There are many plants that have an anti-depressant effect. The best known is of course St. John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum, but a culinary herb such as saffron and a garden plant such as lavender also appear to be beneficial for depression.

Saffron crocus / Crocus sativus

A promising herbal antidepressant is the extract from the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Saffron, the dried orange stamens of the saffron crocus, is the most expensive spice in the world; 250,000 to 300,000 crocus flowers are needed for 1 kg and the harvest is done by hand. The refined coloring and flavoring was traditionally used in the Middle East as a medicinal remedy for depression, among other things. In Ayurvedic medicine, saffron is known as an adaptogen. Saffron has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, stress-reducing and neuroprotective properties and is good for memory. Crocine and safranal are two important substances in saffron that are thought to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Scientific research

Researchers from Tehran have conducted five randomized, double-blind studies that show that saffron also has a powerful antidepressant effect in humans. The ethanol extract of the stamens (saffron) was administered in a placebo-controlled study (n=40) to patients with mild to moderate depression at a daily dose of 30 mg per day. Taking saffron extract resulted in highly significant improvement in depression after six weeks compared to placebo. Saffron had no more side effects than the placebo pill. In a second study (n=30) lasting six weeks, the ethanol extract of saffron (30 mg per day) was just as effective as the synthetic antidepressant imipramine (100 mg per day) in reducing depressive symptoms.16 Saffron extract had no significant side effects, while imipramine caused complaints such as dry mouth and drowsiness.Fighting depression with saffron extract is very expensive. The scientists therefore investigated whether other parts of the flower also have antidepressant activity. They discovered that the ethanol extract from the (much cheaper) petals of the saffron crocus works just as well as the ethanol extract from the stamens. They demonstrated this in a second placebo-controlled study (n=40) in which 40 depressed patients received 30 mg of petal extract or a placebo. The petal extract was significantly better than the placebo at reducing depression. Two other clinical studies showed that saffron crocus extract was equally effective in reducing mild to moderate depression compared to fluoxetine (30 mg per day). The results suggest that saffron is a safe and effective antidepressant; further larger-scale studies are indicated.

Lavandula angustifolia / True lavender

Traditionally, (true) lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has been used for stress, excitement, anxiety, nervous exhaustion and depression. In a four-week randomized double-blind study, the effectiveness of lavender tincture (1:5 50% alcohol) was compared with imipramine in mild to moderate depression. The combined effect was also examined. Half of the study group (n=45) received 60 drops of lavender tincture and a placebo pill; the other half took placebo tincture and 100 mg imipramine per day. Taking lavender tincture significantly reduced depressive symptoms after four weeks; however, the effect was less significant than with imipramine. Combining the two drugs resulted in an impressive decrease in depressive symptoms on the Hamilton depression scale (synergistic effect). Lavender tincture is suitable as an additional remedy in the treatment of mild to moderately severe depression and can also be combined with St. John’s wort.

Research

• Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Fotouhi A et al. Comparison of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. tincture and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized trial. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2003;27(1):123-7.
• Kurkin VA, Dubishchev AV, Ezhkov VN et al. Antidepressant activity of some phytopharmaceuticals and phenylpropanoids. Pharm Chem J 2006;40(11):614-619.
• Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbala AA et al. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):148-51.
• Rios JL, Recio MC, Giner RM et al. An updated review of saffron and its active constituents. Phytother Res. 1996;10:189-193.
• Moshiri E, Basti AA, Noorbala AA et al. Crocus sativus L. (petal) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2006;13(9-10):607-11.