Saffron
Saffron is a plant. The dried stigmas (thread-like parts of
the flower) are used to make saffron spice. It can take 75,000 saffron blossoms
to produce a single pound of saffron spice. Saffron is largely cultivated and
harvested by hand. Due to the amount of labor involved in harvesting, saffron
is considered one of the world's most expensive spices. The stigmas are also
used to make medicine.
Saffron is used for asthma, cough, whooping cough
(pertussis), and to loosen phlegm (as an expectorant). It is also used for
sleep problems (insomnia), cancer, “hardening of the arteries”
(atherosclerosis), intestinal gas (flatulence), depression, Alzheimer's
disease, fright, shock, spitting up blood (hemoptysis), pain, heartburn, and
dry skin.
Women use saffron for menstrual cramps and premenstrual
syndrome (PMS). Men use it to prevent early orgasm (premature ejaculation) and
infertility.
Saffron is also used for to increase interest in sex (as an
aphrodisiac) and to induce sweating.
Some people apply saffron directly to the scalp for baldness
(alopecia).
In foods, saffron is used as a spice, yellow food coloring,
and as a flavoring agent.
In manufacturing, saffron extracts are used as fragrance in
perfumes and as a dye for cloth.
Benefits of Saffron
·
Alzheimer's disease.
Some research shows that taking a specific saffron product (IMPIRAN, Iran) by
mouth for 22 weeks might improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease about as well
as the prescription drug donepezil
·
Depression.
Taking specific saffron extracts (Novin Zaferan Co, Iran) by mouth seems to
improve symptoms of major depression after 6-8 weeks of treatment. Some studies
suggest that saffron might be as effective as taking a low-dose prescription
antidepressant such as fluoxetine or imipramine.
·
Menstrual discomfort.
Some research shows the taking a specific product containing saffron, anise,
and celery seed (SCA, Gol Daro Herbal Medicine Laboratory) reduces pain during
the menstrual cycle.
·
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Some research shows that taking a specific saffron extract (Department of
Cultivation and Development of Institute of Medicinal Plants, Iran) improves
symptoms of PMS after two menstrual cycles.