{"id":1153,"date":"2017-02-21T01:08:38","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T01:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/?page_id=1153"},"modified":"2025-05-27T15:19:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T15:19:18","slug":"saffron","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/1herbs\/saffron\/","title":{"rendered":"Saffron"},"content":{"rendered":"<div align=center>\n<h5>Contents:<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"#Names\">Common Names<\/a> | <a href=\"#Parts\">Parts Usually Used<\/a> | <a href=\"#Description\">Plant(s) &amp; Culture<\/a> | <a href=\"#Where\">Where Found<\/a> | <a href=\"#Properties\">Medicinal Properties<\/a> | <a href=\"#Biochemical\">Biochemical Information<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#Legends\">Legends, Myths and Stories<\/a> | <a href=\"#Uses\">Uses<\/a> | <a href=\"#Dosages\">Formulas or Dosages<\/a> | <a href=\"#Sold\">How Sold<\/a> | <a href=\"#Warning\">Warning<\/a> | <a href=\"#Links\">Resource Links<\/a> | <a href=\"#Bibliography\">Bibliography<\/a><a href=\"#Bibliography\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Scientific Names<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Saffron.jpg\" align=\"right\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" width=\"350\" height=\"280\" alt=\"Saffron\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Crocus sativus L.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Iridaceae<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Iris family<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"Names\">Common Names<\/a> <\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>American saffron<\/li>\n<li>Autumn crocus<\/li>\n<li>Bastard saffron<\/li>\n<li>Dyer&#8217;s saffron<\/li>\n<li>False saffron<\/li>\n<li>Fan-hung-hua (Chinese name)<\/li>\n<li>Nagakeshata (Sanskrit name)<\/li>\n<li>Parrot&#8217;s corn\n<li>\n<li>Safflower (safflower is really Carthamus tinctorius  L.)<\/li>\n<li>Saffron seed<\/li>\n<li>Spanish saffron<\/li>\n<li>Thistle saffron<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<p><\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b> <a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a> <\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Parts\">Parts Usually Used<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>The stigmas (use only the anthers; corms are  poisonous)<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Description\">Description of Plant(s) and Culture<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/saffron-crocus.jpg\" alt=\"Saffron\" width=\"169\" height=\"320\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"5\" align=\"right\"><\/p>\n<p>Saffron is a small perennial plant; in springtime,  an onion-like corm produces basal, linear leaves which are surrounded as a  group at the bottom by cylindrical sheaths.&nbsp;  These gray-green leaves have hairy margins and grow to about 8 inches  long.&nbsp; About August or September, the  corm produces a funnel-shaped, reddish-purple (sometimes lilac or white)  flower.&nbsp; These crocus-like flowers appear  in late September, and the grasslike leaves can stay green until the following  spring and are an attractive feature in the winter garden.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Where\">Where Found<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Cultivated in many places, but particularly in  France, Spain, Sicily, and Iran.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Properties\">Medicinal Properties<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Alterative, anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac,  appetizer, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, seed aromatic, stimulant, laxative,  diuretic, abortive<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Biochemical\">Biochemical Information<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>When dried, the stigmas produce a glycoside called  picrocine which then forms safranal.&nbsp;  This has the characteristic smell and the carotenoid pigment of crocine  (a very powerful yellow pigment highly valued in the Middle East for the fine quality  of yellow dye it yields, even in 1 part per 100,000 it will color water  yellow).<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Legends\">Legends, Myths and Stories<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>The most delicately flavored of all spices.&nbsp; Adds golden color and a wonderful flavor to rice  dishes, soups, etc.&nbsp; The most expensive  of all spices, saffron fortunately needs to be used only in very small  quantities.&nbsp; As a culinary herb, it is  used for food coloring. <\/p>\n<p> True saffron is perhaps the most expensive of all  plant products because of the labor involved in harvesting and it takes 3 acres  of flowers to produce 1 lb. of saffron.&nbsp; It  retails for about $40 an ounce!&nbsp; For this  reason few dealers stock this botanical.&nbsp;  False saffron, or safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is used much like  true saffron.&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>afflower contains 2  coloring principles; the one yellow and the other red.&nbsp; The first is removed by water and used mainly  in cooking.&nbsp; The second is used in dyeing  fabrics and is easily dissolved out by weak solutions of&nbsp; carbonated alkalies, and is again  precipitated with the addition of acid.&nbsp;  This property is used to manufacture rouge, and in the dyeing of silk,  cotton, and wool.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p> If you wish to collect the stigmata yourself, be  sure to plant thousands of saffron, for 60,000 stigmata weight only 1 pound.&nbsp; It takes 50,000 stigmata to make 1 ounce of  saffron spice.