Saffron | Kesar | Kumkum | Zaffran | Crocus Sativus
Rasa / Taste: Katu meaning pungent ; Tikta meaning bitter
Guna / Qualities: Snigdha meaning slimy
Veerya / Potency : Ushna meaning hot
Karma / Actions: Tridoshahara reduces all vitiated doshas
Ayurveda states that Saffron can be used both internally & externally. It is varnya & kantida (improves skin tone & complexion); vrana shodhana (cleanses & disinfects wounds); doshatrayahara (balances all three doshas).
Western medicine has conducted clinical trials over the last few decades & the results point in support for the benefits of saffron as elucidated by Ayurveda a few thousand years ago.
Prior to being cultivated commercially, the saffron plant appeared as a self-growing plant that grew in the wild. This has been documented by Barteld Louffer, the American scientist who conducted extensive research on saffron and published his findings as research findings in 1911.
In the process of our research for this article, we came across various references about the origin of Saffron, most of them spoke about Greece or Persia, or Sufi saints who gifted bulbs to healers from India. A lot of this information is sourced from Persian records that emphatically state that the plant was brought into India by the Persian kings. Which brings us to the question, how does it then, find mention in ancient Ayurveda texts that preceded the arrival of the first Persian kings to the Indian sub - continent?
A Kashmiri scholar & poet Mohammad Yusuf Teng is of the view that the saffron plant was present in Kashmir much before the visit of the Sufi Saints. He believes that saffron cultivation was popular in Kashmir over 2,000 years ago and there are several references in Hindu Tantra that indicate that saffron cultivation and its medicinal uses in India, predate the Islamic invasion of India.
The Rig Veda & Yajur Veda have references of saffron being used extensively. The Yajnavalkya Samhitha and Taitreya Samhitha mention the use of saffron during marriage ceremonies. The newly married couples were expected to use saffron along with other exotic perfumes including sandalwood, musk, cardamom and nutmeg. It was believed that when saffron and musk were mixed in the right proportions and added to sweets, they turned into potent aphrodisiacs.
The famous Ayurvedic Physicians Susrutha and Charaka who are considered the fathers of Ayurveda, lived and documented their findings between the time period covering 1500 BC to 500 BC. Charaka wrote extensively and his work was called the Charaka Samhita, which has several references to the use of spices in Ayurveda, including saffron.
During the reign of the one of the greatest emperors Ashoka, the present-day Kashmir came under the valiant king’s rule. Kashmir was strategically located and served as a meeting point for various trade caravans that criss-crossed the area from all over India and other parts of Asia, including the mountainous regions of China and Tibet. Kashmir was at the very centre of the silk trade route that traders took to reach Asian and west Asian countries. Could these traders have taken this spice from India and spread it to the rest of the world?
There are references in the Ramayana, where saffron was used in the preparation of certain royal dishes in the palace of King Dasaratha. The royalty often used saffron in the place of vermillion as tilak on the forehead. Even during Krishna Avathara, during the days of Mahabharata, legend has it that saffron was applied on the forehead as it was supposed to be very auspicious. Although there are no available documented references for the movement of spices during ancient times in India, there are several references in the Mahabharata that royalty from various corners of the world visited King Yudhishtira’s courts carrying precious gifts for the king. When Yudhishtira conducted the famous Rajasuya Yagna, the royal entourages attending came from various parts of the world & carried back the famed saffron spice bulbs that was gifted to them in return. Even while Alexander the Great invaded India, a lot of man and materials were being moved to and forth between India and Macedonia, Kashmiri saffron was one of the important spices that found it’s way outside India during those times.
In the context of taste, flavour, colour & medicinal value, the Mogra Saffron cultivated in Kashmir, India is the rarest & the best saffron in the world. It is the only saffron in the world cultivated at an elevation of 1600 metres asl, which differentiates it from varieties of other regions due to its unique characteristics. The terroir, microclimates and traditional farming practices results in the saffron expressing a longer & thicker stigma, natural deep red colour, high aroma & a bitter flavour. Kashmir’s saffron is priced higher than imported varieties as it is acclaimed for its higher potency of antioxidants such as serotonin, crocetin, safranal and kaempferol. Maybe, this also gives us an indication that the purest and highest potency of any plant is naturally where it sees its origins?
Officially, Saffron cultivated in Kashmir has recently received the geographical indication (GI) tag, thus resulting in a major boost for the saffron farmers in the valley. All the saffron used in our formulations is organic Kashmiri Saffron of Indian origin.
There are many varieties of saffron grown in the valley.
Mogra – The rarest & most medicinal with fragrance resembling the mogra flower
Padmagandhi - Lends the fragrance of a lotus
Parasika – Almost extinct, white saffron
Madhugandi – Lends the fragrance of pure wild honey
Kevda – Expresses the fragrance of the kevda/ketaki flower, most widely available.
So, what makes this spice extremely beneficial for us?
Saffron, the world’s most exquisite & expensive spice has been a part of India’s rich culinary heritage because Ayurveda recognised the potential benefits centuries ago.
As per Ayurveda, saffron is tridoshic, which means that it has the capability to balance all the three doshas; vata, pitta & kapha. It assists in the assimilation of nutrients, tissue formation and flushes out toxins from deep within the tissues of the body. Abundant in potassium, saffron aids in cell repair and regeneration, along with it’s anti-inflammatory & anti-fungal properties. Ayurveda pharmacology describes the taste of saffron spice as bitter and mentions that it can stoke the ‘body fires’ efficiently. It is also used to treat disorders of the central nervous system and can cure rheumatoid arthritis. Saffron extract is an excellent cardiac tonic and is used to treat several blood disorders that affect the heart.
