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FIRST BOTTLE FREE · 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Hero
Your antidepressant worked, but now you can't cry and your sex drive is gone.
Saffron has been tested against a placebo in 34 trials.
Two trials gave saffron to people on Prozac, and 30 mg a day improved erections in men and arousal in women within four weeks.
$59.99 First bottle FREE Claim it →
Product gallery
Clean Health Lab Saffron, 60 capsules
You take one capsule a day with a glass of water.
This is the capsule at its real size.
Why saffron
Saffron works on serotonin, the same brain chemical your antidepressant works on.
3.5% crocin and safranal in every capsule
WHY THE EXTRACT MATTERS
Saffron is one of the most faked spices in the world.
Ours is a measured extract, so every capsule has the same 3.5% crocin and safranal.
The dose from the studies
30 mg a day is the dose the saffron trials used.
Each capsule has the full 30 mg, so you take one a day.
buy-box
Your 60-day supply 60 capsules · 1 a day
Choose a purchase option
Subscribe & save
One-time purchase
$59.99 FREE
Today: First bottle free, ships free
Day 60: Your first refill ships
Then: A bottle every 2 months
Get my first bottle free
Or buy once for $59.99 + shipping
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
It has two ingredients and no fillers or stearates.
Lab results for your bottle. Tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes
details
What it does
Saffron slows how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine.*
Tested at 30 mg a day on people with sexual side effects from Prozac. Read the study ↗
What's inside
One capsule holds 30 mg saffron extract and 220 mg glycine in a vegan capsule. The saffron is standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, and there are no fillers, stearates, silica or flow agents.
How to take it
Adults take one capsule a day. Store it away from heat and moisture.
mechanism
Why it happens
SSRIs raise serotonin all day, and for a lot of people that also switches off arousal and feelings.
In a survey of 1,431 people on antidepressants, 71% said they felt emotionally numb and 66% had sexual problems. Fewer than 5 in 100 had been warned about the numbness.
comparison
Typical saffron pills | Premium saffron pills | Clean Health Lab
Standardized like the trial extract: Rarely | Varies | 3.5% crocin & safranal
Fillers or flow agents: Often (rice flour) | Often (cellulose, calcium laurate) | None
Guarantee: Varies | Varies | 60 days, even if opened
First bottle: $10 to $25 | $45 for 30 days | Free
doctors
The study
A psychiatry team tested saffron on people whose Prozac was causing sexual problems.
Everyone kept taking their fluoxetine, which is Prozac, and added 15 mg of saffron twice a day or a placebo for four weeks.
60% of men on saffron were back to normal erections
7% on a placebo
36 married men stable on fluoxetine. Modabbernia et al., Psychopharmacology, 2012.
A second trial gave 30 mg a day to 38 women on fluoxetine, and their arousal and lubrication improved and pain during sex went down, compared with a placebo. Kashani et al., Human Psychopharmacology, 2013.
Each capsule has that 30 mg dose.
Get my first bottle free →
timeline
Day by day
Your first 60 days
The trial that added saffron to antidepressants ran 8 weeks, about the length of one bottle.
160 adults on an antidepressant · 28 mg saffron a day · 8 weeks saffron or a placebo · 2019 Journal of Psychopharmacology
Day 1: One capsule a day
30 mg of saffron extract in each capsule
Take it with water, and keep taking your antidepressant
Day 30: Halfway
The Prozac trials took their last measurements at 4 weeks
Day 60: The bottle is done
Your first refill ships now
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
Week 12: Into your second bottle
The biggest saffron trials ran 12 weeks.
free-bottle
Why the first bottle is free
You've already waited for the side effects to wear off.
So your first bottle is free. It lasts 60 days, and the trial on people taking antidepressants ran 8 weeks.
THE STUDY
Everyone in this trial was on an antidepressant and still felt low. With saffron added for 8 weeks, their depression scores fell 41% on their doctor's rating scale. With a placebo, they fell 21%.
FEWER SIDE EFFECTS
In 8 trials that compared saffron with SSRIs, about 6 fewer people in every 100 had side effects on saffron.
THE DOSE
In a 4-week trial of 128 adults with low mood, 22 mg a day did no better than a placebo, while 28 mg a day lifted their mood.
REAL SAFFRON
Studies estimate 20 to 30% of the saffron sold around the world is cut with safflower, marigold or turmeric, or colored with dye. We use an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal and test every lot for both.
Formula
It has just two ingredients.
Most capsules also contain magnesium stearate or silica, which help the powder run through the machines. Ours is just the two ingredients in a vegan capsule.
30 mg Saffron extract. From the red threads of the saffron flower, standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal.
220 mg Glycine. An amino acid your body also makes on its own.
formula-support
What saffron was tested for
Mood: Women aged 50 to 70 on saffron had lower depression scores than women on a placebo.
Drive: In two trials on people taking Prozac, saffron improved arousal and erections.
