An Experiment: Did Saffron Help With My Adult ADHD Symptoms?

Om and OMG! A Yogi’s Adult ADHD Doodle Diary

An Experiment: Did Saffron Help With My Adult ADHD Symptoms?

Dear ADHD Doodle Diary,

For years, I’ve been navigating the rollercoaster that is Adult ADHD. It’s a wild ride filled with a thousand unfinished tasks, impulsive decisions, and a brain that never seems to stop.

Recently, I stumbled across something that promised to calm the storm in my mind—saffron. Yes, that little golden spice often found in paella or biryani.

I was at a wellness festival selling my ADHD Coping Strategy Card Decks, and giving a 60-minute talk on living with ADHD, when the woman at the stand next to mine said:

“Yeah, I’ve got ADHD.”

We got to talking.

I sat wide-eyed listening to her every word. She had been diagnosed many years ago, and was a fountain of knowledge with all things to do with adult ADHD. She told me that I’d have to wait years for the “normal” ADHD medication (due to high demand and low stock in the UK), and said,

“George, I’ve been using Saffron for a few years now, and it’s just as good as the offical medication provided by the NHS.” 

And with that one sentence, my life changed.

FYI: The offical mediation provided by the NHS is a choice of the following: methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine

Intrigued by her recommendation, and after a bit of Googling to verify her claims, desperate for a change, I decided to give it a shot.

I embarked on a one-person study, taking one 30 mg saffron tablet from Holland & Barrett every day for the past two months.

Here’s what happened.

Tracking the Experiment: The Index Card Method

Given my ADHD brain’s tendency to forget what happened five minutes ago, I knew I needed a solid method for tracking my progress.

Enter the Index Card System—a simple, visual, tactile, and ADHD-friendly way to monitor my saffron journey.

Every day, I jotted down key observations on an index card:

• Mood: Calm, anxious, irritable?
• Focus: Scattered, decent, laser-focused?
• Energy: Lethargic, balanced, hyperactive?
• Self-Talk: Harsh, neutral, supportive?

By the end of each week, I reviewed the cards to spot trends. The results were, in a word, fascinating.

Week 1: The Saffron Slow Start

The first week felt like waiting for a pot to boil.

I didn’t notice much at first—no sudden enlightenment or mental clarity. My brain was still doing its usual ADHD shuffle. But by Day 5, I noticed a subtle change: I wasn’t berating myself as much. The usual negative self-talk had taken a back seat. I still had my “Oh, you idiot!” moments, but they weren’t as frequent or as intense. It was as if saffron had gently turned down the volume on my inner critic.

Week 2: Anxiety Takes a Hike

By the second week, something even more remarkable happened: my anxiety levels started to plummet.

Normally, I’d spend a good chunk of the day feeling like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, with my mind racing at a thousand miles an hour.

But, like turning off a switch, that feeling began to fade.

I felt calmer, less rushed, and my breathing was deeper and more relaxed. It was as if saffron had somehow managed to reach into my brain and switch on the “chill out” button.

Weeks 3-4: Calmer Brain, Calmer Life

As I moved into weeks three and four, the benefits of saffron became even more pronounced.

My brain, which usually felt like it was bouncing off the walls, was starting to feel…calmer. I found myself able to focus on tasks for longer periods and, incredibly, even started thinking about the future in a more structured way.

Normally, long-term planning feels like trying to herd cats, but now I was actually making (and following) plans that extended beyond the next 24 hours. I didn’t feel the usual pressure to do “everything” right now, and that was a revelation.

How Saffron Affects the ADHD Brain

So, what’s happening in my brain?

Well, saffron has been shown to influence neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and dopamine—both of which play a significant role in ADHD.

Serotonin helps regulate mood and anxiety, while dopamine is linked to attention and reward processing. Saffron’s compounds, like crocin and safranal, have neuroprotective properties that can boost these neurotransmitters, potentially leading to the calming and focusing effects I experienced.

In a nutshell, saffron might be helping to balance the chemical chaos in my ADHD brain, smoothing out the rough edges and making it easier to function.

How Much Saffron Should an Adult with ADHD Take?

For my experiment, I took a daily 30 mg saffron tablet, which seems to be the sweet spot based on current research.

Studies suggest that 28-30 mg per day (1 tablet) is effective for improving mood and cognitive function without significant side effects.

