Saffron (Zafran)

Saffron/Zafran (زعفران – کیسر) also known as Crocus Sativus, is a very popular and an expensive spice. Its taste makes it great for usage in food, as refreshment and even for making beverages. Saffron unique color, flavor, and other properties give it culinary and medicinal characteristics that make it renowned all over the world.It belongs to the Iridaceae family and is a native of the South Europe regions.

Health Benefits of Saffron:

1. It prevent diseases and promote the overall well-being of the body.
2. The plant part from which saffron is obtained contains essential but volatile oils which when added to food, imparts its unique flavor and benefits of saffron as a spice. Some of these oils are cineole, pinene, borneol, geraniol, etc.
3. It is used in various types of therapies like body healing, detoxification and also in the spas.
4. It is antidepressant.
5. Saffron is digestive and an anticonvulsant.
6. Good for treatment of heart diseases and blood pressure.
7. It helps to produce blood cell.
8. The overall mineral content including calcium, vitamins, proteins, etc. present in saffron ensure the maintenance of optimum health.
9. Saffron oil controls the appetite and is working all over the world to help people control obesity and get back into shape.
10. Saffron is commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory ailments such as cough, whooping cough, and to loosen phlegm.
11. Saffron extract is known to help treat depression, reduce stress, and to be a mood enhancer. It is widely used to combat Alzheimer’s disease and used in the fight against the growing menace of insomnia, common to today’s highly stressed lifestyle habits.
12. Women can use saffron for menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and men can use it to promote fertility and to deal with premature ejaculation. Overall, saffron has done much to help treat complex sexual health ailments.
13. It Combats diabetes.
14. It has natural skin lightening qualities and gives glowing complexion.
15. The antifungal content of saffron makes it effective for the treatment of acne, blemishes, and blackheads.
16. Saffron holds amazing healing properties that go a long way in healing wounds and removing scars and spots for a blemish free skin tone.
17. Saffron is beneficial for hair and helps in stimulating hair growth and combats hair loss.

Side effects:

Saffron is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth as a medicine for up to 6 weeks. Some possible side effects include dry mouth, anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, change in appetite, and headache. Allergic reactions can occur in some people.

Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. High doses can cause poisoning, including yellow appearance of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; vomiting; dizziness; bloody diarrhea; bleeding from the nose, lips, and eyelids; numbness; and other serious side effects. Doses of 12-20 grams can cause death.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking saffron by mouth in amounts larger than what is normally found in food is LIKELY UNSAFE. Larger amounts of saffron can make the uterus contract and might cause a miscarriage.

Not enough is known about the safety of using saffron during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.