&nbsp; The stigmata is a small  part of the pistil of the flower.<\/p>\n<p> At one time, saffron was highly regarded for its  medicinal properties.&nbsp; In 1597, the English  herbalist John Gerard wrote about saffron as being the remedy for bringing a  person back from death&rsquo;s door.&nbsp; Today,  saffron is used primarily used, by those who can afford it, in cooking.<\/p>\n<p> Saffron was taken from Arabia to China by Chang  Chien, at the same time he took safflower and other Western drugs and plants.<br \/>\n  <a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Uses\">Uses<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Saffron has been used, in small doses only, for  coughs, whooping cough, stomach gas, gastrointestinal colic, consumption,  quickens the brain, jaundice, and insomnia.&nbsp;  Used for menstrual pain, menopause, irregular menses, impotence,  infertility, anemia, enlarged liver, hysteria, depression, neuralgia, lumbago,  rheumatism, and chronic diarrhea. As an ingredient in herb liqueurs, it serves  as a stimulant to appetite; it is sometimes made into a salve for treatment of  gout.&nbsp; Reliable used for measles, all  skin diseases, and scarlet fever.&nbsp; Will  produce profuse perspiration when taken hot: useful for fever, colds, cough,  asthma, and the grippe.&nbsp; Regulates and  increases the menstrual flow.&nbsp; Blood  vitalizer, counteracts inflammatory conditions.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Dosages\">Formulas or Dosages<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Infusion:<\/strong> steep 6-10 stigmas in 1\/2 cup water.&nbsp; Take 1\/2 to 1 cup a day, unsweetened, a  mouthful at a time.<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Sold\">How Sold<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Available in a tincture, but is quite expensive.&nbsp; Because it is much cheaper, safflower  (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been used as a substitute for saffron, sometimes  under the misleading name of American or Mexican saffron.<br \/>\n  <a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Warning\">Warning<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Saffron contains a poison that acts on the central  nervous system and damages the kidneys.&nbsp;  Large doses can have severe effects; 10-12 grams is a fatal dose for  humans.&nbsp; The high cost of saffron and the  availability of synthetic substitutes make its use as a medicine rare. <\/p>\n<p> Use only the anthers; corms are poisonous.<\/p>\n<p> In large doses it can be narcotic, toxic and even  lethal, causing violent hemorrhages.&nbsp;  Definitely should not be used during pregnancy; this is a uterine  stimulant and may cause miscarriage.<br \/>\n  <a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Links\">Resource Links<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/2025\/06\/10\/what-medieval-monastery-gardens-reveal-about-todays-superfoods\/\" target=\"_blank\">What Medieval Monastery Gardens Reveal About Today&#8217;s Superfoods<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/2025\/06\/02\/viking-medicine-cabinet-norse-herbs-that-conquered-continents\/\" target=\"_blank\">Viking Medicine Cabinet: Norse Herbs That Conquered Continents<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/2025\/01\/13\/top-herbs-and-supplements-to-naturally-manage-depression-symptoms\/\" target=\"_blank\">Top Herbs and Supplements to Naturally Manage Depression Symptoms<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/2024\/12\/23\/top-herbs-and-supplements-that-may-help-ease-depression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Top Herbs and Supplements That May Help Ease Depression<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.blogspot.com\/2008\/10\/im-going-to-grow-my-own-saffron.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">You can grow and harvest your own saffron! Find out more here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<hr size=3 width=80% COLOR=\"#004040\" align=\"center\">\n<h3><a name=\"Bibliography\">Bibliography<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0940985136\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=0940985136&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=QONM667OBGHTXOWO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Back to Eden<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0940985136\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/048642801X\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=048642801X&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=GTJNY7NJGPLCOMPV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Chinese Medicinal Herbs<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=048642801X\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, compiled by Shih-Chen Li, Georgetown Press, San Francisco, California, 1973.<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1438243081\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=1438243081&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=HO3UW3Z3YRABHSFW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Culpeper&#8217;s Complete Herbal &amp; English Physician: Updated With 117 Modern Herbs<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=1438243081\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Nicholas Culpeper, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1990, (reprint of 1814)<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0743225481\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=0743225481&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=GAJ2HBKGV4RC6P3C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" alt=\"Buy It!