It’s important to note that while saffron is considered safe, taking excessive amounts (over 5 grams) can be toxic. Though, you’d have to take 166 tablets to go over 5 grams, so don’t worry, it’s practically impossible to take in excessive amounts of saffron!

The woman who initially told me about saffron for ADHD said she usually takes two tablets, and sometimes even three if she’s going out and needs to be social (something a lot of adults with ADHD struggle with).

I’ve yet to take more than one tablet, but wouldn’t be afraid to take two or three tablets at once or spread out throughout the day.

The tablets aren’t cheap, so if one tablet is giving you good results, there’s no need to take any more.

Possible Side Effects of Saffron

Speaking of safety, it’s worth mentioning that saffron is considered very safe for most people. The most common side effects are mild and include nausea, dizziness, or dry mouth—none of which I experienced during my experiment.

However, if you’re pregnant, on blood pressure medication, or have specific medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to check with a healthcare provider before starting saffron supplements.

Week 5: The Planning Miracle

By the fifth week, I was starting to feel like a whole new person.

The biggest change? I could actually plan for the future.

For someone with ADHD, this was nothing short of a miracle. I wrote a blog post called Adult ADHD: Long Term Planning Using Index Cards, which gives my ADHD-friendly system for long-term planning.

I use Google Calendar to map out my weeks—something I’d always struggled with before. I put my work plan, play plan and schedule on index cards, which makes long-term planning feel more like a game.

And guess what?

I stuck to the schedule. Sure, there were some detours. Hello, random three-hour deep dive into watching the Olympic diving event (forgive the pun), but overall, I was more organized and less frantic.

Week 6-8: The New Normal

As I approached the two-month mark, the effects of saffron became my new normal.

My brain felt clearer.

My mood was more stable.

The constant anxiety had been replaced with a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in years. I wasn’t rushing around like a headless chicken anymore.

I could make a cup of tea slowly going from activity to activity. That may sound simple to a “normal brain”, but if you have Adult ADHD, there are 15 steps involved in making a cup of tea. The problem is that an ADHD brain wants to do them all at the same time! Really. That’s not a joke.

The 15 Steps To Making A Cup Of Tea: 

1. Put water in the kettle
2. Switch the kettle on
3. Get two cups from the cubboard
4. Get soyga & oat milk from fridge
5. Pour soya in one cup, and oat milk in the other
6. Empty the tea pot of old tea leaves
7. Add tea leaves to the tea pot
8. Wait for the kettle to boil (don’t leave the room)
9. Pour hot water into the tea pot
10. Set 4-minute timer on phone (brew time)
11. Get up from chair and go to kitchen
12. Pour the tea
13. Go upstairs and give cup to my partner
14. Go downstairs to the kitchen
15. Drink the tea

I was taking things slowly, taking breaks, and even enjoying moments of stillness—something I didn’t think was possible.

George’s Conclusion: The Power of Saffron for ADHD

My little saffron experiment turned out to be a game-changer. While saffron for ADHD is still a relatively new area of research, my experience suggests it has the potential to make a real difference. It’s not a cure-all, but for me, it’s been a valuable tool in managing the symptoms of Adult ADHD.

I’m calmer, less anxious, and—miracle of miracles—able to do some Long Term Planning using Index Cards.

If you’re considering trying saffron, I’d recommend it, but with the usual caveat: everyone’s brain is different. What works for me might not work for you, but given saffron’s safety profile and potential benefits, it’s certainly worth a shot. Just remember to keep track of your progress in a notebook (or index cards) and listen to your body.

As for me, I’m off to write my next blog post—this time, with a clear mind and a plan in place. I still like play with my Adult ADHD Coping Strategy Cards. Saffron isn’t a miracle pill. Taking a saffron tablet every morning is just one of many coping strategies that I use.

This diary entry is also one of my coping strategies for Adult ADHD. Sharing is caring. Sharing is healing. Sharing is a coping strategy.

If you’ve made it this far, you either haven’t got Adult ADHD, or something else didn’t distract you yet. Bravo! Though, I’m not going to push my luck. It’s time to wrap this diary entry up.

Namaste (my soul high-fives your soul),
George Watts

P.S. Dear Diary, thanks for letting me write in you. And dear reader, thanks for reading…and make sure you check out my Adult ADHD CBT Card Deck. The cards are fun. They have cute monsters. You’ll love ’em.