---
title: "St John's Wort or Saffron? | Herbadex"
description: "Two herbs studied for mood: St John's wort extract has strong evidence but serious drug interactions, saffron's data are more limited. Side by side."
language: en
url: https://herbadex.com/en/compare/st-johns-wort-vs-saffron/
source: Herbadex (https://herbadex.com)
---

Comparisons

# St John's Wort or Saffron?

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) and saffron (Crocus sativus) supplements have been studied for depressive symptoms. Depression needs a doctor's diagnosis and care; never stop antidepressants on your own. The table is built from the sourced cards of both herbs.

| Aspect | St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum | Saffron Crocus sativus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strongest evidence | A Strong clinical evidence | B Limited clinical evidence |
| Needs | Sleep, Stress & Mood, Digestion | Sleep, Stress & Mood, Women’s Health |
| Form | Dried Herb & Tea | Spice |
| How to use | Pour 150 ml of boiling water over 1.5–2 g of chopped herb. | Standardised extract (ready-made): studies used 30 mg daily (2 × 15 mg). |
| Pregnancy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Breastfeeding | Avoid | Caution |
| Recommended minimum age | From age 18 | From age 18 |
| Drug interactions | 4 serious interaction(s) | No recorded interactions |
| Duration limit | See a doctor if no better after 2 weeks | 6–12 weeks |

## Which one, when?

### St. John's Wort

Standardised dry extracts may support mild to moderate depressive episodes under medical supervision; a Cochrane review found them better than placebo. Interacts seriously with many medicines, including birth control pills, blood thinners and antidepressants.

[Full card →](https://herbadex.com/en/herb/st-johns-wort/)

### Saffron

In a meta-analysis, standardised extract supplements lowered self-reported depression and anxiety scores, with no significant change on clinician-rated scales. Saffron is toxic at 5 g a day or more.

[Full card →](https://herbadex.com/en/herb/saffron/)

## Good to know

-   If you take an antidepressant, do not start either without your doctor; combined with St John's wort there is a risk of serotonin syndrome.
-   Neither is recommended under 18; St John's wort is not used in pregnancy or breastfeeding, saffron supplements not in pregnancy.
-   Avoid strong sun while taking St John's wort.

## Sources

1.  [European Union herbal monograph on Hypericum perforatum L., herba – Revision 1](https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-hypericum-perforatum-l-herba-revision-1_en.pdf) EMA HMPC · 2022 · Monograph Source accessed: October 14, 2026
2.  [St John's wort for major depression](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18843608/) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2008 · Systematic review Source accessed: October 20, 2026
3.  [Effect of saffron on depression, anxiety and mood disorder: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41693488/) Nutritional Neuroscience · 2026 · Systematic review Source accessed: October 21, 2026
4.  [Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18271889/) BJOG · 2008 · Randomized controlled trial Source accessed: October 21, 2026
5.  [Saffron in phytotherapy: pharmacology and clinical uses](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17704979/) Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift · 2007 · Review Source accessed: October 21, 2026

This page is for information only and is not medical advice. If you take medication, are pregnant, or have a health condition, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before use.