Saffron :A new therapeutic approach for treating mild to moderate long-term depression.
(Dr.Rosa Guerrero (naturopath doctor))
In addition to promoting digestion, this spice helps keep the mood and reduce anxiety levels.
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is obtained from the dried stigmas of the flower known as pink saffron. Traditionally saffron was considered effective to treat stomach ailments -that antispasmodic remedy, increases appetite and improves digestión- also reduces inflammation, renal colic and menstrual pain, enhances memory and regulates blood pressure.
Antidepressant effect
It seems that the traditional Persian medicine uses saffron to treat depression, although it has no scientific studies that support this use. This reference is what has been done in recent years various studies on the efficacy of Crocus sativus in the treatment of mild to moderate depression, in order to scientifically assess the validity of this legendary application of saffron. And the results have been satisfactory: 176 mg of extract of Crocus sativus exhibit superior to placebo and similar to conventional drug treatments such as imipramine and fluoxetine efficacy, but without the adverse cholinergic effects caused such substances: dry mouth, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, abnormal urination and sexual dysfunction, among others.
Another factor to consider is that although pharmacological advances, the rate of remission of depression, when is endogenous, is low and the chances of high relapse. Being a natural remedy, saffron opens a new therapeutic approach for treating mild to moderate long-term depression, a condition that affects 20% of the population at some point in life and often ends up becoming a chronic condition for which accurate continuous medication.
Therapeutic dose
In anxious and depressive states are advised to take 176 mg of extract, although the dose may vary depending on the power of the extract. It has been found that saffron stigmas reduce the urge to snack between meals because they increase satiety addition to elevate mood, which helps to keep weight control diets.
