From Kitchen Spice to Brain Support: How Saffron May Help Kids with ADHD

ADHD is a very common brain based medical condition that affects a significant number of children, with estimates suggesting that it impacts between 3 to 7 out of every 100 children¹,².

The core symptoms are familiar to many of you: persistent inattention, such as difficulty focusing or staying organized, and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, which can manifest as restlessness and interrupting others¹ which impacts their school work and friendships.

The ADHD Treatment Dilema

So here is something that is not terribly well known...

While stimulant medications like methylphenidates and amphetamines are considered first-line treatments for ADHD, approximately 30% of children either don't respond well to these medications or can't tolerate the side effects.

Common side effects of stimulant medications include appetite suppression, sleep disturbances, and mood changes—concerns that understandably make many parents hesitant about starting their children on these medications³. Our concern as parents creates a barrier to treatment, leaving families searching for alternatives that feel 'safer' and more natural.

Enter saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a vibrant spice with a long history in traditional medicine across Asia and Europe. Known for its culinary uses, saffron is now emerging as a potential candidate for helping manage ADHD symptoms.

Part of its appeal lies in its holistic origins, which can ease some parental anxieties associated with prescription medications.

It is thought to assist with the hyperactivity of ADHD, mood and sleep.

But what does the science say?

Saffron isn't just a culinary ingredient. What makes it particularly interesting for ADHD is its proposed mechanism of action, in other words, how it actually works in the ADHD brain.

Research suggests saffron may work as a 'natural stimulant' by affecting the same brain chemicals targeted by conventional ADHD medications: dopamine and norepinephrine³.

It just works differently from stimulants. Stimulants block the process by which dopamine and norepinephrine is effectively recycled back into a brain cell to be used again, meaning that the dopamine and norepinephrine is allowed to sit between the brain cells for a little bit longer switching on parts of the brain that it needs too.

By contrast saffron blocks the enzyme that breaks down the dopamine and norephineprhine, again, allowing both brain chemicals to sit between brain cells for a little bit longer, switching on parts of the brain in the same way that stimulants do⁵.

Think of it this way: if conventional stimulants are like using a sledgehammer to fix the brain's chemical imbalances, saffron might be more like using a precision tool—potentially achieving similar results through a gentler approach.

Beyond affecting dopamine and norepinephrine, saffron also boasts potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties¹, which could contribute to its therapeutic effects as inflammation and oxidative stress are thought to play a role in the ADHD brain worsening symptoms.

What the Clinical Trials Tell Us (So Far)

The evidence for saffron in ADHD treatment is emerging but promising.

A pivotal systematic review published in 2024 looked at four clinical trials involving a total of 118 patients. The review concluded that saffron showed an "efficient role" as either something you could add to a stimulant, or as a solo intervention for ADHD, "without significant safety issues" and "demonstrates promise in improving ADHD symptoms"¹.

However, the authors rightly cautioned that more well-designed, multicenter studies are needed due to the small number of studies and patients included¹.

For those children who are using stimulant medications already, adding Saffron to the mix could be a more effective method of addressing ADHD symptoms, than just using medication alone. Saffron is able to boost the effects of the stimulant medication making it more effective⁶ and keeping the dose of stimulant lower than it would otherwise be without the saffron onboard.

The most compelling evidence comes from a randomized, double-blind pilot study by Baziar et al. (2019) that directly compared saffron to methylphenidate in 54 children aged 6-17 years⁴. After six weeks of treatment, researchers found no significant difference in effectiveness between saffron and methylphenidate based on both parent and teacher ADHD rating scales.

In other words, saffron performed just as well as the gold-standard medication.

Even more intriguing, a 2022 study by Blasco-Fontecilla et al. suggested that saffron might have unique benefits. While both saffron and methylphenidate showed comparable overall effectiveness, the researchers noted that "saffron is more effective for treating hyperactivity symptoms, while methylphenidate is more effective for inattention symptoms." If confirmed to be true by more studies, it could allow for more personalized treatment approaches for families who are dealing with either a hyperactive or inattentive child.

