Saffron Side Effects

Consuming saffron carries very little risk. However, if you are at all worried about side effects, a great way of adding it to your diet without any risks whatsoever is simply to cook with it. Please see our recipes page for some delicious ideas.

On the other hand, if you want to use it as a supplement or herbal medicine, we recommend getting advice from a doctor or a qualified clinical nutritionist.

Apart from saffron, it’s important that you tell them about any other supplements you’re taking, even if they’re natural. That way, they can check on any potential side effects or interactions with medications.

You may not be aware but supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that food and drugs are. The FDA does not review these for safety or efficacy before they hit the market.

Side effects. Using saffron supplements in the short-term seems safe for most people. They may cause side effects like anxiety, appetite changes, upset stomach, sleepiness, and headache.
Using saffron in high doses or for long periods of time may be risky. Some people are also allergic to saffron.
Risks. Saffron may trigger mood swings in people with bipolar disorder.
Risks. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use saffron.
Interactions. When used as a supplement, saffron may cause problems for people on blood pressure medicine or blood thinners. Check with your doctor before using it if you are taking medication.
Likewise, there is also a slight chance of being allergic to saffron, especially if you already have other allergies to plants like rye-grass and foods such as olives.

Broadly speaking, having 1g of saffron per day is safe. However, research quotes an amount of 5g to possibly be toxic, especially for pregnant women.

Health Risks and Benefits

In the same vein, some possible side effects include dry mouth, anxiety, agitation, drowsiness, low mood, sweating, nausea or vomiting, changes in appetite, flushing, and headache.

In addition, allergic reactions can occur in some people. Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is POSSIBLY UNSAFE.

Information about saffron side effects is limited. Doses of 5 g are associated with toxic effects; doses of 10 to 20 g may be fatal.

Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Too much saffron can be lethal. Most recipes require only one gram which is perfectly safe.

Fortunately, a little saffron goes a long way and most recipes call for just a pinch. “There are 200 to 300 threads per gram, and you only need a few threads at a time,” Erd says. “You use it so sparingly that in the long run it’s not much more expensive than any other spice.”

Saffron may trigger mood swings in people with bipolar disorder. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use saffron. Interactions. When used as a supplement, saffron may cause problems for people on blood pressure medicine or blood thinners.

To sum up, although we have listed some possible side effects on this page, remember, they are comparatively rare and you can avoid them by simply cooking with saffron.

Finally, although we only sell high-quality pure saffron strands from Iran, we should perhaps advise you to check out the possible side effects of using saffron extract from other less-reputable suppliers.