The Saffron Secret: What You Should Know
From the heart of the saffron (Crocus sativus) flower rise three red threads, long revered for potent mood upliftment properties and a brilliant gold dye (earning it the nickname “the Sunshine Spice”).
These days, saffron’s intriguing power and potency have attracted the attention of scientists the world over, who are just beginning to explore its many possibilities for mood and brain health.
Indeed, multiple human clinical trials now confirm saffron's powerful mood support with as little as 15mg a day—that’s about 7.5 threads from just 2.5 flowers! (1, 2, 3)
Saffron can:
- Improve your feelings of sadness
- Soothe your feelings of anxiousness
- Help your cognitive function (4)
With potent compounds that strengthen your defenses, saffron can also uplift your immune system (which can take a hit when you’re feeling down). (5)
In fact, research shows that saffron can support your immune system in 35 different ways, including strengthening your defenses and protecting your immune cells, to name just a few! (6)
The World’s Most Expensive Spice
It might surprise you to hear that, pound for pound, saffron has, at times, costs more than gold!
The reason? Saffron flowers are hand-picked, one by one, on a single day—in the morning when the flowers are closed, so the threads are protected. Then, threads must be meticulously separated from the blossoms. All in all, it can take up to 170,000 flowers to yield just one pound of saffron. (7)
While saffron is profoundly labor intensive, with all the health benefits buried in its slender threads, it's easy to see why humanity has painstakingly grown and collected it for millennia.
But...Not All Saffron is Alike
Saffron is sought after today as much as ever. Between its demand and expense, saffron is commonly adulterated and even substituted with fakes, with studies showing adulteration in up to 90% of tested samples. (8)
That's why our saffron is identity tested, confirmed for the presence of key actives (like crocin and saffranal), and ensured there is no presence of dyes.
If you’d like to experience the Sunshine Spice’s therapeutic power yourself, give our Stress Therapy 7-Flower Infusion a try. Every serving includes validated, organic saffron at a clinical dose, plus 6 other uplifting flowers.
Stress Therapy is clinically proven to help improve your:
- Ability to adapt to stress*
- Emotional strength*
- Clarity of mind*
- Sustained energy*
- Focus*
- Well-being*
Our fast-absorbing herbal infusion has the precise dose of flowers proven to deliver benefits across your nervous system, gut microbiome, and immune system.*
References
1. Tabeshpour, J., Sobhani, F., Sadjadi, S. A., Hosseinzadeh, H., Mohajeri, S. A., Rajabi, O., Taherzadeh, Z., & Eslami, S. (2017). A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) in mothers suffering from mild-to-moderate postpartum depression. Phytomedicine: international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 36, 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2017.10.005
2. Akhondzadeh, S., Tahmacebi-Pour, N., Noorbala, A. A., Amini, H., Fallah-Pour, H., Jamshidi, A. H., & Khani, M. (2005). Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytotherapy research: PTR, 19(2), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1647
3. Pour, F. K., Aryaeian, N., Mokhtare, M., Mirnasrollahi Parsa, R. S., Jannani, L., Agah, S., Fallah, S., & Moradi, N. (2020). The effect of saffron supplementation on some inflammatory and oxidative markers, leptin, adiponectin, and body composition in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Phytotherapy research: PTR, 34(12), 3367–3378. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6791
4. Avgerinos, K. I., Vrysis, C., Chaitidis, N., Kolotsiou, K., Myserlis, P. G., & Kapogiannis, D. (2020). Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on cognitive function. A systematic review of RCTs. Neurological sciences: official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 41(10), 2747–2754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04427-0
5. Kianbakht, S., & Ghazavi, A. (2011). Immunomodulatory effects of saffron: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy research: PTR, 25(12), 1801–1805. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3484
6. Husaini, A. M., Jan, K. N., & Wani, G. A. (2021). Saffron: A potential drug-supplement for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID) management. Heliyon, 7(5), e07068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07068
7. Fierberg, E. (2019, September 12). Why saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-saffron-world-most-expensive-spice-2018-4
8. Girme, A., Mirgal, A., Darji, B., Gafner, S., Hingorani, L. (2022). Adulteration of saffron and saffron extracts. Botanical Adulterants Prevention Bulletin. Austin, TX: ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program.
9. Fulton, A. (2021, May 4). This is the World’s Most Expensive Spice. Culture. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/history-origin-of-saffron-spice-iran
10. Golmohammadi, F. (2014). Saffron and its farming, economic importance, export, medicinal characteristics and various uses in South Khorasan province-East of Iran. International journal of farming and allied sciences, 3(5): 566-596.
11. Ferrence, S. C., & Bendersky, G. (2004). Therapy with saffron and the goddess at Thera. Perspectives in biology and medicine, 47(2), 199–226. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2004.0026
12. Kazemi-Shahandashti, S. S., Mann, L., El-Nagish, A., Harpke, D., Nemati, Z., Usadel, B., & Heitkam, T. (2022). Ancient Artworks and Crocus Genetics Both Support Saffron's Origin in Early Greece. Frontiers in plant science, 13, 834416. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.834416
13. Ancient Origins. (2022, March 12). Saffron: Tracing the Origins of a Treasured Ancient Spice. Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/saffron-ancient-spice-001153
