Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It’s obtained from the tiny stigma of a flower mostly for centuries in Iran. To obtain a pound of saffron 50000 flowers are needed and that’s why it’s so expensive.
Saffron has been used for centuries in Persian traditional medicine, one of the most sophisticated traditional medicines, for the treatment of depression.
Recent studies have shown that saffron is effective in treatment of mild to moderate depression and even one study showed saffron is as effective as Prozac in patients with mild to moderate depression.
The good news is that he petal of saffron crocus has similar benefits in depression and it’s much less expensive than stigma.
Source:
The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition, by Michael T. Murray (July 10, 2012)
