Saffron, or Crocus sativus, is a plant with a long history of being used in medicines, dyes, perfumes and cooking. While saffron is used globally, Iran is the largest producer of saffron. As many people look at natural remedies for mental health treatment, social media has popularized saffron as a potential treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Why is saffron gaining popularity?
Although saffron has been used to treat illness and disease since ancient times, research has only recently looked at saffron as a possible treatment for ADHD. Saffron has been promoted on social media as a non-medicine option for ADHD treatment, either instead of or in addition to methylphenidate.
What do we know about saffron?
While there are no large, long-term studies, a few small studies show promise. In these studies, saffron improved symptoms of hyperactivity and benefited sleep in patients with ADHD without serious safety concerns. Saffron was used either instead of a stimulant medication or alongside a stimulant medication. The dosage of saffron varied by study but was generally between 15-30 mg/day, which is more than a child would typically consume through foods cooked with saffron. A benefit of saffron over stimulants is that appetite loss and insomnia are not side effects of saffron supplementation but are common concerns for children taking stimulants.
What are some concerns about using saffron?
The few studies on saffron for ADHD symptom management did not report any serious safety concerns. However, larger studies are needed. Furthermore, supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so we cannot ensure the safety of products that consumers may purchase, and they can be expensive. In addition, the studies did not look at the optimal dosing of saffron for pediatric patients. The pediatric studies typically lasted 6 to 8 weeks, so we do not know about saffron’s long-term efficacy until more research is done. In addition, the studies showed benefits mostly for hyperactivity but not inattention. Many children with ADHD have both, so saffron may not be the best choice for all children with ADHD.
What are we still learning?
We are still learning about the optimal, weight-based dosing for children and whether saffron has long-term benefits. While saffron appears to have promise in treating the hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD, larger studies are needed to further compare the efficacy of saffron to stimulants.
Saffron, or Crocus sativus, is a plant with a long history of being used in medicines, dyes, perfumes and cooking. While saffron is used globally, Iran is the largest producer of saffron. As many people look at natural remedies for mental health treatment, social media has popularized saffron as a potential treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Why is saffron gaining popularity?
Although saffron has been used to treat illness and disease since ancient times, research has only recently looked at saffron as a possible treatment for ADHD. Saffron has been promoted on social media as a non-medicine option for ADHD treatment, either instead of or in addition to methylphenidate.
What do we know about saffron?
While there are no large, long-term studies, a few small studies show promise. In these studies, saffron improved symptoms of hyperactivity and benefited sleep in patients with ADHD without serious safety concerns. Saffron was used either instead of a stimulant medication or alongside a stimulant medication. The dosage of saffron varied by study but was generally between 15-30 mg/day, which is more than a child would typically consume through foods cooked with saffron. A benefit of saffron over stimulants is that appetite loss and insomnia are not side effects of saffron supplementation but are common concerns for children taking stimulants.
What are some concerns about using saffron?
The few studies on saffron for ADHD symptom management did not report any serious safety concerns. However, larger studies are needed. Furthermore, supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so we cannot ensure the safety of products that consumers may purchase, and they can be expensive. In addition, the studies did not look at the optimal dosing of saffron for pediatric patients. The pediatric studies typically lasted 6 to 8 weeks, so we do not know about saffron’s long-term efficacy until more research is done. In addition, the studies showed benefits mostly for hyperactivity but not inattention. Many children with ADHD have both, so saffron may not be the best choice for all children with ADHD.
What are we still learning?
We are still learning about the optimal, weight-based dosing for children and whether saffron has long-term benefits. While saffron appears to have promise in treating the hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD, larger studies are needed to further compare the efficacy of saffron to stimulants.
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