The Power of Spices: Saffron
Saffron or Kesar, the King of spices is undoubtedly the most precious spice in the world. Worth it’s weight in Gold, these fragrant strands have numerous health and healing properties.
The styles and stigmas, called threads, are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron, long among the world’s most costly spices by weight, is native to Southwest Asia and was probably first cultivated in or near Greece. It takes around 4,300 of the beautiful royal purple flowers of the crocus plant to produce 28 grams of saffron.
My favourite way of partaking in this healing, fragrant herb, especially during winter, is to sip a warm cup of milk at
bed time with a pinch of Saffron infused in it – it brings instant warmth to the body. Have this at bed time after a bath to induce a deep a restful sleep.
Saffron Almond Milk
Ingredients
Pinch of Saffron (about 10 strands)
Organic Almond Butter – 1 tbsp
Raw Manuka Honey – 1 tsp
Milk (hot) – 1 mug
Method:
Stir in the Almond Butter, Honey and Saffron into the warmed milk.
Sit back and enjoy!
In folk medicine, saffron has been attributed with various kinds of healing effects:
- It has been used for the treatment of measles
- In Indian traditional medicine, it used for treating bladder, kidney and liver disorders, and also diabetes
- Saffron may help fight tumours, alleviate side-effects of chemotherapy
- It may reverse the effects of brain degeneration due alcohol consumption
- Saffron is considered excellent for stomach problems and an anti-spasmodic, helps digestion and increases appetite. It can also be used in case of loss of appetite
- It relieves renal colic, reduces stomach aches and relieves tension
- It can be used as a drug for flu-like infections, depression
- Has aphrodisiac properties
- Strengthens the heart and nervous system
- It helps cure colds, coughs and asthma
- It can help relieve nosebleeds, fatigue and exhaustion
- It is particularly useful in the winter months since it imparts heat in the body
- Has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
