Calming herbs
Passionflower
4.0 (19 owner comments)
Taste & formCalming effect
“A mix of magnesium glycinate, Ltheanine and passion flower has helped me the most in terms of supplements.”
What owners report →Medical disclaimer: CalmVerdict summarizes what people say about supplements on Reddit. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take an antidepressant or other medicine, are pregnant, or have a medical condition. Do not stop or change prescribed medicine on your own. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (US) or your local emergency number. Full disclaimer.
Calming herbs · capsules (standardized extract)
Saffron extract (incl. Affron): What People With Stress, Anxiety or Low Mood Report on Reddit
Illustration, not a product photo.
Crocus sativus stigma extract; Affron is a standardized branded extract.
4.0 CalmVerdict score
115 owner comments (70 with a clear rating) from r/Supplements, r/Anxiety, r/Nootropics, r/insomnia, r/sleep, r/depression_help, May 2026 to October 2026. Top 25% of the 24 ranked supplements.
Owner sentiment3.9
Recommendations3.5
Tolerability4.4
ValueNot rated
Value: Not rated. The example products differ too much in dose to compare cost fairly. How we score.
The short version
Saffron extract (incl. Affron) is among the better-rated supplements we track: 4.0/5. Of 70 rated owner comments, 58 were positive, 4 mixed and 8 negative; 11 mention an unwanted effect. People talk most about mood and side effects.
Reddit comments are self-reported and unverified. They tell you what people noticed, not whether a supplement works or is safe for you.
Our guide to 5-HTP, SAMe and St. John's wort safety cites NIH sources. Here is how the calming herbs differ in owner reports. There is a separate ranking of what people with anxiety and worry rate highest.
What it is
- Saffron extract comes from the Crocus sativus flower. Branded extracts such as affron are standardized to compounds like crocins and safranal.[PubMed]
- Meta-analyses of randomized trials have compared saffron with placebo and with SSRIs for depressive and anxiety symptoms; most trials were small and short.[PubMed][PubMed]
Safety and interactions
- Saffron has been studied alongside antidepressants. Do not add it to, or swap it for, a prescribed antidepressant without your doctor.[PubMed]
Supplements can interact with medicines. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you are pregnant, take prescription medicine, or have red-flag symptoms. See supplement safety and interactions and serotonin supplements and antidepressants.
Reports by concern
| Context | Rated owner comments | Positive | Negative | Unwanted effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low mood | 64 | 31 | 3 | 6 |
| Anxiety & worry | 32 | 23 | 2 | 3 |
| Everyday stress | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Rumination & intrusive thoughts | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Panic attacks | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| PMS & PMDD mood | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What Reddit owners say
Commonly praised
- Mood: 24 owner comments
- Taste & form: 7 owner comments
- Calming effect: 6 owner comments
Common complaints
- Side effects: 11 owner comments
- Calming effect: 1 owner comment
- Takes time: 1 owner comment
4/5 Calming effect“I've been taking Nootropics Depot saffron for over a year and it's helped me stay focused and feel less anxious.”
4/5 Mood“Can't speak for depression for i have used sam-e for anxiety, paired with saffron and nac, felt better and greatly helped boost mood levels.”
4/5“I get the same kind of reaction to Saffron as well.”
2/5 Side effects“I've tried ashweghanda & saffron and neither worked for me either..i had a particularly bad reaction to ash it just made my anxiety way worse”
1/5 Side effects“Saffron made my depression worse.”
+30 more owner comments
4/5 Mood“Saffron has been coveted and used for thousands of years for its mood enhancing properties.”
5/5 Fast-actingGrogginess“I started 30 mg of saffron from a company called notable, recommended by a trusted source.”
4/5“Magnesium Glycinate helps hun & Cbt too...something is triggering you to stay in fight or flight but there is true help out there♡ I personally use saffron and omg it's helped immensely!”
5/5“I use saffron and L theanine mix and it's fantastic for those racing thoughts at night”
4/5 Calming effect“Try saffron extract, I take 1 dose of 28mg and it calms my nerves down.”
2/5 Taste & form“I tried saffron in my tea ever morning for a month - zero effect as far as I could tell.”
4/5 Mood“I've been taking Saffron extract for a while now almost 2 months and I noticed a difference in my ceiling for mood, purpose and love for life.”
4/5 Mood“Been using saffron for few months now and it definitely helped with my mood, especially during stressful periods at work.”
4/5 MoodTakes time“I have been taking saffron for 2 months now and started noticing effects after a few weeks.”
4/5 Mood“With saffron, most of the current studies are around 28mg of Affron saffron.”
4/5 Mood“Ever since I starting taking affron saffron, my mood has been great.”
4/5 Mood“I have been using saffron alongside l-theanine and magnesium in a product called mood mod and it's been great for me.”
5/5 MoodTaste & form“I put 13 strands of saffron in a 2l bottle of water every day and drink throughout the day.”
3/5 MoodSide effects“started with 15mg of affron few month ago, got the headache too first couple days.”
