Essential Remedies

𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛
Saffron has established itself as a leading herb for mental health, benefitting everything from depression and anxiety to insomnia, Alzheimer’s, OCD and ADHD. Now, a massive review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on saffron’s effect on neurological and psychiatric disorders has reinforced the evidence.
The systematic review of systematic reviews included 23 studies. 13 of them looked at the effect of saffron on depression. Every one of them found a positive effect compared to both placebo and antidepressant drugs.
Three reviews of anxiety all found that saffron improved symptoms in mild to moderate anxiety.
Three systematic reviews looked at saffron’s effect on cognition. Two showed saffron was better than placebo and as good as pharmaceutical drugs for Alzheimer’s, while another found that saffron is better than placebo for both Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.
Six systematic reviews had sexual dysfunction as their area of investigation. Five of the six had positive results, helping everything from erectile dysfunction and s***m quantity and motility to female sexual dysfunction.
Several other conditions were shown by the systematic reviews to benefit from saffron, including, the depression and anxiety of PMS, postpartum depression, social phobia, separation anxiety, stress and tension. Saffron can also curb binge snacking and aid weight loss. It improves sleep, decreases fatigue, mood disturbances and confusion, while increasing vigor.
This systematic review of systematic reviews gathered all the information together. It found that saffron safely benefits a host of mental health and neurological disorders, firmly establishing saffron as an important herb for mental health.
Avicenna J Phytomed. 2022;12(5):475-488.

𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫
It’s been a terrible season for hay fever! Pollen counts have been very high. But ginger is up to the task!
Allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever, is a hypersensitive inflammatory reaction of the nasal membrane to allergens, like pollen. Its annoying symptoms include itching, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, sleep disturbances and even cognitive dysfunction.
Studies have suggested that ginger is effective against hay fever. And there could be many reasons why: ginger is powerfully anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 controlled studies has put ginger to the test against hay fever. It passed!
The meta-analysis included both studies that looked at ginger alone and studies that looked at formulas that included ginger.
The combined data showed that ginger significantly improves itching, runny nose, sneezing and total nasal symptoms. Importantly, it also significantly improves quality of life. The improvements were greater than placebo and as good as drugs.
Beyond the symptoms, ginger also seemed to address the causes, significantly
reducing eosinophil counts. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are involved in your body’s inflammatory response to allergies.
This meta-analysis adds to the evidence that ginger may be an important herb for bringing you relief from hay fever.
Pharm Biol. 2026 May 25;64(1):749–763.