Calm: In women aged 40 to 60, anxiety scores fell 33% on saffron over 12 weeks.
Serotonin: In lab studies, crocin and safranal slowed how fast brain cells clear away serotonin.
formula-editorial
Saffron and serotonin
Saffron gets its color from crocin and its smell from safranal, and a good extract is measured by how much of those two it has.
Saffron powder → Strength varies
Our extract → 3.5% crocin & safranal
Crocin and safranal slow down how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine, so more of both stays active between brain cells.
label
Here's the full label, so you can check every amount.
We source ingredients from around the world, formulate it in Canada, and bottle and package it in the USA.
60 days to decide
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if the bottle is open, and returns are free.
lab-tested
Quality
We test every lot, and you can read the report for yours.
Each lot is tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes before it ships.
Vegan capsule · No fillers · No stearates · No silica · No flow agents · Crocin & safranal tested · Heavy metals tested · Microbiology tested · Report for your lot
routine
Taking it every day
Start with one bottle
Your first bottle has 60 capsules, enough for 60 days.
Keep it where you'll see it
Put it next to something you use every morning, so you remember to take it.
Give it the full 60 days
Keep taking your antidepressant as usual and add one capsule a day.
faq
Common questions
Can I take it with my antidepressant?
Yes. In all three trials people kept taking their antidepressant and added saffron every day, and in both Prozac trials side effects were about the same as on the placebo.
What else is in the capsule?
Just 220 mg of glycine and the vegan capsule itself, and nothing else.
Is this the same as the saffron in my kitchen?
It comes from the same red threads, but kitchen saffron isn't measured and a lot of it is cut with safflower or dyed corn silk. Ours is an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, so every capsule has the same amount.
What should I expect, and how soon?
In the Prozac trials the change showed up by week 4. Take it every day for the full bottle before you decide.
How do I take it?
Take one capsule a day with water. Each bottle has 60 capsules. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and out of reach of children.
How does the two-month subscription work?
Your first bottle is free and ships free. The plan includes your first refill, which ships on day 60 for $50.99, and after that a bottle ships every two months at the same price. If you'd rather buy once, a single bottle is $59.99 plus shipping.
What if it isn't right for me?
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if you've opened the bottle, and returns are free. Email or call us and we'll help you send it back.
Closing
Saffron · 60 capsules · One a day
If you still feel numb on your antidepressant, your first bottle is free.
Take it for the full 60 days, and if it doesn't help, you get your money back.
Then $50.99 every 2 months.
Get my first bottle free
60-day money-back guarantee. It covers an opened bottle, and returns are free.
Footer
Clean Health Lab Saffron
Saffron extract and glycine in a vegan capsule, formulated in Canada and bottled in the USA.
Questions before you order?
Email us and we'll reply within 24 hours.
Lander link: ?view=chl-saffron-low-mood
Announcement bar
FIRST BOTTLE FREE · 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Hero
You've felt low for months, and you don't want to start an antidepressant to fix it.
Saffron has been tested against a placebo in 34 trials.
In a 6-week head-to-head trial, 30 mg of saffron a day worked as well as Prozac.
$59.99 First bottle FREE Claim it →
Product gallery
Clean Health Lab Saffron, 60 capsules
You take one capsule a day with a glass of water.
This is the capsule at its real size.
Why saffron
Saffron is a flower extract you can take without a prescription.
3.5% crocin and safranal in every capsule
WHY THE EXTRACT MATTERS
Saffron is one of the most faked spices in the world.
Ours is a measured extract, so every capsule has the same 3.5% crocin and safranal.
The dose from the studies
30 mg a day is the dose the saffron trials used.
Each capsule has the full 30 mg, so you take one a day.
buy-box
Your 60-day supply 60 capsules · 1 a day
Choose a purchase option
Subscribe & save
One-time purchase
$59.99 FREE
Today: First bottle free, ships free
Day 60: Your first refill ships
Then: A bottle every 2 months
Get my first bottle free
Or buy once for $59.99 + shipping
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
It has two ingredients and no fillers or stearates.
Lab results for your bottle. Tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes
details
What it does
Saffron slows how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine.*
Tested on 202 adults with low mood in the biggest saffron trial so far. Read the study ↗
What's inside
One capsule holds 30 mg saffron extract and 220 mg glycine in a vegan capsule. The saffron is standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, and there are no fillers, stearates, silica or flow agents.
How to take it
Adults take one capsule a day. Store it away from heat and moisture.
mechanism
How saffron works
Saffron works on serotonin and dopamine, the same brain chemicals antidepressants target.
In 8 trials that put saffron head to head with SSRIs, it lowered depression scores about as much.
comparison
Typical saffron pills | Premium saffron pills | Clean Health Lab
Standardized like the trial extract: Rarely | Varies | 3.5% crocin & safranal
Fillers or flow agents: Often (rice flour) | Often (cellulose, calcium laurate) | None
Guarantee: Varies | Varies | 60 days, even if opened
First bottle: $10 to $25 | $45 for 30 days | Free
doctors
The guideline
31 psychiatry experts from 15 countries reviewed the evidence on saffron.
