Since ancient times, people have followed the routine of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. However, in reality, some situations nowadays are as follows: during the day, I feel very tired and want to sleep, but at night, I toss and turn, unable to sleep at night, and various strange tricks such as "counting sheep" and "breathing and sleeping exercises" have all been defeated; For some patients with severe insomnia, medication may even be used to assist with sleep. Recently, a new study has shown that using natural saffron extract can help insomnia patients get rid of their troubles. 01 Identity of Same Origin in Medicine and Food
On January 6, 2020, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued a notice (No. 8 of 2019) regarding the addition of six new substances, including Angelica sinensis, which are traditionally both food and traditional Chinese medicinal materials. The announcement included Angelica sinensis, Kaempferol, saffron, fruit of grass, turmeric, and longum longum, which are traditionally both food and traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and are only used as spices and seasonings. When using substances that are both traditional food and traditional Chinese medicinal materials for food production and operation, their labels, instructions, advertisements, promotional information, etc. must not contain false advertising content, and must not involve disease prevention and treatment functions. Saffron is also known as "saffron" in spices and seasonings. 02 Sleep is a big problem that cannot be underestimated
One third of a person's life is spent in sleep, which is a fundamental activity of life and involves various stages of the entire life cycle. It is an important part of the body's recovery, integration, and consolidation of memory, as well as an indispensable component of health. Adequate sleep, balanced diet, and appropriate exercise are the three recognized health standards by the international community. According to a survey by the World Health Organization, 27% of people worldwide suffer from sleep disorders, with 20% in Japan and 30% in France. In China, the incidence of insomnia among adults is as high as 38.2%, and over 300 million Chinese people suffer from sleep disorders. In addition, more than 60% of post-90s people feel that they have insufficient sleep time, and more than 60% of teenagers and children have less than 8 hours of sleep time. The Sleep Index Data Report also shows that from 2013 to 2018, the average sleep time of Chinese people decreased from 8.8 hours to 6.5 hours, and in just 6 years, it quickly decreased by more than 2 hours! In terms of sleep issues, Chinese people have become a "vulnerable" group in the global environment. As is well known, insufficient sleep directly affects the quality of life and can also lead to various diseases. Modern research has confirmed that nearly 90 diseases are related to long-term insomnia, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, depression and stroke, memory decline, cancer, etc. As a result, more and more people who are troubled by sleep problems are starting to shift from traditional methods such as standardized sleep patterns, dietary adjustments, and relaxation to emerging sleep technology products, making every effort to help improve their sleep. In February 2020, a study published by Dr. Adrian Lopresti from the University of Murdoch in Australia in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that saffron extract can effectively improve the sleep quality of healthy adults with sleep problems.
03 Study on Sleep Aid with Saffron Extract
Saffron, also known as saffron or saffron, is the dry stigma of saffron in the family Iridaceae. Since ancient times, it has been known as the "women's flower" and is commonly used by women to regulate qi and blood, regulate menstruation, remove blemishes and improve appearance, and prevent postpartum lochia. According to "Pinhui Jingyao", saffron is mainly used to disperse depression and regulate blood, broaden the chest and diaphragm, stimulate appetite and enter the diet, take it for a long time to nourish the lower body, enhance color, and treat typhoid fever and madness; The Compendium of Materia Medica also records that saffron can "promote blood circulation, regulate mood and depression, and also treat palpitations.". With the development of modern pharmacological research, the effects of saffron have covered aspects such as the nervous system, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Dr. Adrian Lopresti said, "A previous study published in the Journal of Neuropharmacology showed that in patients with mild to moderate depression, saffron extract combined with antidepressants has better antidepressant effects and can effectively improve the sleep quality of depressed patients. Therefore, we want to know if saffron extract can also improve the sleep quality of healthy adults." So, in order to investigate whether saffron has a sleep enhancing effect, Dr. Adrian Lopresti conducted a study using standardized saffron extracts. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial recruited 63 healthy adults aged between 18 and 70 who self-reported sleep problems. They were randomly divided into two groups: one group of volunteers took a 14 milligram dose of saffron extract twice a day, and the other group took a placebo for 28 days. During the study period, all volunteers did not receive treatment for depression and did not take any medication (except contraceptive pills) for at least four weeks. In addition, although they all have self-reported sleep problems, they are all very healthy in other aspects. Researchers measured the results using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) on baseline days 7, 14, 21, and 28, as well as the Restorative Sleep Questionnaire (RSQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (PSD) collected on days -1, 0, 3, 7, 14, 27, and 28. When 55 participants were subsequently evaluated based on the standardized insomnia severity index, it was found that saffron extract was associated with greater improvement in ISI total score (p=0.17), RSQ total score (p=0.29), and PSD sleep quality score (p=0.14) compared to placebo. In fact, most people in the saffron extract group showed significant improvement in sleep quality within 7 days of starting treatment. The research results indicate that the intake of saffron extract is associated with an improvement in sleep quality in adults who self report sleep problems. In addition, in addition to improving sleep, studies have shown that saffron extract is well tolerated and no adverse effects were found after taking it. Currently, sleep disorders are a common problem across all age groups, and more and more consumers are choosing to alleviate this problem through natural plants and drugs. Although this study preliminarily suggests that saffron extract has the potential for natural sleep aid, there is still a lack of reliable clinical evidence. In the future, further research will still require the use of larger sample sizes and different populations. Although saffron is a relatively new market, a report by Future Market Insights predicts that the increasing demand for plant-based natural ingredients is driving saffron consumption. In 2016, the United States, China, Iran, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom consumed saffron worth over $200 million. It is expected that by the end of 2026, Americans alone are expected to consume saffron worth over $90 million. In addition, an increasing number of studies have shown that saffron extract has the effects of relieving emotions, reducing anxiety, and improving sleep, with huge market potential in the future. 04 Identification method for authenticity of saffron
1. Soaking in water method: True saffron is composed of stamens, which do not immediately break when soaked in water, and the water is light yellow; And counterfeit goods are made by cutting the stamens or even radishes of other flowers into very thin threads, and then dyeing them. After soaking in water, the radishes will shatter, the dyed ones will quickly fade, and the water will turn red or orange yellow. This is the most effective method of identification. 2. Smelling method: Authentic saffron has a strong floral aroma, while counterfeit or adulterated goods have a weak or even imperceptible taste. 3. Observation method: Place saffron on white paper, spread it out and observe carefully. The true saffron is the stamen, although some are broken, each one is trumpet shaped, and it is difficult to achieve counterfeit products dyed with silk cut from radish. Or put saffron in a plastic bag and shake it again. Some saffrons will stick yellow pollen onto the plastic bag, with a thin layer of light yellow that is easy to identify, while counterfeit goods are gone
