Saffron, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus L. of the Iris family. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, dispersing stagnation and resolving nodules, and cooling the blood to eliminate toxins.It is primarily used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, persistent lochia after childbirth, painful abdominal masses, injuries from falls or blows, depression and chest oppression, palpitations, rashes associated with febrile diseases, and measles.
Saffron
Saffron, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus L. of the Iris family. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, dispersing stagnation and resolving nodules, and cooling the blood to eliminate toxins.It is primarily used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, persistent lochia after childbirth, painful abdominal masses, injuries from falls or blows, depression and chest oppression, palpitations, rashes associated with febrile diseases, and measles.
Chinese Name : 藏红花
Latin Name : Croci Stigma
Aliases : Saffron, Crocus, Bofulan, Gardenia Stigma, Safuran, Saflang
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Heart and Liver meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis; dispels stagnation and resolves nodules; cools the blood and detoxifies.
Indications
Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, persistent lochia after childbirth, painful abdominal masses, injuries from falls or blows, depression and fullness in the chest, palpitations, rashes associated with warm diseases, and measles.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decocted as a soup, 1–3 g; steeped in hot water or steeped in wine and simmered.
Precautions
This herb has a strong blood-activating effect and can unblock the meridians; therefore, pregnant women should use it with caution.
Chemical Constituents
1. The stigmas contain crocin, crocetic acid, and mangiferin-6′-O-crocyl-1″-O-β-D-glucoside;canola sterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid;Octahydrotomate, hexahydrotomate, β-carotene, zeaxanthin; crocetin, crocaldhyde. 2. The perianth contains kaempferol, astragalin, quercetin-3-p-coumaroylglucoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-6-acetylglucopyranoside,kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside, and nonacosane.
Pharmacological Actions
1. Effects on the Hematological System: Hot-water extracts of saffron exhibit significant anticoagulant effects. They prolong plasma prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), inhibit ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and accelerate the fibrinolytic activity of urokinase and fibrinolysin. The active component responsible for inhibiting platelet aggregation is adenosine.In contrast, the aqueous extract of the corm and its total saponins induce platelet aggregation in rats. 2. Effects on the Uterus: Decoctions exert a stimulatory effect on both isolated and in vivo uteri of mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and cats. They induce rhythmic uterine contractions, increase uterine tone and excitability, and may cause spasmodic contractions at high doses; pregnant uteri are particularly sensitive to this effect.The uterine-stimulating effect of saffron can be partially blocked by ergometrine ethanesulfonate, while atropine has no effect on it. Its action may occur partly through the adrenergic system and partly through direct action on uterine muscle cells. 3. Effects on the Circulatory System: Intravenous injection of a decoction at 0.24 g/kg causes a prolonged decrease in blood pressure in anesthetized cats and dogs, along with a stimulatory effect on respiration. During the hypotensive phase, renal volume in dogs decreases, indicating renal vasoconstriction; it also exhibits a vasoconstrictive effect on toad blood vessels.It exerts a relatively significant inhibitory effect on isolated toad hearts. The aqueous extract can rapidly and completely arrest the beating of isolated toad and rat hearts, as well as acute in situ cat hearts, during diastole. Its effects on the cardiovascular system are related to the high content of potassium salts. It has also been reported that the perianth, stamens, and pollen all exhibit varying degrees of vasodilatory effects on isolated coronary vessels. 4. Therapeutic Effects on Experimental Glomerulonephritis: Intravenous administration of saffron injection at doses of 0.5 ml/kg and 1 ml/kg (1 ml equivalent to 1 g of crude drug) for 6 consecutive weeks exhibited therapeutic effects similar to those of benzylimidazole (a TXA2 synthase inhibitor) on in situ glomerulonephritis in rabbits induced by cationized bovine serum albumin.It significantly reduces urinary protein levels, markedly alleviates pathological tissue damage, and accelerates the dissolution and absorption of immune complexes in the glomeruli. 5. Antitumor Effects: Saffron extract administered orally at 200 mg/kg exhibits significant inhibitory effects on transplanted S180 sarcoma, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), and Dow’s lymphoma ascites type (DLA) in mice. 6. Effects on Learning and Memory: The ethanol extract (CSE) improves ethanol-induced learning and memory impairments; it alleviates memory acquisition deficits in mice treated with 30% ethanol and memory recall deficits in mice treated with 40% ethanol. 7. Other Effects: (1) The decoction increases the excitability of isolated intestinal segments in mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs, inducing rhythmic contractions, though this effect is short-lived. Saffron prolongs the estrous cycle in mice. When normal mice were fed a diet containing 0.23%–2% saffron for 3 weeks, the duration of vaginal full keratinization was prolonged from the normal 1–2 days to 3–4 days; this effect rapidly disappeared after discontinuation of the diet. (2) Saffron petal polysaccharides enhance the immune response. Intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, and 135 mg/kg of petal polysaccharides all stimulated the formation of mouse plaque-forming cells (PFCs) sensitized with sheep red blood cells, demonstrating a clear dose-response relationship. Administration of 250 mg/kg prior to sensitization significantly counteracted the inhibitory effect of cortisone on PFCs. (3) Crocetin exhibits lipid-lowering effects; when administered intramuscularly, it inhibits the elevation of cholesterol and triglycerides in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet, a mechanism that may involve enhancing fat metabolism. Both the sodium salt of crocetin and crocin possess cholagogue effects; intravenous administration increases bile secretion in rabbits, resulting in a significant reduction in serum bilirubin levels. (4) Animal studies have demonstrated that mangiferin-6′-O-crocet-1″-O-β-glucoside exhibits adaptogenic activity; when administered orally, it produces anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Essentials of Diet and Nutrition*: “Treats heart depression and stagnation, as well as persistent chest tightness. Long-term consumption brings joy to the heart.”
