar therapeutic results as those in the drug group.

While the study size was small and more research is needed, other studies have yielded similar results comparing saffron to the drug fluoxetine, of which Prozac is a common brand name. In a meta-analysis of eight studies comparing the efficacy of saffron to fluoxetine, published in the journal Psychology Research and Behavior Management, researchers concluded that saffron improved the symptoms of depressed study participants as effectively as the drug option.

How saffron works

Researchers found that saffron may work in multiple ways to boost mood and lessen the symptoms of depression:

·         appears to help balance neurotransmitters—the body’s chemical messengers created by nerve cells

·         exerts a neuroprotective effect, which entails protecting nerve cells from injury and degeneration

·         may regulate a balancing effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the body

The HPA axis is a complex feedback system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands in an effort to maintain homeostasis in the body in response to stress. Its impairment is a major risk factor for depression.

Supplementing with saffron

Hauswirth recommends 28 mg of saffron standardized extract known as Affron. A typical dose in clinical trials was 30 to 200 mg of saffron daily. Five grams or higher is believed to create toxicity and should be avoided.

Consult your health care practitioner prior to taking saffron and avoid saffron supplements during pregnancy. Always choose a reputable brand to ensure you’re getting pure saffron.

Trifecta of support

Hauswirth recommends using saffron alongside the herbs ashwagandha and passionflower to provide an immediate sense of calm and to support longer-term stress management.

Sleep soundly with saffron

We all know that we feel better and have an improved capacity to greet the day after a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, there’s great news from the scientific world for insomniacs or those who suffer from poor quality sleep.

In a double-blind study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, researchers found that people who took 14 mg of the standardized extract of saffron known as Affron twice daily reported an improvement in sleep quality. Research published in Nutrients yielded similar results with study participants reporting improved sleep quality, duration, and a reduction in the time it took to fall asleep (known as sleep latency).

This article was originally published in the November 2023 issue of alive magazine.