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Review, 2015

Does saffron reduce PMS symptoms?

Some clinical trials suggest saffron may reduce PMS symptoms more than placebo and similarly to standard treatments, but the evidence comes from a review of studies rather than new research.

Early or limited evidence Women with PMS (from various clinical trials reviewed)

What they did

Reviewed clinical trials examining saffron's effects on various conditions, including trials in women with PMS.

What they found

Saffron demonstrated antidepressant effects in 8 clinical trials compared to placebo or standard antidepressant drugs. Two clinical trials on skin care showed saffron was more effective than placebo. Clinical trials in women with PMS showed that saffron reduced suffering symptoms more than placebo and was similar to standard treatments.

What it means for you

There is some evidence suggesting saffron might help PMS symptoms, but this is a review of existing studies rather than proof from new research. Most evidence focuses on saffron's antidepressant effects. More research is needed to understand how well saffron works specifically for PMS.

8

Antidepressant clinical trials

2

Skin care clinical trials

About the study

Original title
Clinical Applications of Saffron (Crocus sativus) and its Constituents: A Review
Authors
Moshiri M, Vahabzadeh M, Hosseinzadeh H
Journal
Drug research
Year
2015
Study design
Review
What was tested
Saffron
Open access
Yes

Topics