2. *Essentials of Medicinal Substances*: “Dispels stagnation and regulates blood; relieves chest congestion; stimulates the appetite and promotes food intake; long-term use nourishes the lower jiao, improves complexion, and treats mania caused by typhoid fever.”
3. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Promotes blood circulation. Also treats palpitations.”
4. *Research on the Usage of Materia Medica*: “It excels at nourishing the blood but is less effective at removing blood stasis.”
5. *Chinese Herbal Medicine* (Southern Medicine): “Treats blood stasis causing irregular menstruation, retained lochia after childbirth, trauma-induced injuries, and pain caused by blood stasis.”
6. *Qingdao Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine*: “Treats painful abdominal masses.”
7. *Flora of Medicinal Plants of Zhejiang*: “Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis; cools the blood and detoxifies. Primarily treats masses and masses, traumatic pain, and rashes caused by blood heat.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. Used for various conditions involving blood stasis. Saffron has the efficacy of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Clinically, it is often used for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, retained lochia after childbirth, lower back and abdominal pain, painful abdominal masses, and swelling and pain from trauma. It can be decocted and taken alone, or it is often combined with other blood-activating herbs to enhance its therapeutic effect.For example, to treat dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, it is combined with herbs such as Motherwort (Yimu Cao) and Salvia (Danshen). To treat persistent postpartum lochia, it is combined with herbs such as Angelica (Danggui) and Red Peony Root (Chishao). In addition to promoting blood circulation, this herb also has the function of dispersing stagnation and resolving nodules, making it suitable for various conditions involving abdominal fullness and mass-like masses. For chest and diaphragm fullness and oppression caused by emotional distress and mental stagnation, as well as fear and mental confusion, taking this herb alone in hot water is effective; it may also be combined with Curcuma (Yujin).
2. Used for warm diseases where heat has entered the营血 (Ying Blood), causing macules or rashes. Saffron can cool the blood and clear toxins; it may be used alone or combined with heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs such as Isatis leaf (大青叶) and Isatis root (板蓝根). To treat measles characterized by intense fever and blood stasis—where the rash does not erupt smoothly, appears overly dense, or has a dull, lackluster color—it is often combined with Lithospermum root (紫草) and Red Peony Root (赤芍).
Related Compatibility
1. For amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum low back pain: 2 g of saffron, 5 g of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 30 g of Leonurus japonicus, and 12 g of Cyperus rotundus. Decoct in water and take orally.
2. For postpartum blood stasis: 6 g each of Moutan bark and Angelica sinensis, 4.5 g of Rheum palmatum, 2 g of saffron, and 6 g of dried lotus leaf. Grind into a powder. Take orally three times daily, 6 g each time, washed down with boiled water.
