Info: 60 Veg. Caps
50 mg Whole Stigma Powder Capsules - Some might find it surprising that saffron - well known for its use as a spice - can not only help support healthy vision, but also a more balanced, positive, or relaxed mood, and even promote a far more restful sleep.
Info: 60 Veg. Caps
50 mg Whole Stigma Powder Capsules - Some might find it surprising that saffron - well known for its use as a spice - can not only help support healthy vision, but also a more balanced, positive, or relaxed mood, and even promote a far more restful sleep.
Product Notes:
Saffron 'Stigma' Threads
Saffron isn't the first culinary herb or spice to make the journey from the pantry to the (natural) medicine cabinet once scientific research identified their antioxidant or other protective properties and validated some of its other traditional uses (think Oil of Oregano or Garlic, e.g.), and it certainly won't be the last.
Saffron isn't just a subtle spice (that's very expensive because it has to be gathered by hand by pulling out the long orange-red threads or "stigma" growing from the centre of that kind of crocus flower) or a colour or a dye (from the same source). These pretty and delicate little parts of a flowering plant have also turned out to have great promise both for maintaining eye health (especially for slowing the progress of age-related macular degeneration) and as an effective natural agent for mood and stress support and reducing the symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression.
Saffron initially attracted a fair bit of attention in recent years as a means of protecting the eyes from macular degeneration. But what's been less appreciated is that it's akin to St. John's Wort in being able to promote relaxation, help relieve symptoms of stress, and balance mood when used in concentrated doses – but with a much better safety profile.
While several other supplement companies have developed saffron extracts which concentrate on one or two of its key active ingredients to target those areas, this type from NOW uses the whole stigma, which has at least 150 constituents, some of which may act as co-factors or have a synergistic effect with the better known ones. That fact may make it more effective in one of its most recently identified therapeutic areas: as a sleep aid.
In fact, there have been several clinical studies published in the past few years indicating saffron could be a safe natural nutritional strategy to improve not only the onset of people's sleep but also its quality (with less tossing and turning and flailing about) and duration, including in diabetic patients.
Ingredients:
Each capsule contains:
50 mg Saffron (Crocus sativus, stigma)
Non-medicinal ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, Veg. Capsule (hypromellose, water), Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Silica.
This product is vegan and non-GMO.
Suggested Usage:
Adults: Take 1 capsule daily, with food. Consult a healthcare practitioner for use beyond 12 weeks.
Warnings:
Do not use saffron supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are taking blood thinners/anticoagulants or have a bleeding disorder. Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use if you are taking serotonergic drugs or antidepressants, or if you suffer from any psychological disorder and/or condition such as frequent anxiety or depression. Consult a health care practitioner if your symptoms persist or worsen.
Health Canada Natural Product Number: 80115073.
Supporting Science:
“Beneficial effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in ocular pathologies, particularly neurodegenerative retinal diseases.” Neural Regeneration Research, 2020.
“Effects of Saffron on Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults With Self-Reported Poor Sleep: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2020.
“Effects of saffron supplementation on improving sleep quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Sleep Medicine, 2022.
“Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2020.
“Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): As an Antidepressant.” Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, 2018.
“Saffron improves life and sleep quality, glycaemic status, lipid profile and liver function in diabetic patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial.” International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2021.
“Saffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action.” Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018.