Ayurvedic Herbs: Saffron

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Saffron

  • Latin Name: Crocus sativus

  • Plant Family: Iridaceae

  • Sanskrit Name: Nagakeshara, Kunkuma, Ghusrna

  • Part Used: flower (stigma)

  • Taste (Rasa): bitter, astringent

  • Energetics (Virya): slightly heating

  • Post-Digestive Effect (Vipaka): pungent

  • Quality (Guna): light, unctuous

  • Dosha: VPK=

  • Tissues (Dhatu): all, particularly blood (rakta)

  • Systems (Srotamsi): circulatory (rakta vaha srotas), female reproductive (artava vaha srotas), nervous (majja vaha srotas), digestive (anna vaha srotas)

  • Constituents: volatile oil (cineol, isophorone, safranal); glycosides (crocin, picrocrocin, lycopene); fixed oil; B-carotene

  • Actions: alterative, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac, rejuvenative, stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic

  • Ayurvedic Actions: increases the digestive fire (dipana); digestive (pacana); improves the complexion (varnya); alleviates skin diseases (kusthaghna); alleviates bleeding (sonitasthapana); alleviates headaches (sirorogajit); stops vomiting (vamanakara); catalyst to other medicines (yogavahi); rejuvenative (rasayana); aphrodisiac (vajikarana); alleviates anemia (pandughna)

  • Biomedical Actions: emmenagogue, nervine, circulatory, stimulant, antianginal, diuretic

  • Indications: gynecology, anemia, heart, reproduction, nerves, urine, external

  • Precautions: pregnancy (can promote miscarriage because it stimulates the flow of blood in the uterus), use in small doses

  • Preparations: infusion, milk decoction, powder, use in low dosages, a pinch with other herbs, medicated oil, medicated ghee

References

Frawley D, Lad V. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 2001.

Pole S. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Singing Dragon; 2013.