3. For irregular menstruation: 3 g of saffron, 150 g of black beans, and 90 g of brown sugar. Decoct in water and drink. (Formulas 1–3 are from *Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
4. For pain in the lower back, chest, diaphragm, head, and neck: Grind *Safaulan* into a fine powder, mix with sheep’s heart, cow’s heart, or deer’s heart, roast over a fire until red, and apply to the heart. Consume it. (*Essentials of Medicinal Substances*)
5. For contusions and bruises: 3 g of saffron. Decoct to extract the juice, then add a small amount of white liquor. Use this solution to wash the affected area externally. (*Qingdao Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
6. For hemoptysis, regardless of whether the condition is due to deficiency or excess, or which meridian the blood originates from: One saffron stigma, one cup of ash-free liquor. Place the stigma in the liquor, simmer to extract the juice, and drink it. (Formula by Wang Shiyao, cited in *Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica*)
7. For various types of abdominal mass or obstruction: Take one saffron flower per dose, steeped in hot water. Avoid oily, meat-based, and salty foods; consume plain congee instead. (*Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica*)
8. For mania caused by typhoid fever, accompanied by palpitations and confusion: Use two fen of saffron. Soak in one zhan of water overnight. Drink the solution. (From *Compendium of Materia Medica*, citing *Essentials of Medical Forest*)
9. For otitis media: Mix fresh saffron juice and fresh peppermint juice in appropriate amounts, add a small amount of powdered white alum, and stir well. Instill into the ear. (*Qingdao Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine*)
Medicinal Identification
Saffron vs. Sichuan Safflower: Zhang Shanlei: “Tibetan safflower descends rebellious qi, regulates qi, resolves stagnation, and dissipates blood stasis; it is similar to Sichuan safflower but possesses a more potent and vigorous effect. Today, people regard it solely for its ability to activate blood circulation and resolve stagnation, which fails to fully capture its therapeutic potential.According to Bin Hu’s *Compendium of Materia Medica*, saffron is already listed; it is described as treating heart qi depression and persistent oppression, and is capable of invigorating blood circulation and treating palpitations—thus, its effects in resolving stagnation and promoting blood circulation are identical.Furthermore, citing the *Essentials of Medical Literature*, it is used to treat mania resulting from typhoid fever, as well as palpitations and mental confusion—which again reflects the principle of resolving phlegm and eliminating stagnation. Although it adds the layer of clearing heat and promoting drainage, its efficacy remains quite similar; however, its description as sweet and neutral in nature sets it apart from Tibetan safflower, which is greasy, astringent, and heavy.”
Related Medicines
Coral Seventy-Ingredient Pills, Pearl Activating Meridians Twenty-Nine-Ingredient Pills, and Safflower Ruyi Pills.
Related Prescriptions
Safflower Tincture (*Collected Clinical Experiences of Zhao Bingnan*), Vajra Activating the Meridians Pill (*Famous Prescriptions of Ancient and Modern Times*, citing *Zhang Tianle’s Twelve Secret Formulas and Pharmaceutical Experience*), Rash-Relieving and Cooling Decoction (*Pediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine*), Ankun Zanyu Pills (*Selected Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Beijing*), Ginseng-Cinnamon-Deer Antler Pills (*Selected Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Beijing*).
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
In late October through late November, harvest the flowers at sunrise on a clear morning, then pick the stigmas and dry them immediately in the sun or in an oven at 55–60°C.
Processing Methods
Take the raw herbal material and remove impurities.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place away from light.
Crude Drug Identification
Identification
1. The powder of this product is orange-red. Epidermal cells appear elongated when viewed from the surface; they have thin walls and are slightly curved. Some have protruding outer walls that appear papillary or villous, with faint, fine striations visible on the surface. The epidermal cells at the apex of the stigma are villous, with a diameter of 26–56 μm and sparse striations on the surface.Calcium oxalate crystals aggregate within the parenchyma cells, appearing granular, in round clusters, fusiform, or square-like, with a diameter of 2–14 μm.
2. When a sample of this product is immersed in water, an orange-yellow substance is observed sinking in a straight line and gradually diffusing; the water turns yellow, with no precipitation. The stigma is funnel-shaped with a short slit; it does not break when prodded with a needle for a short time.
3. Place a small amount of the sample on a white porcelain plate and add one drop of sulfuric acid; the acid solution turns blue, then purple, and gradually changes to reddish-brown or brown.
4. Take the solution prepared under the “Absorbance” section and measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 458 nm using the UV-visible spectrophotometric method (General Chapter 0401); the ratio of the absorbance at 458 nm to that at 432 nm should be 0.85–0.90.
5. Take 20 mg of the powdered sample, add 1 mL of methanol, sonicate for 10 minutes, allow to stand until clear, and take the supernatant as the test solution.Separately, take 20 mg of saffron reference herbal material and prepare a reference herbal material solution using the same method. Test by thin-layer chromatography (General Chapter 0502). Pipette 3–5 μL of each of the two solutions and apply them separately onto the same silica gel G thin-layer plate. Develop using a mobile phase of ethyl acetate–methanol–water (100:16.5:13.5).remove the plate, allow it to air-dry, and examine it under natural light and ultraviolet light (365 nm), respectively. In the test sample chromatogram, spots of the same color or fluorescent spots appear at positions corresponding to those in the reference herbal material chromatogram (perform this step in the dark).
