Saffron
Crocus sativus, a member of the Iridacea family, is regarded for its yellow pigment, spice, and medicinal usage. Known as the most expensive spice on the planet, it has grass-like leaves and large lily-shaped flowers from which the yellow stigmas are collected and used, both for color and medicinally. It was well known among the people of antiquity. Saffron was imported from Central Asia and the Middle East, primarily Anatolia and Persia, centuries ago and made its way to western Europe where it was cultivated in areas such as Spain and even England. Its first documented use dates to the Bronze Age in 7th century BC in Assyria.
In its approximately 4,000 years of usage, across cultures, continents, and civilizations, Saffron has been used as a culinary spice, fragrance, dye, and medicine. It is native to Central or Southwest Asia and was first cultivated in Greece. Because the use of Saffron is limited to just its stigmas, it is a very expensive medicinal herb. Some have said that 60,000 stigmas are needed to make 1 lb. Saffron. Another report says that just 1 oz of good Saffron requires 4,320 flowers. A Modern Herbal also reports that the best Saffron comes from Spain. However, among the spice markets in the ancient city of Istanbul, the merchants there will say that the Saffron from Persia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey are among the best. Saffron cultivation in Spain was introduced by the Arabs who refered to it as “Zaffer,” or Saffron, but was called “Krokos” or “Karkom” by the Greeks and Romans.
The ancient Mediterranean peoples, such as in Assyria, Babylon, Egypt and Rome, used Saffron for perfumes and ointments but also for gastrointestinal and kidney complaints. It is even said that Cleopatra would bathe with Saffron for its coloring and cosmetic properties, and as an aphrodisiac. The ancient Egyptians combined saffron seeds with coriander and myrrh for an ointment or poultice. Among the Greeks, it was favored for its fragrance and color. The ancient Greeks considered it valuable for additional uses such as bringing about a healthy complexion and for its scent. It was reportedly used to perfume the theaters and banquet halls. It was used medicinally in Greece and one report suggests it was used as a vulnerary or astringent to treat bleeding injuries. The ancient Persians used to sprinkle saffron threads across beds or mix into hot teas for cases of melancholy, and also used it to bathe and perfume themselves.
Saffron purportedly arrived in the Asia’s southern and eastern regions via Persia. It was also said to be used in Kashmir for similar purposes as in the Mediterranean, namely as a dye and for melancholy.
Medicinal actions include carminative, diaphoretic, and emmenagogue. Notably, A Modern Herbal mentions its use as a children’s diaphoretic and for chronic uterine hemmorrhage in women. In De Materia Medica, Dioscorides indicates that Saffrond has digestive, emollient, somewhat astringent, and diuretic propertise. A few noted phytochemicals include picrocrocin, safranal, and crocin.