Their 2022 guideline rated saffron 'provisionally recommended' for depression, one of only four plant extracts it supported for depression.
49% of women on saffron saw their depression score drop by 7 points or more
26% on a placebo
86 women aged 50 to 70 with low mood and poor sleep, 28 mg a day for 12 weeks. Lopresti and Smith, Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026.
Get my first bottle free →
timeline
Day by day
Your first 60 days
In a 4-week trial of adults with low mood, people on 28 mg a day were in a better mood by the end.
202 adults with low mood · 28 mg saffron a day · 12 weeks saffron or a placebo · 2025 Journal of Nutrition
Day 1: One capsule a day
30 mg of saffron extract in each capsule
Take it with water
Day 30: Halfway
The 4-week trial ended here
Day 60: The bottle is done
Your first refill ships now
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
Week 12: Into your second bottle
The biggest saffron trials ran 12 weeks.
free-bottle
Why the first bottle is free
You've already paid for supplements that did nothing for your mood.
So your first bottle is free. It lasts 60 days, and it can take a few weeks to know if saffron is working for you.
THE STUDY
In the biggest saffron trial so far, 202 adults with low mood took it for 12 weeks. 72 in 100 saw their depression score drop by 7 points or more, compared with 54 in 100 on a placebo.
FEWER SIDE EFFECTS
In 8 trials that compared saffron with SSRIs, about 6 fewer people in every 100 had side effects on saffron.
THE DOSE
In a 4-week trial of 128 adults with low mood, 22 mg a day did no better than a placebo, while 28 mg a day lifted their mood.
REAL SAFFRON
Studies estimate 20 to 30% of the saffron sold around the world is cut with safflower, marigold or turmeric, or colored with dye. We use an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal and test every lot for both.
Formula
It has just two ingredients.
Most capsules also contain magnesium stearate or silica, which help the powder run through the machines. Ours is just the two ingredients in a vegan capsule.
30 mg Saffron extract. From the red threads of the saffron flower, standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal.
220 mg Glycine. An amino acid your body also makes on its own.
formula-support
What saffron was tested for
Mood: Women aged 50 to 70 on saffron had lower depression scores than women on a placebo.
Drive: In two trials on people taking Prozac, saffron improved arousal and erections.
Calm: In women aged 40 to 60, anxiety scores fell 33% on saffron over 12 weeks.
Serotonin: In lab studies, crocin and safranal slowed how fast brain cells clear away serotonin.
formula-editorial
How saffron works in your brain
Saffron gets its color from crocin and its smell from safranal, and a good extract is measured by how much of those two it has.
Saffron powder → Strength varies
Our extract → 3.5% crocin & safranal
Crocin and safranal slow down how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine, so more of both stays active between brain cells.
label
Here's the full label, so you can check every amount.
We source ingredients from around the world, formulate it in Canada, and bottle and package it in the USA.
60 days to decide
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if the bottle is open, and returns are free.
lab-tested
Quality
We test every lot, and you can read the report for yours.
Each lot is tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes before it ships.
Vegan capsule · No fillers · No stearates · No silica · No flow agents · Crocin & safranal tested · Heavy metals tested · Microbiology tested · Report for your lot
routine
Taking it every day
Start with one bottle
Your first bottle has 60 capsules, enough for 60 days.
Keep it where you'll see it
Put it next to something you use every morning, so you remember to take it.
Give it the full 60 days
Take it at the same time each day, whichever time you'll remember.
faq
Common questions
How is it different from an antidepressant?
Saffron is a flower extract you take as a supplement, so you don't need a prescription. In 8 trials that compared it with SSRIs it lowered depression scores about as much, and people on saffron had fewer side effects.
What else is in the capsule?
Just 220 mg of glycine and the vegan capsule itself, and nothing else.
Is this the same as the saffron in my kitchen?
It comes from the same red threads, but kitchen saffron isn't measured and a lot of it is cut with safflower or dyed corn silk. Ours is an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, so every capsule has the same amount.
What should I expect, and how soon?
In the 4-week trial people were in a better mood by the end. Take it every day for the full bottle before you decide.
How do I take it?
Take one capsule a day with water. Each bottle has 60 capsules. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and out of reach of children.
How does the two-month subscription work?
Your first bottle is free and ships free. The plan includes your first refill, which ships on day 60 for $50.99, and after that a bottle ships every two months at the same price. If you'd rather buy once, a single bottle is $59.99 plus shipping.
What if it isn't right for me?
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if you've opened the bottle, and returns are free. Email or call us and we'll help you send it back.
Closing
Saffron · 60 capsules · One a day
If you'd rather try saffron before a prescription, your first bottle is free.
Take it for the full 60 days, and if it doesn't help, you get your money back.
