How Consuming Saffron Helps During Postpartum Depression

Saffron and postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a mental disorder that occurs after giving birth to mothers, and it has a high prevalence among mothers who have just graduated, and it affects the mother, the child, and the family . Postpartum depression usually occurs after going through pregnancy, enduring the pain of childbirth, or problems after cesarean section, even despite the birth of a healthy baby; Mothers in this situation do not enjoy life as they should and look at life with a negative feeling.

The symptoms of this disorder are mood changes, disturbed sleep patterns, fatigue, fear, anger, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, loss of libido, lack of enjoyment from work and life, occurrence of mental and motor problems, and feelings of guilt. As a result, the mother cannot fulfill her role as a mother and wife well, and in acute conditions, sometimes the sick person will commit suicide and infanticide. Sometimes, problems arise in the care and maintenance of the child, which can affect his learning and concentration in the future.

There are various ways to treat postpartum depression, such as rehabilitation, psychotherapy, drug and non-drug treatments. Although medication can be effective to treat this disorder, non-drug treatments are also very effective in the treatment process. Many mothers avoid taking medicine during breastfeeding because it may cause disorders in the baby, so non-pharmacological methods seem more appropriate.

As stated, to overcome this physical and mental crisis, a series of solutions must be used together; Warm and positive social and family relationships, physical activities such as yoga and proper nutrition are solutions that can be fruitful. As one of the therapeutic methods, the use of saffron in food ingredients can be considered. Saffron is one of the common foods in Iranian food culture; One of the properties of saffron that has been researched a lot is its anti-depressant effects and creating a good and positive feeling in people, and this itself can be a treatment for mothers who are trapped in postpartum depression. Saffron balances the amount of serotonin and dopamine in the body because it contains a substance called crocin. Crocin in saffron as a medicinal supplement has anti-depressant and euphoric properties and acts like fluoxetine (antidepressant).

In order to investigate the effect of saffron on postpartum depression of mothers, a research has been conducted in this direction. This experiment was conducted on 60 mothers with depression for 8 weeks, who were divided into two groups of 30 people. The first group started taking saffron tablets containing 15 mg of saffron and the second group started taking placebo. Placebo tablets are completely similar to saffron tablets in terms of color, smell, taste and appearance, with the difference that they do not contain saffron. Other conditions were completely the same in both groups. After completing the experiment, it was concluded that consuming saffron after childbirth can reduce postpartum depression. Placebo and saffron did not cause significant side effects, and the lack of side effects for nursing mothers can encourage them to use saffron to treat postpartum grief

According to these tests, it was found that saffron has antidepressant properties and the effect of saffron is equal to fluoxetine. It should be noted that Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug that is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa.

Saffron has many effects in the postpartum period and on mothers who are breastfeeding. In a few cases, it has been observed that the consumption of saffron affects the amount of breastfeeding and causes this amount to be less than normal. But in general, mothers who are in the breastfeeding period, their bodies have a higher metabolism, part of their physical strength is depleted, and since they lose their physical strength, consuming saffron can help them strengthen the body system. To be safe from many diseases including colds. On the other hand, the use of saffron during this period improves the function of the digestive system and increases the appetite, and in this way helps to compensate for the lost energy of the body, so daily consumption and as much as saffron during breastfeeding helps, which is simultaneously with Strengthening the mother's body, the physical strength of the baby will also increase

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that affects at least 10 to 15 mothers out of every 100 mothers who have just given birth. Postpartum depression occurs after the birth of a baby, and its cause is not exactly clear; But part of it can be related to extreme hormonal changes or changes in the mother's lifestyle

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This type of depression usually appears 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth, and its symptoms may not even appear until six months after giving birth; But in any case, if you yourself have recently given birth or you know someone who has recently become a mother and has the following symptoms, you can admit that you have suffered postpartum depression

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• Discomfort
• Irritability
• Anxiety and tension
• Low energy and high fatigue
• Change in the person's sleep pattern
• Change in the food pattern
Of course, all these cases are seen to some extent in women who have recently given birth; However, in cases where these symptoms do not appear more than usual, or when the said symptoms do not improve over time, it is better to take the necessary measures for the treatment of postpartum depression. Saffron is one of the plants with high nutritional and therapeutic value, which has been discussed in many articles about its therapeutic and preventive properties on various diseases. You have probably heard a lot about the benefits of saffron during pregnancy, but in this article, we will talk about the benefits of this valuable plant for improving postpartum depression

The effect of saffron on depression

Depression is one of the mental disorders that not treating it and not paying attention to the complications of this disease can have lasting and bad effects on a person's personal and social life. Postpartum depression is also one of the common types of depression in women who have just given birth and have moved away from their personal and maternal lifestyle. Of course, as we mentioned in the previous parts, it is normal for women to change their style and behavior pattern after giving birth; But in postpartum depression, this change is more visible and the person himself notices abnormal conditions and changes in them

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It should be noted that postpartum depression is something that plagues a large number of women who have recently given birth and has nothing to do with the individual. As a result, the great change that has occurred in a person's life, as well as the severe hormonal disorders caused by nine months of pregnancy and childbirth, have a great impact on this disorder. Therefore, we should not blame the mother and we should take help from different treatment methods to improve the person's condition

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One of the benefits of saffron that you have probably heard is its effect on the process of reducing moods that develop in a person during depression. The effect of saffron on postpartum depression also happens in the same way, and in general, saffron can help a lot in improving a person's feelings. First, it is better to get acquainted with the effects and benefits of saffron on depression, and then we will deal specifically with postpartum depression

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Depression is generally a state in which a person loses the desire and enthusiasm to do his past and daily activities and to a large extent, he moves away from the style and pattern of his daily life. In such a way that it is annoying for the person himself and if this process and its symptoms intensify, it may involve the people around to a great extent and cause them to be annoyed as well. For this reason, if a person observes any of the behaviors and symptoms of depression in themselves or those around them, they should seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist to improve the person. Of course, you can also use herbal and traditional medicine methods and use the benefits of saffron and its effect on depression in these methods

Symptoms of postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is similar to other types of depression in terms of symptoms; However, in this type of depression, the causes of depression may be slightly different, such as hormonal changes or lifestyle changes, but in any case, because depression has the same basis, treatment methods in other types of depression can also be used to treat postpartum depression. used and did not ignore the effect of saffron on postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can also make a person no longer interested in the things he used to do and also lose the motivation to do things or daily activities; Therefore, in terms of symptoms, all types of depression have the same symptoms

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Treatments for depression cause anxiety and other neurological disorders that either already existed in the person or that appeared recently following depression, to decrease and disappear over time or remain at a controlled level. The result of treating depression, especially postpartum depression, should not be ignored. During depression, a person's cells become inflamed and the oxidation process of a depressed person's cells is higher than other people's, so antioxidants can help a depressed person in this regard. One of the advantages of saffron is that it has a large amount of antioxidants, and this is why saffron is known as an anti-cancer herb

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The effect of saffron on postpartum depression is very significant due to having a large amount of antioxidants. So if you don't always feel good after giving birth and you feel that you have another reason for your bad mood or reluctance to do things other than the birth of your child, use saffron infusion or saffron seasoning in your food

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According to research, one of the benefits of saffron, which is very effective in treating depression, especially postpartum depression, is smelling saffron for 20 minutes. Smelling saffron, especially in women, balances their hormones and removes a part of depression that is related to hormonal imbalance in people. One of the main reasons for postpartum depression is hormonal changes in women, so don't ignore the effect of saffron on postpartum depression by smelling it and try to smell saffron for 20 minutes every day so that the hormonal balance returns to your body

Breastfeeding and its effect on postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a function of different conditions that may arise for women. These factors can be hormonal changes, which of course is the main reason. Hormonal changes, in addition to affecting a person's mood and mood, also have negative effects on the body. One of the issues that women deal with after giving birth is breastfeeding and the problems that arise in this process. Breastfeeding is one of the most important issues that every mother pays attention to after giving birth, and problems in breastfeeding cause discomfort to the mother

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As a result, if a person has difficulty in breastfeeding after giving birth due to hormonal changes, by solving this problem, the mother's discomfort and as a result postpartum depression can be reduced to a large extent. One of the advantages of saffron is its positive effect on hormones. The balance in hormones and the loss of the order of hormone secretion can fix the disorder in the breastfeeding process and restore it to normal and use the effect of saffron on breastfeeding

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Another issue that may interfere with breastfeeding is the mother's nutrition. It is better to feed the mother in such a way that in addition to meeting the needs of her body, she can fully breastfeed. The use of saffron and its drink can satisfy part of the nutrients that the mother needs, and as a result of all these actions, postpartum depression caused by the lack of proper and sufficient breastfeeding will be resolved to a large extent

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The effect of saffron on postpartum depression will not end with these substances, and providing energy to the mother's body is one of the other factors that can affect depression and improve its symptoms. As you know, the metabolism of the mother's body increases after childbirth due to breastfeeding, and for this reason, women who have just given birth may face the problem of lack of energy, which can itself be the cause of depression

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Therefore, during the postpartum period, the consumption of saffron is highly recommended to increase one's appetite and improve the efficiency of the digestive system , and it is necessary to use saffron daily during breastfeeding to improve the effect of saffron on postpartum depression. See the digestive and metabolic system of the body

Treatment of postpartum depression with saffron

In the treatment of depression and postpartum depression, in order to fully benefit from the benefits of saffron, it is necessary to continue using saffron to better see the effect of saffron on postpartum depression and any other type of depression with different degrees. . Another point that you should keep in mind when consuming saffron is the authenticity of saffron

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As you know, the saffron market includes a wide market due to its high use and high profit, and there are many people and farmers who are doing well in this field. Of course, besides the people who work honestly in this field, there are also other people who may not be of the best quality of saffron they offer to the market. So, in order to use the properties of saffron, it is better to pay attention to its authenticity when buying and preferably buy saffron from reputable stores

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• The effects of saffron on postpartum depression
• Increasing the metabolism of the mother's body
• Increasing the mother's appetite
• Improving the functioning of the digestive system
• Balancing the mother's hormones
• Being cheerful
• Being on par with antidepressants and suppressing depression
• Strengthening the defense system
• Increasing energy

The permissible amount of saffron consumption per day

Saffron is a very valuable plant that we examined some of its properties and effects in this article and up to this point; But since the past, there have always been precautions against its excessive consumption. There are many properties and benefits in all types of food; But for any reason, it is not recommended to consume too much of the best nutrient, and that is why saffron also has a certain amount of consumption, especially for people who are going through certain conditions, such as women who have just given birth and are breastfeeding

To use the benefits of saffron completely, it is better to include 3 grams of this valuable plant in your diet in a month. Please note that the maximum permissible consumption of saffron in a month is 5 grams. In order to know how much saffron is useful for you in the range of 3 to 5 grams, it is better to consider your physical condition and if you have a specific disease, consult your doctor about the consumption of saffron and its effect on your health. Let your body take control

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The effect of saffron on postpartum depression will help the mother to recover according to the dosage and continued use, so do not forget to continue using saffron and do not exceed the permissible limit for consumption. Note that along with the advantages of saffron, there are also disadvantages

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If you consume too much saffron, you will see the following symptoms
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Seeing blood in the stool
• Abdominal pain
• Increased heart rate
If you see any of the mentioned symptoms, it is better to see a doctor

immediately

?Who should not eat saffron

As we said, saffron has many advantages; But along with all the benefits of saffron, the consumption of this nutrient is limited for some people. Even if you suffer from postpartum depression and have the following symptoms, consult your doctor before consuming saffron. These symptoms that indicate the contraindication of saffron are:
• excessive sweating of the palms; It is better not to use saffron for people whose palms sweat a lot. Because it will increase sweating.
Saffron is not recommended at all for mothers who are obese and overweight; Because, as we said, one of the benefits of saffron is increasing appetite, in which case it may increase the mother's weight and aggravate depression

How to use saffron to treat postpartum depression

Citalopram, fluoxetine, or imipramine tablets are types of antidepressants that are usually prescribed for people who have various degrees of depression or postpartum depression. According to the research conducted on the effect of saffron on people, they have come to the conclusion that the daily consumption of 30 mg of Berber saffron is equivalent to the daily consumption of the mentioned tablets. If every person consumes 30 mg of saffron per day, he will benefit from the benefits of saffron and the effect of saffron on postpartum depression