Additionally, children taking saffron experienced improvements in sleep quality, with the time needed to fall asleep dropping from about 30 minutes to 15 minutes³. These reported improvements in sleep are important. Sleep problems are very common in ADHD and can worsen daytime symptoms. If saffron can improve sleep quality and duration, this could be an indirect but powerful way it helps manage ADHD.

Finally, Saffron is being investigated for its anti-anxiety, anti- depressive properties, which is important in ADHD given that anxiety and low mood can go hand in hand with childhood ADHD⁷.

What Saffron was used in the studies?

Saffron contains many active chemicals like crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, lepticrosalides and safranal.

The amounts of each of these in saffron can vary depending on where it is from, how it was harvested, and how it was extracted. Consequently, the efficacy and safety observed in studies using a particular standardized extract may not be directly generalizable to other saffron products or saffron spice from the grocery store.

The studies I looked at used affron® or Saffr’Activ®, each containing ≥ 3.5 % lepticrosalides (the active aroma compounds).

Here are a list of the products on the market that contain affron®: https://www.affronsaffron.com/products.

And below are a small handful of the products that I found that contain just affron®, as the majority of products listed contain the saffron in addition to other ingredients such as GABA, L-theanine etc.

Saffr’Activ® does not have as readily an available product list which is tricky. Doing a quick online search I found one product online that contains Saffr’Activ®.

Dosing for Saffron

There is currently no guidance for dosing for children given how early the research is, however one of the studies used 20-30mg per day in children.

I found the suggestion in the Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice book8 to use 20mg/day for kids who weigh less than 30 kg and 30mg/day in kids who weigh more than 30kg⁸.

Weight	Less than 30 kg	More than 30 kg
Dose/day	20mg	30mg

Practical Dosing Tips

• Start low, increase slowly (every 5–7 days).

  
  

• Stay at low dose, or split the dose to twice per day if tummy upset occurs

• Use a standardized extract ie affron® or Saffr’Activ®—check the milligrams of saffron extract, not thread weight.

  
  

• Sprinkle & mix. Open the capsule into 1 tbsp of applesauce or yogurt; the spice taste is mild.

  
  

• Evening trial first. Many families give saffron 30 minutes before bed to watch for sleep benefits; move to morning if daytime sedation occurs.

  
  

• Watch and log what you see. Note focus, hyperactivity, mood, and sleep in a weekly chart for three weeks before deciding effectiveness.

A Closer Look at Efficacy and Safety

Regarding safety, the systematic review indicated an "acceptable safety profile" for saffron¹, and the head-to-head trial with methylphenidates found a similar frequency of side effects⁴. This is a positive sign, especially given concerns about stimulant side effects.

However, it's crucial to note that these studies were relatively short-term (typically 6 weeks), and long-term safety data is still lacking. ADHD is a chronic condition requiring ongoing management, so more research is needed to confirm saffron's safety with extended use.

Side-effects so far: the studies revealed mild stomach upset, headache, or yellow stools in a minority of participants, comparable to placebo or stimulant groups.

When to hold off taking Saffron: 

• Bleeding disorders (saffron can thin blood slightly)

• Pregnancy in teens

• Known allergy to crocus flowers.

  
  
  
  

  Medication interactions: caution with blood thinners and blood-pressure meds—talk to your child’s provider first.

  
  

  Over-dose warning: doses above 60 mg/day have not been tested in children; very high amounts (> 200 mg) have caused nausea and dizziness in adults.

Important Caveats and the Road Ahead

While these initial findings are promising, it's crucial to approach them with a healthy dose of caution.

The current evidence base for saffron in ADHD has several significant limitations:

• Small Studies, Short Duration: Most studies involve a small number of participants and are short-term (e.g., 6 weeks). ADHD is often a chronic condition, so we desperately need data on long-term efficacy and safety.