Then $50.99 every 2 months.
Get my first bottle free
60-day money-back guarantee. It covers an opened bottle, and returns are free.
Footer
Clean Health Lab Saffron
Saffron extract and glycine in a vegan capsule, formulated in Canada and bottled in the USA.
Questions before you order?
Email us and we'll reply within 24 hours.
Lander link: ?view=chl-saffron-night
Announcement bar
FIRST BOTTLE FREE · 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Hero
You're exhausted all day, and then you lie in bed with your mind racing.
Saffron has been tested against a placebo in 34 trials.
Saffron raised evening melatonin in adults who slept badly, and they rated their sleep better than people on a placebo.
$59.99 First bottle FREE Claim it →
Product gallery
Clean Health Lab Saffron, 60 capsules
You take one capsule a day with a glass of water.
This is the capsule at its real size.
Why saffron
Saffron works on serotonin and melatonin, which your body uses to wind down at night.
3.5% crocin and safranal in every capsule
WHY THE EXTRACT MATTERS
Saffron is one of the most faked spices in the world.
Ours is a measured extract, so every capsule has the same 3.5% crocin and safranal.
The dose from the studies
30 mg a day is the dose the saffron trials used.
Each capsule has the full 30 mg, so you take one a day.
buy-box
Your 60-day supply 60 capsules · 1 a day
Choose a purchase option
Subscribe & save
One-time purchase
$59.99 FREE
Today: First bottle free, ships free
Day 60: Your first refill ships
Then: A bottle every 2 months
Get my first bottle free
Or buy once for $59.99 + shipping
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
It has two ingredients and no fillers or stearates.
Lab results for your bottle. Tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes
details
What it does
Saffron slows how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine.*
Tested on 63 adults who slept badly, for 28 days. Read the study ↗
What's inside
One capsule holds 30 mg saffron extract and 220 mg glycine in a vegan capsule. The saffron is standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, and there are no fillers, stearates, silica or flow agents.
How to take it
Adults take one capsule a day. Store it away from heat and moisture.
mechanism
Melatonin and saffron
Saffron raised the melatonin your body makes in the evening to get you to sleep.
In a 120-person trial, adults who slept badly took saffron an hour before bed for 28 days. They had more melatonin in the evening, and they rated their sleep better and woke up in a better mood than people on a placebo.
comparison
Typical saffron pills | Premium saffron pills | Clean Health Lab
Standardized like the trial extract: Rarely | Varies | 3.5% crocin & safranal
Fillers or flow agents: Often (rice flour) | Often (cellulose, calcium laurate) | None
Guarantee: Varies | Varies | 60 days, even if opened
First bottle: $10 to $25 | $45 for 30 days | Free
doctors
The sleep study
Researchers in Perth tested saffron on adults who couldn't sleep.
They took 14 mg twice a day or a placebo for 28 days, and most of the change came in the first week.
25% drop in insomnia scores on saffron
9% on a placebo
63 adults aged 18 to 70 with sleep problems. Lopresti et al., Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2020.
Each capsule has 30 mg, and you take it about an hour before bed.
Get my first bottle free →
timeline
Day by day
Your first 60 days
The two sleep trials each ran 28 days.
63 adults who slept badly · 28 mg saffron a day · 28 days saffron or a placebo · 2020 Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Day 1: One capsule a day
30 mg of saffron extract in each capsule
Take it about an hour before bed
Day 30: Halfway
That's the length of both sleep trials
Day 60: The bottle is done
Your first refill ships now
60-day money-back guarantee, even if opened
Week 12: Into your second bottle
The biggest saffron trials ran 12 weeks.
free-bottle
Why the first bottle is free
You've already paid for melatonin that didn't keep you asleep.
So your first bottle is free. It lasts 60 days, twice as long as the 28-day sleep trials.
THE ANXIETY STUDY
In a 12-week trial of women aged 40 to 60, anxiety scores fell 33% on saffron and rose 7% on a placebo.
FEWER SIDE EFFECTS
In 8 trials that compared saffron with SSRIs, about 6 fewer people in every 100 had side effects on saffron.
THE DOSE
In a 4-week trial of 128 adults with low mood, 22 mg a day did no better than a placebo, while 28 mg a day lifted their mood.
REAL SAFFRON
Studies estimate 20 to 30% of the saffron sold around the world is cut with safflower, marigold or turmeric, or colored with dye. We use an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal and test every lot for both.
Formula
It has just two ingredients.
Most capsules also contain magnesium stearate or silica, which help the powder run through the machines. Ours is just the two ingredients in a vegan capsule.
30 mg Saffron extract. From the red threads of the saffron flower, standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal.
220 mg Glycine. An amino acid your body also makes on its own.
formula-support
What saffron was tested for
Mood: Women aged 50 to 70 on saffron had lower depression scores than women on a placebo.
Drive: In two trials on people taking Prozac, saffron improved arousal and erections.
