--- title: Saffron: 18 studies, explained | Niyora description: 18 studies on saffron and PMS or PMDD, each summarised in plain English: what was tested, who took part, what they found and what it means. url: https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-saffron/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Saffron # Saffron: what the research says 18 studies on saffron in PMS and PMDD, each explained in plain English. 4 of them use the strongest designs: randomised trials and systematic reviews. Systematic review 6 Randomised trial 6 Review 3 Survey study 1 Non-randomised trial 1 Study 1 Systematic review, 2026 Does saffron reduce PMS and period pain symptoms? Yes, saffron significantly reduced both PMS symptoms and period pain in the combined analysis of randomized trials. The effect sizes were moderate, suggesting a meaningful improvement. Randomised trial, 2025 Does the PMSoff supplement help PMS and PMDD symptoms? Yes, based on this trial. The 218 women taking PMSoff had significantly better symptom relief after one month compared to placebo, and even greater relief after two months. 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. Systematic review, 2009 Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS? Only calcium has good evidence to work for PMS. Chasteberry and vitamin B6 may help, but most of the 62 products people try lack proper research. Survey study, 2023 Can diet help reduce PMS symptoms? A review of past studies found that calcium, vitamin B6, and chasteberry fruit likely help PMS symptoms, while saffron, ginger, and high vitamin D have weaker evidence. Review, 2023 Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms? Herbs like chaste berry and supplements like calcium and magnesium may help with PMS. Evidence is strongest when combined with lifestyle changes and therapy, though more research is needed. Randomised trial, 2020 Does saffron reduce PMS symptoms as well as fluoxetine? Yes, saffron reduced PMS symptoms similarly to fluoxetine and may even be better for breast and abdominal pain with potentially fewer side effects. Randomised trial, 2020 Does saffron work for PMDD as well as fluoxetine? Saffron improved PMDD symptoms similarly to fluoxetine, with fewer side effects than fluoxetine. Systematic review, 2018 Can herbal remedies help ease PMS symptoms? A review pulling together 18 Iranian studies found several herbs may help ease PMS symptoms, but it didn't measure how strong or reliable each herb's effect actually was. Systematic review, 2011 Do herbal treatments help PMS and PMDD? Vitex agnus castus seems to reduce symptoms better than placebo. Ginkgo biloba and crocus sativus might help, but evening primrose oil and St. John's Wort do not. Randomised trial, 2008 Does saffron help relieve PMS symptoms? Yes, saffron at 30 mg daily was effective in reducing PMS symptoms including mood-related symptoms compared to placebo. Non-randomised trial, 2026 Does saffron extract reduce premenstrual symptoms? Women who took saffron extract reported improvements in emotional and physical symptoms after 2 cycles, but the study had no control group so we cannot be certain the saffron caused these improvements. Randomised trial, 2026 Does a multinutrient supplement reduce premenstrual and menstrual symptoms? The supplement appears to reduce symptom severity and duration, with 88% of women reporting reduced symptom severity by the third cycle. However, this pilot study lacked a placebo control group, so we cannot be certain the supplement itself caused the improvement. Study, 2025 Can saffron extract help with PMS or PMDD symptoms? This review of existing studies suggests saffron extracts, such as a standardized form called Affron, may improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression in PMS and PMDD, with few side effects. It summarizes other research rather than a new trial, so certainty is limited. Review, 2024 Is saffron as effective as fluoxetine for treating PMDD? This review examines whether the herbal remedy saffron works as well as fluoxetine, an antidepressant used for PMDD. Both work through similar brain mechanisms, but the review doesn't conclude which is more effective. Systematic review, 2024 Can saffron help with PMS, dysmenorrhea, and other women's health problems? Yes, saffron appears to help with dysmenorrhea, PMS, menopause, and other reproductive issues through its antioxidant and hormone-regulating properties, though most evidence comes from lab studies. Review, 2015 Does saffron reduce PMS symptoms? Some clinical trials suggest saffron may reduce PMS symptoms more than placebo and similarly to standard treatments, but the evidence comes from a review of studies rather than new research. Randomised trial, 2011 Does smelling saffron help improve premenstrual syndrome, period pain, or irregular periods? Smelling saffron for 20 minutes reduced a stress hormone and anxiety in a small study. The researchers suggest this might help, but the study did not directly measure whether symptoms actually improved. Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