A systematic review showed that the popular spice saffron has shown to be a safer alternative to pharmaceutical antidepressants in some instances. The review covered six studies involving 230 clinically depressed participants which found saffron was as effective in treating clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder as the commonly prescribed commercial medications fluoxetine (Prozac) and imipramine (Tofranil).
The review also found saffron had a better safety profile than commercial antidepressants. Sedation, constipation, sexual dysfunction and tremor were the side effects most associated with pharmaceuticals. However, in studies which compared saffron to a placebo, side effects commonly experienced were anxiety, increased appetite, nausea and headaches. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-saffron-mental-illness.html
Review article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hup.2434/abstract;jsessionid=289D61F8E6EA43B9346884C23672910E.f03t04
The review also found saffron had a better safety profile than commercial antidepressants. Sedation, constipation, sexual dysfunction and tremor were the side effects most associated with pharmaceuticals. However, in studies which compared saffron to a placebo, side effects commonly experienced were anxiety, increased appetite, nausea and headaches. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-saffron-mental-illness.html
Review article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hup.2434/abstract;jsessionid=289D61F8E6EA43B9346884C23672910E.f03t04
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