Polygala vs Saffron for mood
Short answer: For mood, users rate them about the same: 89% report improvement with Polygala (53 reports) and 92% with Saffron (165 reports).
Polygala has 6 meta-analyses and 3 randomized trials on PubMed; Saffron has 88 and 119.
Based on 247 reports about Polygala and 421 about Saffron. Not medical advice.
| Polygala Supplement | Saffron Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 64%helped96 reports · medium confidence | 62%helped223 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 6 / 3 | 88 / 119 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Mood % reporting improvement | 89% (53) | 92% (165) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (32) | 81% (84) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 90% (29) | 79% (38) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 92% (13) | 81% (21) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 75% (4) | 74% (19) |
| Common side effects | antisocial, changed heart, mania, sleep cycle | headache, appetite suppression, insomnia, vivid dreams |
| Typical dose reported | 100 mg / 3x daily | 30 mg |
This review on traditional uses and phytopharmacological potential of the genus Polygala revealed updated insights which can be explored for further mechanism-based pharmacological activities and structure/activity relationships studies and a better comprehension of the development of Chinese medicine preparations. However some pharmacological studies showed several gaps such as incomplete methodologies and ambiguous findings. More high scientific quality preclinical studies with pharmacokinetic considerations will be required in the future to assess the traditional uses of some species of thi
J Ethnopharmacol, 2020 ↗“I also take 100mg of Polygala 3x a day sublingual. It helps with recurring bad thoughts, and focus...helps with overall mood and sleep.”
Saffron demonstrates promise in improving ADHD symptoms, with an acceptable safety profile. Future well-designed multicentral studies are suggested.
J Atten Disord, 2024 ↗“I just sneak some into whatever soup we are having. I honestly think it has made a huge difference.”
Related comparisons
Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate