What if one of the world’s oldest, and most expensive spices could have a measurable impact on the everyday “gray zone” of mental health?

In Episode 134 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we explore a 2025 randomized controlled trial examining a standardized saffron extract in 202 adults experiencing subclinical depressive symptoms.

We break down five findings from the study and explore a bigger question for the nutraceutical industry: Could standardized botanicals play a greater role in supporting people who fall somewhere between feeling well and having a diagnosed mental health condition?