Saffron for Anxiety
Standardized saffron extract (about 28-100 mg/day) shows a consistent signal for reducing anxiety symptoms in short trials, but the evidence is still preliminary, the studies are small, and it should not replace established treatment. It is not approved by regulators as an anxiety remedy.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
This earns a Preliminary (Grade B) rating because the direction of evidence is consistent but its strength is limited. Two meta-analyses both found a statistically significant drop in anxiety scores versus placebo: PMID 31135916 (n=1006) reported a large pooled effect (SMD -0.95, 95% CI -1.45 to -0.45), and PMID 31987241 (n=945) found a WMD of -2.19 points (95% CI -3.83 to -0.55). Three double-blind RCTs (PMID 27101556, 28735826) reinforced this on HAM-A, BAI, and DASS-21 scales.
Several caveats keep it out of the top tier. Both meta-analyses showed very high heterogeneity (I-squared around 80%), so the headline effect sizes are imprecise. Most trials were small (under 100 participants) and short (4-8 weeks), populations were mixed (subclinical, comorbid depression, GAD), and sites were mostly Iranian. Notably, the youth trial (PMID 29510352) was mixed: teens self-reported improvement but parent-rated outcomes did not differ, and the key standardized-extract trials were industry-funded.
Regulators and clinics are cautious. The US FDA lists saffron only as a food color/flavoring with no approved health claim, and the EU EFSA explicitly rejected mood claims, stating 'a cause and effect relationship has not been established.' Cleveland Clinic notes saffron may ease anxiety but stresses the studies are small and that it should not replace prescribed medication. Hence: a real but unproven aid, published with a warning.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.683
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (3 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status