• Methodological Concerns: Not all studies are randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are the gold standard. The non-randomized study by Blasco-Fontecilla et al., for instance, while interesting, is more susceptible to bias³. Also, the head-to-head trials often lack a placebo group, making it harder to determine saffron's absolute effectiveness beyond being comparable to methylphenidate.

• Standardization is Key: Moreover, not all saffron is created equal. The studies used standardized extracts like Saffr’Activ® or affron® , not the culinary saffron you'd find at the grocery store. The concentration of active compounds can vary significantly depending on the source and extraction method.

• Effect Sizes Often Unreported: Many studies don't report standardized effect sizes, making it difficult to judge the clinical significance of the findings or compare them across different treatments.

So, Should You Consider Saffron for childhood ADHD?

Given the current evidence, saffron cannot be recommended as a first-line treatment for ADHD. In other words, it does not take the place of FDA approved prescription medications for ADHD.

However, it may be worth discussing with your child's healthcare provider as a potential complementary option if:

• Your child hasn't responded well to conventional stimulant medications

• Side effects from stimulants have been intolerable

• You have strong preferences for natural alternatives (while understanding the preliminary nature of the evidence)

  
  

The potential for saffron to specifically target hyperactivity symptoms while improving sleep is particularly intriguing³. If future research confirms these findings, it could help personalize treatment approaches based on a child's specific symptom profile.

Summary of Saffron

The exploration of saffron for ADHD is an exciting and evolving field. Early research suggests that saffron could become a gentle, plant-based partner to stimulant medicines as it appears to boost the effects of ADHD medications.

For children who cannot tolerate FDA approved prescription ADHD medications because they either don't work, or the side effects are too harsh, saffron could prove to be a natural non medication alternative.

It is thought to work on the same key brain messengers dopamine and norepinephrine, may settle bedtime battles, help with ADHD associated anxiety and low mood, and has shown a clean safety record so far.

Bigger, longer trials are still needed, so think of saffron as promising but not yet proven. Large-scale, long-term RCTs in children, using standardized extracts and comprehensive outcome measures, are essential to truly understand saffron's potential role in managing ADHD.

The forms of saffron used in the studies were affron® or Saffr’Activ®.

If you and your child's clinician decide to try saffron, keep doses in the research-backed range, monitor progress, and continue any behavioral or educational supports your child already has in place.

The goal isn't just to manage symptoms but to help children with ADHD thrive and reach their full potential—whether that's through conventional medications, natural alternatives like saffron, or a combination of approaches.

References

1. The Effects of Crocus sativus (Saffron) on ADHD: A Systematic Review - ResearchGate, accessed May 18, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374907050_The_Effects_of_Crocus_sativus_Saffron_on_ADHD_A_Systematic_Review

2. Short-term and long-term effect of non-pharmacotherapy for adults with ADHD: a systematic review and network meta-analysis - Frontiers, accessed May 18, 2025, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1516878/full

3. Effectivity of Saffron Extract (Saffr'Activ) on Treatment for Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Clinical Effectivity Study - PubMed, accessed May 18, 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36235697/

4. Crocus sativus L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Study - PubMed, accessed May 18, 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30741567/

5. Saffron improved depression and reduced homocysteine level in patients with major depression: A Randomized, double-blind study - PubMed, accessed May 18, 2025https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5787996/

6. A Comparison of Methylphenidate (MPH) and Combined Methylphenidate with Crocus sativus (Saffron) in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-Group, Clinical Trial http://eprints.lums.ac.ir/3290/1/450.pdf

7. The Effects of Crocus sativus (Saffron) on ADHD: A Systematic Review - Research Gate, accessed May 18 2025 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374907050_The_Effects_of_Crocus_sativus_Saffron_on_ADHD_A_Systematic_Review

8. Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice. Feder, J, Tien, E and Puzantian, T. 2023. Carlat Publishing.

   
   

This site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the giving of medical advice. The contents do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services. No provider–patient relationship is formed. Please consult with your child's healthcare provider when considering supplementation for children.