5/5 Mood“I use a product called mood mod that has 30mg of Affron saffron and I feel like that's been amazing for me”
5/5“Supplement vitamin d, saffron, magnesium, and iron among some others.”
4/5“I've been taking a Saffron blend supplement with 100 mgs of it (twice a day) and it helps me chill.”
4/5 Calming effect“So sorry you're experiencing this...I was dealing with the exact same a few days ago...I will tell you Saffron majorly helps ease anxiety & Id be a wreck without it...might be worth looking into...I only take a few threads with warm water…”
4/5 Calming effect“Im really sorry...I deal with this too...saffron helps me relax and Magnesium Glycinate”
5/5“I started taking saffron instead. It changed my life. I still get some anxiety and panic every now and again but I figure it's my nervous system trying to recover. My suggestion is try saffron. Take it for 4-8 weeks and see if it helps. It…”
5/5 Fast-acting“Have you looked into Saffron?.. This is the only thing that has helped take away my anxiety.I have tried so many other things, but I swear by this.Just make sure it is authentic because there is a lot of fake counterfiet saffron out…”
4/5“I take saffron...it helps so damn much with anxiety!”
5/5“I held off and tried saffron. It's a natural supplement you buy in a health shop. Changed my life.”
4/5 Mood“But fr I started taking Affron saffron in this product mood mod and it actually has helped tremendously with my anxiety.”
5/5“I've taken Saffron extract for over 2 months… I can tell you it is single handed one of the best noots/herbs I've tried and I've tried a lot… amazing kind of soft landing to everything, you get shit done but aren't stressed.., it's like it…”
4/5“I started taking saffron the patented ingredient Affron to help with stress and to unwind along with 500mg of magnesium bisglycinate and did this every night.”
4/5“I gave my Mom the Life Extension 88.5mg Saffron and it worked for her.”
5/5“I've added Saffron (been on it now for about 11 days) and it is absolutely amazing for my anxiety!!”
4/5 Mood“I take Natures way 28 mg Affron and it has been very effective so far.”
4/5“Late on this thread but I took Affron 28mg for 2 months and felt fine.”
Brands with their own owner reviews
- Life Extension: 4.0 from 34 owner comments
- Affron (ingredient brand): 4.3 from 32 owner comments
Example products
These are examples of Saffron extract (incl. Affron) products sold on Amazon. They are not ranked by Reddit and the score above is for the ingredient, not a specific product. Check the label for dose and other ingredients.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
Sports Research® Pure Saffron 30mg, 60 Count Plantgels™
$29.95 on Amazon (price as of 2026-11-03). Prices change; check Amazon for the current price.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
Nootropics Depot High Potency Saffron Extract Capsules, 30mg, 60 ct
Price varies; check Amazon for the current price.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
Nutricost Saffron Extract 88.5mg, 240 Capsules
Price varies; check Amazon for the current price.
Research to read
Published studies (we list them so you can read the evidence yourself; inclusion is not an endorsement):
- Nutr Neurosci 2026: Effect of saffron on depression, anxiety and mood disorder: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials.
- Nutr Rev 2025: Effect of Saffron Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Complement Ther Med 2017: affron, a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
- J Nutr 2025: An Examination into the Effects of a Saffron Extract (Affron) on Mood and General Wellbeing in Adults Experiencing Low Mood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
FAQ
What do people say about Saffron extract (incl. Affron) for stress, anxiety or mood on Reddit?
Across 115 Reddit comments from people who say they have used it, 58 of 70 rated comments were positive and 8 negative, for a CalmVerdict score of 4.0/5. These are self-reported experiences, not clinical evidence.
Do people report side effects with Saffron extract (incl. Affron)?
11 of 70 rated owner comments (16%) describe an unwanted effect such as drowsiness, headache, stomach upset or feeling flat. Check the safety notes on this page and ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting.
Who talks about Saffron extract (incl. Affron) most?
Most rated owner comments come from people who describe low mood or depression (64 comments, 31 positive).
Is Saffron extract (incl. Affron) scored on clinical evidence?
No. The score summarizes Reddit owner comments only. Factual statements on this page link to NIH or PubMed sources, and nothing here is medical advice.
Related supplements
Calming herbs
Chamomile
4.0 (44 owner comments)
Taste & formCalming effect
“I mix it (it tastes sweet) with chamomile tea before bed.”
What owners report →
Calming herbs
Lavender oil capsules (Silexan / Lavela)
3.6 (11 owner comments)
Taste & formCalming effect
“The calm aid / silexan ones. It does take a few days, but it works really well for me. Lavender/ linalool is GRAS, so I was taking 3 pills a day, I'm down to 2 pills now”
What owners report →Comparisons: Saffron extract (incl. Affron) vs 5-HTP · Saffron extract (incl. Affron) vs St John's wort · Saffron extract (incl. Affron) vs Omega-3 / fish oil (EPA/DHA)
Last updated 2026-11-04. Mentions scanned: 373 in 259 threads.