Saffron
Dozens of small mood trials. People felt better. Clinician ratings did not move.
Grade B: Some human proof
Small, early or mixed results in people.
The grade is for the use people talk about, not for every use. Filed under: Brain support, over the counter.
How it works
A spice. Its compounds appear to act on serotonin.
How it was given in studies
By mouth. In the trials people swallowed it as a capsule, tablet, powder or drink.
This is what the studies did. It is not a how-to.
What studies saw
A 2026 review of 34 trials in 1,769 people found people rated their own low mood and anxiety as better on saffron than on placebo. Ratings by clinicians did not improve.
The trade-off
The two kinds of rating disagree, so the real effect is unclear. The reviewers asked for better trials. High doses are not safe in pregnancy.
When it showed up, in studies
Self-rated mood lifted over weeks in small trials.
Sources
Put this grade on your site
Copy the line below. The badge links back to this page, so readers can check the sources. It grades the compound in studies. It does not rate any product or seller.
<a href="https://www.workedinrats.com/compounds/saffron"><img src="https://www.workedinrats.com/badge/saffron.svg" alt="Saffron: grade B, some human proof. Worked in Rats" width="300" height="72"></a>
Keep going
We show what studies found. We never tell you what to take. Doses vary by study. Check the sources and talk to a doctor.