Calm: In women aged 40 to 60, anxiety scores fell 33% on saffron over 12 weeks.
Serotonin: In lab studies, crocin and safranal slowed how fast brain cells clear away serotonin.
formula-editorial
How saffron works at night
Saffron gets its color from crocin and its smell from safranal, and a good extract is measured by how much of those two it has.
Saffron powder → Strength varies
Our extract → 3.5% crocin & safranal
Crocin and safranal slow down how fast your brain clears away serotonin and dopamine, so more of both stays active between brain cells.
label
Here's the full label, so you can check every amount.
We source ingredients from around the world, formulate it in Canada, and bottle and package it in the USA.
60 days to decide
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if the bottle is open, and returns are free.
lab-tested
Quality
We test every lot, and you can read the report for yours.
Each lot is tested for crocin and safranal, heavy metals and microbes before it ships.
Vegan capsule · No fillers · No stearates · No silica · No flow agents · Crocin & safranal tested · Heavy metals tested · Microbiology tested · Report for your lot
routine
Taking it every day
Start with one bottle
Your first bottle has 60 capsules, enough for 60 days.
Keep it by your bed
Take it about an hour before bed, the way the bedtime trial did.
Give it the full 60 days
If you miss a night, take the next one at the usual time.
faq
Common questions
Will it make me groggy in the morning?
No. In the bedtime trial, people on saffron woke up in a better mood than people on a placebo, and no one reported significant side effects.
What else is in the capsule?
Just 220 mg of glycine and the vegan capsule itself, and nothing else.
Is this the same as the saffron in my kitchen?
It comes from the same red threads, but kitchen saffron isn't measured and a lot of it is cut with safflower or dyed corn silk. Ours is an extract standardized to 3.5% crocin and safranal, so every capsule has the same amount.
What should I expect, and how soon?
In the sleep trials people took it every night for 28 days. Take it every night for the full bottle before you decide.
How do I take it?
Take one capsule about an hour before bed with water. Each bottle has 60 capsules. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and out of reach of children.
How does the two-month subscription work?
Your first bottle is free and ships free. The plan includes your first refill, which ships on day 60 for $50.99, and after that a bottle ships every two months at the same price. If you'd rather buy once, a single bottle is $59.99 plus shipping.
What if it isn't right for me?
You have 60 days to get your money back, even if you've opened the bottle, and returns are free. Email or call us and we'll help you send it back.
Closing
Saffron · 60 capsules · One a day
If your mind still races at night, your first bottle is free.
Take it for the full 60 days, and if it doesn't help, you get your money back.
Then $50.99 every 2 months.
Get my first bottle free
60-day money-back guarantee. It covers an opened bottle, and returns are free.
Footer
Clean Health Lab Saffron
Saffron extract and glycine in a vegan capsule, formulated in Canada and bottled in the USA.
Questions before you order?
Email us and we'll reply within 24 hours.
CHL Saffron landers: every claim and its source (verified 2026-10-13)
Every number on the page traces to a row here. Abstracts were pulled verbatim from PubMed E-utilities on 2026-10-13 and saved
in reads/abstracts/<PMID>.txt (two full texts from PMC: PMC7849671-fulltext.txt, PMC8408316-fulltext.txt).
No number on the page comes from a summary, a blog or memory.
Product we sell (label sources/product-references/saffron-30mg-2026-10-13/artwork/saffron/label-saffron.html): 30 mg
saffron extract (Crocus sativus stigma, standardised to 3.5% crocin & safranal) + 220 mg glycine, one vegan capsule a day,
60 capsules. The affron® name is not on the label, so the page never names affron.
Dose match, read this first. The Iranian trials (fluoxetine sexual side effects, Noorbala vs fluoxetine) used 30 mg a day,
our exact dose. The Australian affron trials (Lopresti, Kell) used 28 mg a day (14 mg twice a day), 2 mg under ours, and
the page always states the study's own dose next to its result. The line "the same 3.5% standard as the extract in the
Australian trials" is true only if the contract manufacturer supplies affron or an extract standardised to ≥3.5%
Lepticrosalides (crocin + safranal isomers by HPLC). Confirm with the CM before launch; if it is a different extract, cut
that line and keep "standardised to 3.5% crocin and safranal".
