Saffron, which has anti-depressant and memory-enhancing properties, can be as effective at controlling symptoms as methylphenidate, the commonly prescribed drug Ritalin for treating ADHD. According to the latest study, saffron can treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children. What is ADHD? 1. ADHD is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence. 2. More than 10 million cases of ADHD are observed in a year in India, only.