Post Series: Medicinal Flowers
When we think of medicinal plants, it’s often the roots, leaves, or bark that come to mind—yet around the world, flowers have long been used for their healing properties. This series explores some of the most powerful and time-honored blooms used in traditional and modern herbal medicine… as diverse as they are beautiful.
Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron crocus, is a cormous perennial with striking lilac-purple, autumn-blooming flowers whose vivid red stigmas are harvested as the spice saffron. Medicinally, saffron stigmas are prized for their mood-enhancing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and are used in traditional medicine to support mental well-being, digestive health, and respiratory comfort. Renowned beyond medicine, saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, used widely in cuisine, natural dyes, fragrances, and as a food coloring agent.
· Origin: Native to the Mediterranean, with genetic roots traced to Greece; cultivated mainly in Iran, India, and parts of Europe.
· Traditional use: The stigmas are traditionally used as a spice and as a herbal remedy for mood support, digestion, and to treat respiratory ailments.
· Sample reference: Phytochemistry, quality control and medicinal uses of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): an updated review. Aissa R, Ibourki M, Ait Bouzid H, Bijla L, Oubannin S, Sakar EH, Jadouali S, Hermansyah A, Goh KW, Ming LC, Bouyahya A, Gharby S. J Med Life. 2023 Jun;16(6):822-836.
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Saffron(Crocus sativus)-
