Saffron is commonly referred to as a miracle spice, owed to its medicinal properties. For years, people have been using saffron in a variety of ways, from a flavorful soup seasoning to a menstrual relief aid. This incredible spice is also frequently used to treat poor vision in people with macular degeneration, using a blended saffron supplement. Here are just a few of the many health benefits of saffron.
Vision
One of saffron’s most amazing healing properties is that it can be used to treat vision issues associated with macular degeneration. This is because the saffron plant contains vision-enhancing benefits that can improve issues affected by macular degeneration, including visual sensitivity and sharpness. Saffron provides important nutrients that protect against this condition, which is why many people have seen success using saffron for macular degeneration.
Emotional Health
Saffron is commonly used as a healing component to treat people struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Studies have shown that the plant may have antidepressant properties by encouraging balanced levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Patients who have used saffron as a healing agent have shown an improvement in anxiety and depression, and the spice continues to be used as a popular emotional health healing component to this day.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Saffron is a great ingredient for people who struggle with arthritis, sports injuries, and other inflammatory conditions. In these cases, saffron is commonly used topically in an oil or cream form. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, saffron is also used to improve bone strength. This is due to some of the minerals in saffron being linked to calcium, which improves bone density and can treat conditions like osteoporosis.
Immunity Booster
Another important thing to note about saffron is that the spice can be a big immunity booster. This is because saffron includes vitamin C, which protects against colds and immune system deficiencies. In addition to this, saffron also aids in the production of collagen, which is a crucial part of muscle growth, blood vessel repair, and tissue production.
Asthma
Being that saffron has amazing anti-inflammatory properties, the spice is also great for people with asthma, as it can calm inflamed lungs and open the airways. In addition to asthma, saffron can also help relieve shortness of breath and whooping cough, and has been proven to be a great component in treating a variety of respiratory conditions.
Premenstrual Relief
Saffron is a common property used to treat pain associated with menstrual cramps, and can also help regulate periods and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. Ts is great news for people who struggle with uncomfortable or painful periods, as saffron can also help reduce Premenstrual Syndrome, also known as PMS.
Protection of heart muscles (cardiomyocytes)
Crocin is one of the active compounds in saffron, which is known for its pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major surface molecule of most gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial infection (sepsis) causes organ dysfunctions by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation. Crocin is shown to have protective effect against LPS-induced toxicity in the embryonic cardiomyocyte cell line (H9c2). Cells were pre-treated with crocin at different concentrations before adding LPS to the cell culture. Exposure of cells to LPS caused pathological effects such as reduced cell viability, increased the levels of cytokines, and changes in gene-expression, nitric oxide, and thiol levels. Pretreatment with crocin attenuated the LPS-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells by reducing the levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, PGE2, IL-1β, and IL-6). This study showed beneficial effects of crocin, however further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of crocin in septic shock cardiac dysfunction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31670059.
Protecting against lung cellular toxicity caused by cigarette smoke:
Cigarette smoke (CS) contains many free radicals and toxic chemicals. Crocin may mediate antioxidant signaling pathway to protect human lung epithelial cells against CS-mediated toxicity and oxidative stress via inducing glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and activation of Nrf2 pathway. Crocin which is one of the active compounds in saffron (Crocus sativus) may mediate antioxidant signaling pathway by inducing glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and activation of Nrf2 pathway. This could help protect human lung epithelial cells against CS-mediated toxicity and oxidative stress caused by cigarette smoke. CS increases production of reactive oxygen species and reduces cell viability, antioxidant levels, GCL and Nrf2 gene expression. However, treatment with crocin restores depleted levels of glutathione and quenched the generation and release of reactive oxygen species caused by cigarette smoke. Crocin induces GSH synthesis and reduces the CS-induced oxidative stress via Nrf2 pathway. Saffron and other natural dietary antioxidants may be useful for managing pulmonary damages caused by cigarette smoking.
Effect on symptoms of depression among older people with major depressive disorders
Saffron was tested in double-blind, randomized intervention study in comparison to sertraline in older people with major depressive disorders (MDD). In the study, saffron (60 mg/d) or sertraline (100 mg/day) was given to the patients for six consecutive weeks. Degree of depression was assessed at baseline, week 2, week 4 and week 6, the end of the study. Saffron or sertraline equally decreased symptoms of depression over time, with no advantages or disadvantages for either treatment. Major depressive disorders in older people is a health concern. Saffron showed powerful antidepressant benefits in older people, who might be reluctant to take conventional prescription antidepressant drugs. Saffron is suggested as a valuable alternative to synthetic antidepressants such as sertraline. OI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112613.
