---
title: Does saffron help with PMS, labor pain, and menopause symptoms?
description: Yes, saffron improves mood and reduces psychological symptoms of PMS and menopause, and helps reduce labor pain and recovery time, though limited studies exis
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/efficacy-of-saffron-crocus-sativus-l-in-premenstrual-syndrome-labor-childbirth-2023/
---

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- Does saffron help with PMS, labor pain, and menopause symptoms?

Systematic review, 2023

# Does saffron help with PMS, labor pain, and menopause symptoms?

Yes, saffron improves mood and reduces psychological symptoms of PMS and menopause, and helps reduce labor pain and recovery time, though limited studies exist.

 Strong study design

20 randomized controlled trials of saffron use in PMS, labor, childbirth, and menopause

## What they did

Systematic review based on PICO process. Researchers searched 8 databases through February 2023. From 164 articles, they selected 20 randomized controlled trials with quality scores of 3 or above on the Jadad scale.

## What they found

Saffron improved Bishop's score (a measure of labor progress), reduced labor fatigue and pain, and improved episiotomy healing. It improved mood and reduced psychological symptoms of PMS and menopause. Two studies showed saffron reduced postpartum depression.

## What it means for you

Saffron appears effective for reducing PMS mood symptoms and labor pain, but only 20 rigorous studies were available. More well-designed research is needed to confirm saffron's effects and establish safe dosing.

20

randomized controlled trials included

164

articles initially screened

## About the study

Original title Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Premenstrual Syndrome, Labor, Childbirth, and Menopause: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Authors Morvarid Irani, Seyyedeh adeleh Rahmanian, Narges Sadat Soltani Journal Modern Care Journal Year 2023 Study design Systematic review What was tested Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5812/modernc-134533](https://doi.org/10.5812/modernc-134533)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Saffron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-saffron/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Review, 2017

Can combining different types of treatments help PMS more than using one approach alone?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Randomised trial, 2006

Do herbal remedies help with PMS, pregnancy nausea, or hot flushes?

Review, 1992

Is PMS really caused by hormones?

Survey study, 2026

Does a history of mood problems with your period predict depression during menopause?

Survey study, 2025

Do women with bipolar disorder who had PMS or postpartum depression have worse mood problems during menopause?

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