Modern science has established that Saffron possesses plant-derived bio-chemical components which are known to prevent diseases & promote the overall well-being of the body. The sunshine spice is an excellent source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. Additionally, it is also rich in many vital vitamins, including vitamin-A, Vitamin C, folic acid, riboflavin & niacin, which are essential for optimum health. A recent study demonstrated that a compound present in the extract of saffron called crocin, is useful in the treatment of age-related mental impairment. Crocin in Saffron acts as an activator for DNA excision repair enzymes. It is responsible for triggering apoptosis or programmed cell destruction in various forms of cancer striking humans like leukaemia, carcinoma of the ovaries and sarcoma. It has been clinically proved that the extract from saffron spice can successfully combat malignant cells and inhibit them. In Japan, it is encapsulated and used in the treatment of Parkinson disease, memory loss and inflammation. The positive correlation between the antioxidant activity of saffron and impairment caused by oxidative stress was one of the proposed mechanisms for saffron having preventive properties against memory impairment. According to studies, the stigma of the saffron flower has a very effective antidepressant property. The presence of two components in saffron: crocin and safranal can effectively help in stimulating neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These components can effectively aid mild to moderate depression and are mostly used in traditional psychiatric medications. Pioneering experimental studies indicate that saffron with strong antioxidant and radical scavenger properties may provide extended protection against inflammatory cytokines also.
Saffron thus proves to be a multipurpose nutrimental and ethnomedicinal spice, that has a variety of metabolic chemicals, and its application can be easily utilised in the form of home remedies & traditional medicine.
So, let’s list down the multi-fold therapeutic benefits of Saffron internally & externally:
External Benefits:
Aids recovery from environmental damage, such as sun damage & stress
Anti-bacterial
Anti-fungal
Anti-inflammatory
Brightened & improved complexion
Contracts the pores aiding control in sebum production
Diminishes fine lines & wrinkles
Effective in treating acne
Excellent skin toner
Fades blemishes & scars
Gentle exfoliator, removes dead skin
Improves texture of skin
Naturally luminous complexion
Prevents acne & blemishes
Promotes & stimulates hair growth
Promotes cell division resulting in wound healing
Protects the skin against ultraviolet radiation
Reduces dark circles below the eyes
Reduces hyper pigmentation
Reduces occurrence of black heads
Repairs hair follicle
Results in glowing & radiant skin
Slows down ageing
Suntan reduction
Treatment of dull skin
Treats alopecia over time
Treats dry skin
Internal benefits:
Analgesic
Anti-depressant
Anti-hypertensive activity
Anti-inflammatory
Anticonvulsant
Antioxidant
Assists in weight management
Asthma management
Beneficial in pregnancy
Calms the mind
Cell formation & repair
Clarity in thought processing & sound decision making
Combating diabetes
Digestive aid
Helps control blood pressure
Helps in blood cell production
Immunity booster
Improves cognitive ability
Improves learning and memory skills
Maintains optimum health
Management of arthritis
Memory booster
Improves Mental health
Pain management
Reduces muscular degeneration
Improves Sexual health
Strengthens nerves & nervous system
Stress management
Supports respiratory health
Useful in upper respiratory tract disorders
Always ensure that you purchase Kashmiri Saffron from a trusted source. Mainly because it is also one of most highly adulterated spices.
The best and easiest method is to pop a tiny strand in your mouth. If the saffron tastes even a hint of sweet, you can bet that it is fake. Pure saffron tastes bitter and the taste is quite distinct. When mixed in a glass of hot milk, a single strand of dark red saffron changes to a golden colour, which means it is pure. Adulterated saffron strands will appear bleached. Pure saffron will always retain a bit of moisture, hence a dry strand of saffron is bound to be impure.
Some topical home remedies to try for yourself with Saffron
Radiant & Smooth Skin :
One teaspoon of white sandalwood powder is mixed with two to three strands of saffron and two tablespoons of milk. Prior to applying this face mask, it is vital that you properly wash and gently pat your face & neck area with a clean cloth. This mask is to be applied when the face is slightly wet. Massage of the skin is done thoroughly in a circular motion. The mask is allowed to be only partially dry (80%) and then gently rinsed off.
Naturally bright skin:
Soak de-shelled sunflower seeds (chironji) and saffron in milk and keep them overnight. Grind this mixture in the morning. Apply it on the face to get naturally bright & glowing skin.
Smooth & Glowing Skin:
Add 2-3 strands of saffron to one teaspoon of water and keep overnight. The colour of the water will turn kesari (saffron). Add one teaspoon milk, 2-3 drops of olive or coconut oil and a pinch of sugar to this saffron water. Dip a small piece of cotton in this mixture and use it to apply it all over the face & neck area. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes and wash off. This mask will freshen up dull skin and assist in reducing dark circles under the eyes. It also exfoliates the skin by helping blood circulation, thus making your skin smooth and glowing.
Stimulate hair growth:
A mix of saffron milk and licorice (mulethi) when applied over the scalp is very effective in prevention of hair loss and aids towards hair growth. Soak a few strands of saffron in milk and add licorice powder to it. Mix well to make a smooth paste. Apply this over the scalp and hair. Leave for few minutes and wash gently. A bi-monthly application is helpful in stimulation of hair growth. It repairs hair follicles and promotes hair growth from the root of the cause. It was found to help in the treatment of alopecia. It restores hair damage and makes it healthy.