Saffron
This beautiful herb has been shown to help in a multitude of ways:
- Balancing effect on neurotransmitters and assisting cheerful mood
- Supporting mental clarity and cognition
- Soothing and calming smooth muscle function, assisting a healthy comfortable menstrual cycle and easing irritability
People across the globe have valued Saffron as both a spice, herbal remedy, and for its vibrant yellow colour for over 4000 years. The spice, derived from the 3 red stigmas of each flower, is still one of the world’s most costly substances. It takes about 36,000 flowers to yield just over 2 kilograms of stigmas! Saffron’s use in traditional herbal medicine can be traced back to many countries including Greece, China and the Middle East where it was originally cultivated.
A recent meta-analysis has shown the positive support that saffron can have on healthy and happy mood, making it a great choice for those who need a bit of a lift in this area.
Research has also shown that saffron assists discomfort during menstrual cycle if taken for 2 – 3 months. Supporting normal inflammatory responses and healthy smooth muscle tissue seems to be a key area of function for Saffron. Because Saffron is also wonderful support for a healthy mood, it can assist with feelings of worry and irritability during the cycle as well.
Clinical research has shown that saffron can support the health of nerve tissue in the eyes, mainly because of its action as an antioxidant. It is a useful nutrient to support vision and healthy ageing of the macular.
In older people, when brain support is needed, saffron helps nourish the nerves and assist healthy brain function and cognition.
So apart from looking pretty in the garden or providing a vivid colour to a dish, saffron can help our wellbeing in many ways. For clinical nutrition, saffron is available in capsules as saffron extract in researched recommended dosages.
