Research
Saffron for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Saffron is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Crocus sativus stigma; crocin; safranal; affron
What the evidence says about Saffron
A 6-week double-blind trial in 60 postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder found 30 mg a day of saffron improved both depression scores and a hot flush measure compared with placebo. A larger 12-week trial of 28 mg a day of a standardised saffron extract in 86 perimenopausal women found significantly greater improvement in psychological symptoms but no greater improvement than placebo on the vasomotor subscale (P = 0.401), and that trial was funded by the extract manufacturer with the lead author receiving company funding. The trials are few, small and short, and the mood signal is more consistent than the hot flush signal. Saffron does not appear in the Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement.
The grade "early" means: early — Pilot or preliminary human data only; not enough to rely on. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Saffron drug interactions
No documented drug interactions in the sources we checked. That is not the same as proof of safety alongside your medication — it usually means the question has not been studied. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with prescription drugs.
Who should be careful with Saffron
No specific cautions recorded beyond the usual ones for any supplement: check with your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have liver or kidney disease, or take regular medication.
Read more on HerWellReport
This entry is generated from row "Saffron" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.