\" border=\"0\"> Earl Mindell&#8217;s Herb Bible<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0684856395\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon &#038; Schuster\/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0916638189\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0916638189&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" alt=\"Buy It!\" border=\"0\"> Old Ways Rediscovered<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0916638189\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0879040076\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0879040076&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> The Herb Book<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0879040076\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.<\/p>\n<p><i>Herbal Gardening<\/i>, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0941524272\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0941524272&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Planetary Herbology<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0941524272\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0877736391\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=0877736391&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=GBRRZSF7AD7KSQT4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Indian Herbalogy of North America<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0877736391\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B001RFJ4OK\/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=B001RFJ4OK&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20&#038;linkId=WTTGW7GJFD75FLVP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> American Folk Medicine<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0690066937\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0941524248\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0941524248&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0941524248\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, by Dr. David Frawley &#038; Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1476705046\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=1476705046&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" width=41 height=16 border=0 alt=\"Buy It!\"> Webster&#8217;s New World Dictionary<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=1476705046\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon &#038; Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023<\/p>\n<p><i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0878570764\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0878570764&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=medherinf-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/buyit.gif\" alt=\"Buy It!\" border=\"0\"> The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature&#8217;s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book)<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=medherinf-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=0878570764\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/i>, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\"><font size=\"-1\">Back to Top<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<p><center>\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4390707348229770\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- MHI-wide-728x90 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4390707348229770\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5012760358\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contents: Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) &amp; Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information Legends, Myths and Stories | Uses | Formulas or Dosages | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links | Bibliography Scientific Names Crocus sativus L. Iridaceae Iris family Common Names American saffron Autumn crocus Bastard&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/1herbs\/saffron\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Saffron&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"iawp_total_views":43,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1153","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Saffron - Medicinal Herb Info<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Saffron has been used, in small doses only, for coughs, whooping cough, stomach gas, gastrointestinal colic, consumption, quickens the brain, jaundice, and insomnia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/1herbs\/saffron\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saffron\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Saffron has been used, in small doses only, for coughs, whooping cough, stomach gas, gastrointestinal colic, consumption, quickens the brain, jaundice, and insomnia.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/1herbs\/saffron\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Medicinal Herb Info\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-27T15:19:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Saffron.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Saffron\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Saffron has been used, in small doses only, for coughs, whooping cough, stomach gas, gastrointestinal colic, consumption, quickens the brain, jaundice, and insomnia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/medicinalherbinfo.org\/000Herbs2016\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Saffron.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/medicinalherbinfo.org\\\/000Herbs2016\\\/1herbs\\\/saffron\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/medicinalherbinfo.org\\\/000Herbs2016\\\/1herbs\\\/saffron\\\/\",\"name\":\"Saffron - 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