Unisafarms | Saffron petals and their effect on the treatment of diseases
Saffron flower, in addition to its unique beauty, has many healing properties, and therefore is used in the treatment of various diseases. Because this flower is composed of unique chemical compounds, it is also used in the preparation of chemical and herbal medicines and is widely used as a tea. Therefore, if you are looking for an effective herbal medicine to reduce the symptoms of many diseases, saffron flower may be a good choice. Follow us to tell you more about saffron flowers or petals and their properties.
What is saffron flower and what are its uses?
Saffron is a plant from the lily genus known scientifically as Crocus sativus. The color of saffron flowers is purple and this flower has a sweet and honey-like smell. This flower bloooms in autumn and consists of five main parts from which the red and yellow parts of are used more. Saffron flower has three characteristics of extraordinary color, aroma, and taste.
The five main parts of saffron include onion, leaf, petal, style and stigma. We know saffron style and stigma as saffron strings. Saffron onion is used for planting saffron flowers, which can be found in various shapes such as circular and oval. On this onion, there are brown fibers that cover the texture of the onion. The saffron leaf, is the first part of the saffron flower that comes out of the soil after planting.
The saffron petals are located on top of the saffron flowers and are purple in color. Saffron petals are used as a tea because of their many healing properties. It is also used to dye clothes and carpet yarn. Each saffron flower has three strands of stigma. The stigma can be considered the most important part of saffron flowers, which are red in color and are used to prepare saffron spices.
Each stigma has a different coloring and fragrance power because the thickness of the stigmas varies and therefore the types of saffron are divided into Sargol, Negin, Pooshal and Daste according to the type and amount of stigma. Pooshal and Daste saffron contain style. Saffron style is located at the end of the stigma and is yellow. Style is also used as a spice like stigma.
What are the properties of saffron flowers?
Saffron flower is composed of three very rich chemicals such as crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal. Camphorol and crocetin are other chemicals in saffron flowers. These chemical compounds have made saffron flowers one of the most important sources of antioxidants.
The human body produces antioxidants and absorbs the rest of its desired antioxidants from food. Lack of antioxidants in the body causes premature aging, increased pressure on the immune system and cell damage or activation of defective genes in the liver. Because saffron flower is rich in antioxidants, it has many therapeutic and medical properties and is known to be beneficial for the body's health.
• Saffron petals and cancer treatment
The antioxidant properties of saffron are effective in treating cancer. According to research, saffron is very useful in the treatment of lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Saffron seems to suppress the growth of neoplastic cells and thus prevent the spread of cancer in the body. Crostin in saffron is a type of carotenoid that is known as an anti-cancer agent.
By strengthening the antioxidant system and reducing oxidative stress levels, inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis and inhibiting the growth of signal pathways, quercetin affects and helps treat cancer cells. In addition to crocetin, saffron and picrocrocin in saffron also have anti-cancer properties. In general, consumption of stigma tea or saffron petal tea can reduce the number of cancer cells and prevent DNA damage due to radiation therapy.
• Saffron petals and anti-inflammatory properties
Saffron has many healing properties, only some of which have been scientifically proven, however, saffron has extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties that are derived from its antioxidants and therefore is very useful in reducing inflammation. For this reason, saffron reduces brain inflammation and Alzheimer's symptoms.
• Saffron petals and treatment of depression
As saffron affects the physical health of the body, it also has many properties for mental health. Treatment of neurological disorders, insomnia, anxiety and depression are other known healing properties of saffron. Because saffron flower extract can increase the level of dopamine in the brain and as a result, the mood improves. Research has also shown that saffron is more effective than the antidepressant drugs fluoxetine, citalopram and imipramine and is better used to treat depression.
The crocin in saffron also reduces stress levels and safranal regulates the body's sleep system. One of the most important problems in depression is insomnia. For this reason, if you are looking for a home remedy for insomnia and depressive problems, you can use saffron tea or saffron petal tea. According to research, daily consumption of a cup of saffron tea can help a lot to relax.
• Saffron petals and treatment of skin diseases
Saffron has many properties for the skin. This flower has anti-ultraviolet properties and can protect the skin against these harmful rays. Saffron also has moisturizing properties and can be effective in maintaining skin moisture and preventing dryness.
Other properties mentioned for saffron are exfoliating and improving blood circulation, and for this reason, saffron is used as a home anti-aging mask.
Saffron can also reduce skin melanin pigments, so it is very effective for clearing the skin and reducing dark areas of the skin. Also, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is widely used in the treatment of pimples and acne on the skin.
• Saffron petals and treatment of other physical diseases
Saffron is very useful and effective in reducing menstrual and premenstrual symptoms and strengthening sexual power.
Improving vision return in AMD patients (jaundice; the most common cause of blindness in the elderly), preventing hyperglycemia, improving asthma symptoms, preventing and strengthening muscle fatigue, coughing, vomiting, and bloating are other medical claims of saffron. Of course, these cases do not have accurate and sufficient scientific evidence.
How to use saffron to treat diseases
• Saffron petal tea
As we have mentioned, consuming saffron petal tea has many healing properties. To prepare this tea, you can prepare saffron petals fresh or dried and pour a small amount in a glass. Then pour boiling water in it and put the glass on indirect heat for about 15 to 29 minutes. After brewing, now your saffron petal tea is ready.
• Saffron tea
Another way you can benefit from the properties of saffron is to consume saffron tea. You do not need saffron petals to make this tea and you should use saffron strings (stigma and cream). To make saffron tea, boil two glasses of water and pour it into a teapot, then add a tablespoon of black tea and a gram of ground saffron to the teapot and let it brew. You can also add rose and cardamom tea to any amount you want.
• Saffron skin mask
To make a homemade skin mask with saffron, you can grind some saffron and combine it with a little honey. Then put the resulting mask on your skin and after 10 minutes, wash it off with water.
Last word
Do not forget that to treat your diseases, it is better to consult a doctor before consuming saffron. Also, you should not use saffron as a tea and drink in large quantities, because daily consumption of saffron is safe up to one gram, but consuming more than that will be dangerous and even deadly.