A. Claims used on the page
| # | Claim as written on the page | Source (PMID / DOI) | Dose and length | Who was studied | Exact numbers from the source | Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 mg a day improved erections in men on Prozac; 60% of men on saffron were back to normal erections vs 7% on a placebo | Modabbernia et al., Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012;223(4):381-8. PMID 22552758, doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2729-6 | 15 mg twice a day (30 mg/day), 4 weeks | 36 married men with major depression, stable on fluoxetine, with sexual complaints (30 finished) | Erectile function P < 0.001, intercourse satisfaction P = 0.001, total IIEF P < 0.001 vs placebo. "Nine patients (60%) in the saffron group and one patient (7%) in the placebo group achieved normal erectile function (score > 25)", P = 0.005. Side effects similar. No difference in desire (P = 0.517), orgasm (P = 0.095) or overall satisfaction. | numb; Drive card (all views) |
| 2 | 30 mg a day improved arousal, lubrication and pain during sex in women on Prozac | Kashani et al., Hum Psychopharmacol 2013;28(1):54-60. PMID 23280545, doi:10.1002/hup.2282 | 30 mg/day, 4 weeks | 38 women with major depression stable on fluoxetine 40 mg/day ≥6 weeks, with sexual complaints (34 completed) | Total FSFI P < 0.001, arousal P = 0.028, lubrication P = 0.035, pain P = 0.016 vs placebo. Not desire (P = 0.196), satisfaction or orgasm. Side effects similar. | numb; Drive card (all views) |
| 3 | Everyone was on an antidepressant and still felt low; with saffron added for 8 weeks, doctor-rated depression scores fell 41%, with a placebo 21% | Lopresti, Smith, Hood, Drummond. J Psychopharmacol 2019;33(11):1415-1427. PMID 31475623, doi:10.1177/0269881119867703 | affron 14 mg twice a day (28 mg/day), 8 weeks | 160 adults with persistent depression taking an antidepressant (139 usable) | Clinician-rated MADRS fell 41% vs 21% (p = 0.001). Self-rated MADRS-S fell 27% vs 26% (p = 0.831), no difference, so the page says "on their doctor's rating scale". | numb |
| 4 | In a survey of 1,431 antidepressant users, 71% felt emotionally numb, 66% had sexual problems, and fewer than 5 in 100 were warned about the numbness | Read & Williams, Curr Drug Saf 2018;13(3):176-186. PMID 29866014, doi:10.2174/1574886313666180605095130 | Online survey | 1,431 adult antidepressant users, 38 countries | "Feeling emotionally numb" 71%, "Sexual difficulties" 66%; "Less than 5% were told about suicidality, emotional numbing, withdrawal effects or addiction." Self-selected online sample. | numb |
| 5 | 30 mg a day matched fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg in a head-to-head trial | Noorbala et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2005;97(2):281-4. PMID 15707766, doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.004 | Saffron 30 mg/day vs fluoxetine 20 mg/day, 6 weeks | 40 adult outpatients with mild to moderate major depression | "Saffron at this dose was found to be effective similar to fluoxetine" (F = 0.13, P = 0.71). No difference in side effects. | low-mood (hero subhead) |
| 6 | In 8 trials head to head with SSRIs, saffron lowered depression scores about as much, and people on saffron had fewer side effects | Shafiee et al., Nutr Rev 2025;83(3):e751-e761. PMID 38913392, doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae076 | Meta-analysis | 8 RCTs (depression), 4 (anxiety) | Depression SMD 0.10 (95% CI −0.09 to 0.29), non-significant difference vs SSRIs; anxiety SMD 0.04. Fewer adverse events on saffron: risk difference −0.06 (−0.09 to −0.04). "About as much" = no significant difference. The FEWER SIDE EFFECTS slide says "about 6 fewer people in every 100 had side effects on saffron", which is the pooled risk difference of −0.06 read as people per 100. | low-mood, FAQ; FEWER SIDE EFFECTS slide (all views) |
| 7 | In 2022, 31 psychiatry researchers and doctors from 15 countries rated saffron "provisionally recommended" for depression | Sarris et al. (WFSBP + CANMAT taskforce), World J Biol Psychiatry 2022;23(6):424-455. PMID 35311615, doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041 | Guideline | n/a | "31 leading academics and clinicians from 15 countries"; "saffron (++)" in unipolar depression, where ++ = "Provisionally Recommended". Only four plant extracts got a positive Grade A rating for unipolar depression: St John's wort (+++), saffron (++), curcumin (++), lavender (+), which is the page's 'one of only four plant extracts'. Same review: methylfolate (+) for depression; rhodiola "not supported for use in mood disorders"; ashwagandha (++) for anxiety. The taskforce also named "quality and standardisation of phytoceuticals" as a key limiting issue (supports the clean-label story). | low-mood |
| 8 | 49% of women on saffron saw their depression score drop by 7 points or more, vs 26% on a placebo | Lopresti & Smith, Front Nutr 2026;13:1838513. PMID 42389708, doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1838513 | affron 28 mg/day, 12 weeks | 86 women aged 50 to 70 with low mood and self-reported poor sleep | "≥7-point reduction" in DASS-21 depression: 48.8% vs 25.6% (p = 0.026). Self-esteem also improved (p = 0.022). No difference in sleep disturbance (p = 0.786), appearance or skin age. Page rounds to 49 and 26. | low-mood; Mood card (all views) |
