Spice Focus: Saffron

ByRuthie Guten

Spice Focus: Saffron

 Saffron has been said to be the most expensive spice in the world.The spice is obtained from the stamens of the saffron crocus. The flowers are hand picked and the stamens are hand plucked, one at a time. The stamens are fine, red yellow threads. Much of the best saffron is grown in the plains of La Mancha, Spain, but is also cultivated in France, Sicily, Iran & India.

Saffron threads (also called stigmas)are known to have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties, as well as a delicious flavor.

It is believed to aid the digestion and improve the appetite. It is often used to treat menstrual pain and irregularity, menopause, impotence, infertility, anemia, enlarged liver, hysteria, depression, insomnia, neuralgia, lumbago, rheumatism, cough, asthma, gastro-intestinal complaints, colic, and chronic diarrhea.

Saffron can be used as a spice (the whole thread), in oils, infusions, and in food as a flavoring. The oil can be used for massage, perfume or bath.

To make a saffron infusion, steep 6-10 stigmas in 1/2 cup of boiling water. Usual dose is 1 cup per day (unsweetened).

CONTRAINDICATIONS: DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY, AS IT CAN PROMOTE MISCARRIAGE.
SAFFRON CAN BE NARCOTIC IN LARGE DOSES. DO NOT EXCEED MEDICINAL AMOUNT INDICATED. A DOSE OF 1/2 OZ. CAN BE FATAL.

Sources & Credits:

Sophie Grigson’s Ingredient Book
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies, by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.
Wikipedia Commons (picture of saffron crocus)

Similar Posts

  • Food Focus: Almonds

    ByRuthie Guten

    Food Focus: Almonds Many people think that nuts are fattening, so they stay away from them. I am here to tell you that although almonds are high in fat content, approximately 90% of the fat content is unsaturated. According to The Health Ranger, Mike Adams, research has shown that almonds actually lower blood cholesterol levels….

  • Food Focus: DATES

    ByRuthie Guten

    Food Focus: DATES Dates are fruits that grow on date palms. They have been used since the times of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Dates are very sweet and nutritionally packed essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Dates are rich in dietary fiber and contain tannins (flavonoid antioxidants that are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties). In terms…

  • Food Focus: Bananas

    ByRuthie Guten

    Food Focus: Bananas As you probably already know, the fruit named banana is a high calorie tropical fruit. A serving of 100g of bananas (approx.  2/5 cup smashed bananas) contains around 90 calories. It is easy to digest and provides almost immediate energy due to its simple sugars like fructose and sucrose. It also contains…

  • Food Focus: Greens

    ByRuthie Guten

    Food Focus: Greens (This article appeared in the April, 2011 edition of A Healthy You) Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun’s light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal…

  • Food Focus: Walnuts

    ByRuthie Guten

    Food Focus: Walnuts Walnuts are rich in protein and high in potassium, zinc and iron. They are the fruit from a tree in the walnut family Junglandaceae. Most of us are familiar with the “nut” which is found inside the hard shell. But did you know that other parts of the walnut tree have beneficial…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Why ask?