Properties of Crude Drugs
An intact stigma is linear in shape, with a relatively broad tip that tapers downward into a tail-like structure; the tip has irregularly serrated edges, and the lower end features a residual yellow style. It is approximately 2.5 m long and 1.5 mm in diameter. It is purplish-red or dark reddish-brown with a slight sheen. It is light in weight, soft and loose in texture, and becomes brittle and easily broken when dried.When the stigmas are placed in water, they swell; an orange-yellow substance can be seen sinking in a straight line and gradually spreading, staining the water yellow without forming a precipitate. The stigmas take on a trumpet-like shape with a short slit. They do not break when gently prodded with a needle for a short time. They have a distinctive odor, are slightly pungent, and have a slightly bitter taste.
The best quality is characterized by long stigmas, a purplish-red color, a moist and lustrous appearance, minimal yellow stigmatic remnants, and a pungent, cool taste.
Properties of Processed Slices
It consists of numerous stigmas aggregated into a loose, thread-like structure; the stigmas are trifurcated, approximately 30 mm long, and dark red. The upper part is relatively wide and slightly flattened; the tip has an irregularly serrated edge, with a short slit on the inner side; a small segment of the yellow style may sometimes remain at the lower end. It is light in weight, soft in texture, moist and lustrous, or may lack luster and have an oily feel. It has a distinctive, fragrant odor with a slight pungency and a slightly bitter taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Crocus spp. (family Iridaceae).
Morphological Characteristics
A perennial herb. The corm is flattened and spherical, approximately 3 cm in diameter, covered externally by a yellowish-brown membranous sheath. The leaves are basal, numbering 9–15, linear, gray-green, 15–20 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, with revolute margins; the base of the leaf cluster is enveloped by 4–5 membranous, sheath-like leaves.The flower stalk is very short and does not protrude above the ground; there are 1–2 flowers, pale blue, reddish-purple, or white, fragrant, 2.5–3 cm in diameter; the perianth has 6 lobes arranged in two whorls; both the inner and outer whorls of perianth lobes are obovate, blunt at the apex, and 4–5 cm long; there are 3 stamens, erect, 2.5 cm long, with yellow anthers that are pointed at the apex and slightly curved;the style is orange-red, about 4 cm long, with three branches at the upper part; the branches are curved and pendulous; the stigma is slightly flattened, with a wedge-shaped apex and shallow teeth, longer than the stamens; the ovary is narrowly spindle-shaped. The capsule is elliptical, about 3 cm long and 15 cm wide, with three blunt ridges. The seeds are numerous and spherical. Flowering occurs from October to November.
Distribution Area
It is cultivated on a small scale in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Beijing, and Shanghai. Native to southern Europe through Iran.
Growth Habits
It prefers a warm, humid maritime climate; it is intolerant of extreme heat but is cold-hardy. Seedlings can withstand temperatures as low as approximately -10°C; flowering is optimal at air temperatures of 14–20°C and soil temperatures of 14–15°C; the optimal temperature for above-ground growth is 15°C. It thrives in sunny locations with loose, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained sandy loam. It should not be grown in the same location consecutively and is susceptible to waterlogging and standing water.
Propagation Methods
Propagated by bulbs.
Cultivation Techniques
Bulb Propagation: Before planting, select a site, till the soil, and rake it to break up clumps. Create raised beds 1.3 m wide and level the bed surfaces. In April–May, after the aboveground parts have withered, dig up the bulbs and sort them into large, medium, and small categories: 25 g or more is Grade 1, 8–25 g is Grade 2, and less than 8 g is Grade 3.Store the bulbs over the summer and plant them in September–October. For bulbs weighing 8 g or more, dig planting holes with a row and plant spacing of 15 cm × 15 cm; for those under 8 g, use a spacing of 10 m × 10 cm. After planting, cover with soil and mulch with straw. Currently, a method involving indoor flowering followed by field propagation is also used, which can increase the yield of styles and stigmas.
Pest and Disease Control
1. Rot disease: Use the “indoor flowering followed by field propagation” method to stagger the onset of the disease; soak seeds in a 5% lime solution for 20 minutes before planting; during the seedling stage, spray with a 1,000-fold dilution of 50% Leaf Rot Clean or a 500-fold dilution of 75% Chlorothalonil for control.
2.Rot Disease: Select well-drained soil for planting. Before planting, apply 1,500 kg of lime powder per hectare and work it into the soil to disinfect it; during the disease outbreak period, irrigate with a 1,000-fold dilution of 50% Topsin-M.
3. Mosaic Disease: Select bulbs from disease-free plants for planting.
4. Pests include wireworms and mole crickets, as well as damage caused by rodents and wild rabbits.