| 9 | In the biggest saffron trial so far, 202 adults with low mood took it for 12 weeks; 72 in 100 saw their depression score drop by 7 points or more, vs 54 in 100 on a placebo | Lopresti et al., J Nutr 2025;155(7):2300-2311. PMID 40414301, doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.05.024 | affron 28 mg/day, 12 weeks | 202 adults aged 18 to 70 with subclinical depressive symptoms | ≥7-point DASS-21 depression reduction: 72.3% vs 54.3% (P = 0.010). Authors call it "the largest conducted to date on saffron". No between-group difference on the other secondary outcomes (anxiety, stress, wellbeing). | low-mood |
| 10 | In a 4-week trial of 128 adults with low mood, 22 mg a day did no better than a placebo and 28 mg a day did | Kell et al., Complement Ther Med 2017;33:58-64. PMID 28735826, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001 | affron 28 mg/day, 22 mg/day or placebo, 4 weeks | 128 healthy adults self-reporting low mood, not diagnosed | 28 mg vs placebo on POMS Total Mood Disturbance p < 0.001, d = −1.10; "no treatment effect at the 22mg/day dose". | all (dose slide), low-mood timeline |
| 11 | In a 12-week trial of women aged 40 to 60, anxiety scores fell 33% on saffron and rose 7% on a placebo | Lopresti & Smith, J Menopausal Med 2021;27(2):66-78. PMID 34463070, PMCID PMC8408316, doi:10.6118/jmm.21002 | affron 14 mg twice a day (28 mg/day), 12 weeks | 86 perimenopausal women aged 40 to 60 (82 analysed) | Full text: "In the saffron group, there was a 33% reduction in the anxiety and a 32% reduction in depression score ... In the placebo group, there was a 7% increase in the anxiety and a 9% reduction in depression scores." GCS psychological score P = 0.032. Most mood change in the first 4 weeks. No effect on hot flushes (vasomotor P = 0.401). | night; Calm card (all views) |
| 12 | Adults who slept badly took saffron for 28 days; insomnia scores dropped 25% vs 9% on a placebo, and most of the change came in the first week | Lopresti et al., J Clin Sleep Med 2020;16(6):937-947. PMID 32056539, PMCID PMC7849671, doi:10.5664/jcsm.8376 | affron 14 mg twice a day (28 mg/day), 28 days | 63 adults aged 18 to 70 with self-reported sleep problems (55 analysed; 46 of 55 women; mean age 48 to 53) | ISI P = .017 vs placebo. Table 2 means: saffron 15.75 → 11.74, placebo 14.74 → 13.46. The 25% and 9% are our arithmetic from those means (25.5%, 8.7%), not printed in the paper. "The majority of changes in ISI scores occurred in the first 7 days." | night |
| 13 | In a 120-person trial, adults who took saffron before bed had more melatonin in the evening, rated their sleep better and woke in a better mood | Lopresti et al., Sleep Med 2021;86:7-18. PMID 34438361, doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2021.08.001 | affron 14 mg or 28 mg, 1 h before bed, 28 days | 120 adults with unsatisfactory sleep | Better sleep quality ratings (primary), mood after awakening, ISQ total and insomnia classifications vs placebo; "increases in evening melatonin concentrations but did not affect evening cortisol"; both doses similar; "well-tolerated with no reported significant adverse effects". No percentages in the abstract, so the page uses none. | night |
| 14 | Saffron has been tested against a placebo in 34 trials with 1,769 people | Mahmoudi et al., Nutr Neurosci 2026;29(7):816-837. PMID 41693488, doi:10.1080/1028415X.2025.2602153 | Meta-analysis | 34 RCTs, 1,769 participants | BDI WMD −4.39 (14 trials), BAI WMD −5.06 (6 trials); no significant effect on HDRS, HARS or POMS; GRADE moderate. Page uses only the trial count. | all (hero proof line, closing) |
| 15 | Crocin and safranal slow how fast the brain clears serotonin and dopamine | Matraszek-Gawron et al., Pharmaceuticals 2022;16(1):58. PMID 36678554, doi:10.3390/ph16010058; Lopresti & Drummond, Hum Psychopharmacol 2014;29(6):517-27. PMID 25384672 | Review | 414 lab, animal and clinical papers | "Monoamine reuptake inhibition, NMDA receptor antagonism, and GABA-α agonism are the main proposed mechanism"; Lopresti 2014: "serotonergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-endocrine and neuroprotective effects". This is the proposed mechanism from lab and animal work; no human trial measured reuptake. Legal to judge the plain wording. | all (details, Serotonin card, editorial); low-mood mechanism |
| 16 | 20 to 30% of saffron sold worldwide is adulterated, cut with safflower, marigold or turmeric or coloured with synthetic dyes | Mehdizadeh et al., Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2026;66(7):1387-1403. PMID 40792566, doi:10.1080/10408398.2025.2544767 | Systematic review | 23 studies, 2015-2025 | "20-30% of commercial saffron is adulterated globally ... (3.5% in regulated EU markets vs. 60% in India)"; "substitution with safflower, marigold, or turmeric; dilution with extraneous plant materials; and the addition of hazardous synthetic dyes such as Sudan compounds and auramine-O". | all (clean label, FAQ) |
| 17 | Corn silk dyed with beet juice is sold as saffron | ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, Saffron bulletin (Gafner, Girme, Mirgal, Hingorani, Darji), March 2022. Bulletin URL: herbalgram.org/resources/botanical-adulterants-prevention-program/adulterants-bulletins/saffron-bulletin-march-2022/ (page is JavaScript-only; text read via NutraIngredients 2022-03-15 report) | Bulletin | n/a | "corn (Zea mays) stigmas dyed in beet (Beta vulgaris) juice, as well as pomegranate fruit peel or fibers, safflower and calendula flowers"; "powdered saffron with ground turmeric or paprika as undisclosed lower-cost bulking agents". Secondary read of a primary bulletin; the page leans on #16 for numbers. | FAQ |
Plain facts used without a study row: SSRIs and most other antidepressants act on serotonin (Serotonin card); the label's own facts (30 mg, 3.5% crocin & safranal, 220 mg glycine, vegan capsule, no fillers, stearates, silica or flow agents, formulated in Canada, bottled in the USA).