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Of course, you can divide this 30 mg into two 15 mg portions and include saffron in your diet once a day and once at night. As we have mentioned several times, in order to see the effects of saffron completely and beneficially, it is necessary to have continuity in its consumption. Usually, the consumption of saffron between 6 and 8 weeks will bring a favorable result

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In pregnant women or women who have recently given birth and have symptoms of depression, it is not possible to use a lot of antidepressants, because in any case, the use of various chemical and pharmaceutical substances during pregnancy or breastfeeding (after childbirth) can cause irreparable side effects. have on the fetus. So, the best methods to treat depression during pregnancy or breastfeeding are using herbal methods and traditional medicine, the benefits of saffron can be one of the most effective methods to deal with postpartum depression

The method of brewing saffron

Using saffron daily will help you reduce the symptoms of depression, and after continuous and long-term use, you can see its effects; But what is the best way to consume saffron and have more effect? Many people use saffron in their food as a seasoning to have the unique flavor of this plant with their food, but when saffron is consumed in food, due to mixing with other nutrients, it may be completely absorbed in the intestine. And the stomach is not absorbed. As a result, it will be ineffective for a longer period of time

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To counter this effect, it is better to prepare saffron as a drink and consume it in meals other than meals so that the effect of saffron on postpartum depression is more evident. One of the methods of consuming saffron to use more of the benefits of saffron is brewing saffron. In this method, one or two saffron branches (15 mg daily) can be poured into some boiling water and then allowed to infuse by indirect heat. After about ten minutes, you can drink your drink, which is brewed with saffron. In this method, the use of chemical substances is necessary and the baby will not have any problems

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In another method that is widely used in saffron consumption, you can make saffron tea. Saffron tea is generally one of the most popular hot drinks among us Iranians, so what better way to help a depressed person by using it on a daily basis and to benefit from its healing and invigorating properties. To prepare saffron tea, it is necessary to add some saffron when adding tea to boiling water. Let both tea and saffron brew

When should we see a doctor to treat postpartum depression

Using saffron helps a lot in improving one's moles; But if the symptoms of postpartum depression were still high and remained to such an extent that the person was still under tension, it is necessary to see a doctor. In general, if the following symptoms continue after two months of saffron consumption, it is necessary to take the treatment more seriously

• The person's performance remains low and the inability to perform personal and daily activities
• Continue to feel high stress and tension
• Having thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
In general, depression is one of the mental disorders that people can face in their lives, and it can be caused by various reasons. Postpartum depression is also a type of depression that is relatively common among women, and approximately 10 to 15 out of every 100 women suffer from it, which is a large number. Postpartum depression can occur due to new conditions in the mother's life, or due to hormonal and physical changes in the mother's body, there is a possibility of postpartum depression. Since mothers cannot use medicinal and chemical substances during breastfeeding, most of the doctors prescribe medicinal plants for these people and generally use yinthi medicine

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In this article, we tried to express the benefits of saffron and the effect of saffron on postpartum depression. Using these materials, if you yourself have just gone through pregnancy or you know someone who suffered from depression and changes in their moods and behavior after giving birth, you can use the information mentioned in this article to understand the importance of Understand the use of saffron and take saffron consumption seriously to better understand the effect of saffron on postpartum depression. Note that the benefits of saffron appear in case of continuous and long-term use

References

R. Srivastava, H. Ahmed, RK Dixit, Dharamveer, SA Saraf. Crocus sativus L.: A comprehensive review. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 2010: 200-208

TabeshpourJamshid, SobhaniFarzaneh, SadjadiSeyedAlireza, HosseinzadehHossein, MohajeriSeyedAhmad, RajabiOmid, TaherzadeZhilah, EslamiSaeid, A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) in mothers suffering from mild-to-moderate postpartum depression, Phytomedicine ( 2017)

Esmaili Zahra, Hosseini Seyyed Hamzeh, postpartum depression: prevention, treatment, Journal of Clinical, Educational-Research Excellence, second volume, number 1, pp. 70-82, Zh Nizal, Yunsian Masoud, Fili Ahmad, Abbasi Mutadjad Asiah, the effect of supportive measures
during Pregnancy on the prevention of postpartum depression, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Journal (Hayat), Volume 12, Number 3, Autumn 2015, 73-80