B. Comparison-table evidence (not studies)
| Cell | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap saffron pills: often 88.5 mg; filler example rice flour | Nutricost Saffron 88.5 mg, 240 caps, $19.95: "88.5 mg of Saffron Extract (flower) (0.3% Safranal)", other ingredients "Rice flour and hypromellose" (Vitacost/Walmart listing, read 2026-10-13); Amazon page 1 read in ../next-products-2026-10-13/amazon-demand-price.md §6 ($9.95 to $24.97 generics, mostly 88.5 mg) | verified listing |
| Premium saffron: 30 mg; fillers microcrystalline cellulose, calcium laurate; $45 for 30 capsules | Thorne Rapid Relief Saffron (Fullscript, read 2026-10-13): "Safr'Inside Saffron extract 30 mg", ≥0.2% safranal; other ingredients "Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hypromellose capsule, Calcium Laurate"; $45 / 30 caps (Amazon read 10-13) | verified listing |
| "Standardised like the trial extract: Rarely / Varies / Yes" | Nutricost 0.3% safranal, Thorne ≥0.2% safranal; neither lists 3.5% crocin & safranal | 2 brands checked; "Rarely" and "Varies" are judgement words |
| Guarantee "Varies" for competitors | not checked | judgement word, no claim |
C. Claims considered and left out
Sex drive / desire. Neither fluoxetine trial improved desire (men P = 0.517, women P = 0.196). The page names lost sex drive as the
customer's pain (hero, from the verbatim) but every result line says erections, arousal, lubrication or pain, never "desire".
Emotional numbness / blunting. No saffron trial measured it. The numb page claims mood (trial #3) and sexual function (#1, #2) only.
Stress and anxiety in the biggest trial. Lopresti 2025 found no difference on DASS-21 anxiety or stress, which is one reason stress
was dropped as a view (see COPY.md, "Why night replaces stress").
Hot flushes. The perimenopause trial found no vasomotor effect. Not used.
PMS (Agha-Hosseini et al., BJOG 2008;115(4):515-9, PMID 18271889, 30 mg/day for 2 cycles, women 20 to 45). The abstract reports
significance but no numbers, and the age range sits under CHL's 45 to 55 buyer. Not used.
Youth trial (Lopresti 2018, J Affect Disord, PMID 29510352, ages 12 to 16, internalising symptoms −33% vs −17%). Wrong buyer. Not used.
Emotional-blunting rate 46% (Goodwin et al., J Affect Disord 2017, PMID 28628765, 669 patients). Kept as a backup for #4, not on the page.
Network meta-analysis (Cheng et al., Psychol Med 2025, PMID 40314175): saffron monotherapy SMD 0.69 vs antidepressants alone. Strong,
but hard to say plainly to a shopper without misreading it. Not used.
Sexual dysfunction meta-analysis (Ranjbar & Ashrafizaveh, Avicenna J Phytomed 2019, PMID 31516855, 5 studies, 173 people, SMD 0.811).
Backup for the numb page if legal wants a pooled number.
D. Open items for legal and the operator
1. Confirm the extract (affron or ≥3.5% Lepticrosalides equivalent) before the "same standard" line ships.
2. Confirm every lot will get an HPLC crocin and safranal test before "Each lot is tested for crocin and safranal" ships (no lab or lot exists yet;
the COA block carries placeholders).
3. Interaction: Reddit raises a "saffron + Lexapro serotonin syndrome" flag (customer-language.md). The trials kept people on fluoxetine or their
antidepressant with side effects similar to placebo, which is what the FAQ says. Legal decides whether more is needed.
4. Structure/function lines carry the DSHEA asterisk as on the L-Methylfolate page.