This product is a perennial flower of the Iridaceae family, belonging to the genus Crocus sativus (Crocus sativus L.), and is also a common spice. It originates from Spain and has a long history of cultivation in countries such as Greece, France, the Central Asian regions of the former Soviet Union, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. It has been introduced and cultivated in places like Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu in China.

As early as the Ming Dynasty, saffron crocus style and stigma were introduced to China. This product was traditionally transported from the Mediterranean coast through India to Tibet, and then from Tibet to inland China, hence it is also known as saffron crocus style and stigma. However, Tibet does not produce saffron crocus style and stigma.

Saffron crocus style and stigma is the most expensive spice in the world. It takes approximately 15,000 saffron crocus flowers to collect 100 grams of stigmas. Each purple saffron crocus flower has only three stigmas, and the stigmas must be manually harvested before sunrise to prevent the flowers from wilting and losing their value. After harvesting, the stigmas must be dried and dehydrated before they can be graded and sold. Although saffron crocus style and stigma is expensive, a very small amount of high-quality saffron crocus style and stigma spice is sufficient for use.

bubble_chart Morphological Characteristics

Perennial herb. The underground bulb is spherical, covered with brown membranous scales. Leaves 9-15, emerging from the white bulb, sessile, narrowly linear, 15-20 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, leaf margins revolute, with fine hairs, base surrounded by 4-5 broad scales. Flowers terminal, 2.5-3 cm in diameter; perianth segments 6, obovate, pale purple, floral tube 4-6 cm long, slender and tubular; stamens 3, anthers large, sagittate at base; pistils 3, carpels connate, ovary inferior, style slender, yellow, apex deeply three-lobed, extending outside the floral tube, pendulous, deep red, stigma apex slightly swollen, with an opening shaped like a fistula disease funnel. Capsule, elongated, with three blunt ridges, about 3 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, extending to the ground when the fruit matures. Seeds numerous, spherical, seed coat leathery. Flowering period early to mid-November.

Sweet, neutral.

1. "Yinshan Zhengyao": Sweet in taste, neutral, non-toxic.
2. "Pinhui Jingyao": Sweet with a slight sourness, in nature neutral to warm, non-toxic.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Invigorating the blood to unblock meridians, dispelling stasis to relieve pain, cooling blood to remove toxins, and releasing depression to tranquilize the spirit.

bubble_chart Indications

Treat macula and papule caused by blood heat, warm toxin disease, melancholy and depression, palpitation due to fright leading to mania, chest and diaphragm stuffiness and discomfort, hematemesis, swelling and pain from trauma, amenorrhea and abdominal mass in women, postpartum static blood abdominal pain.

1. Treat various types of stuffiness and stagnation: take one saffron crocus style and stigma each time, steep in hot water and consume. Avoid oily and salty foods, and prefer light porridge. (Bencao Gangmu Shiyi)
2. Treat cold-damage disease leading to mania, fright and confusion: take two fen of saffron, soak in one cup of water overnight and consume. ("Yilin Jiyao")
3. Treat hematemesis: take one Carthamus flower, one cup of ash-free wine. Place the flower in the wine, steam over water to extract the juice and consume. (Bencao Gangmu Shiyi)

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Take 3-9 grams daily, decocted in water or soaked in wine for consumption.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Promotes menstruation, early abortion, and uterine contractions; contraindicated for pregnant women. Excessive consumption poses a risk of acute poisoning; a single dose of >5g may cause severe side effects, with a lethal dose estimated at 12-20g.

Place it in a sealed porcelain jar and store it in a cool place.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

The saffron crocus style and stigma contain about 2% of crocin, which is an ester formed by crocetin and two molecules of gentiobiose. They also contain dimethyl crocetin, about 2% of protocrocin, and 0.4-1.3% of volatile oil, mainly safranal, which is generated by the hydrolysis of protocrocin. Crocin and protocrocin may combine to form proto-crocin and exist in the crude drug. They also contain a rich amount of vitamin B2. The bulb contains glucose, amino acids, and saponins.

1. Various preparations of saffron crocus style and stigma show varying degrees of excitatory effects on the isolated uterus of animals, with rapid and lasting effects.
2. A small dose of saffron crocus style and stigma decoction inhibits the contraction of the toad's heart and enhances the contraction and relaxation of the dog's heart.
3. A small dose of saffron crocus style and stigma slightly raises and then lowers blood pressure, while a larger dose causes a lasting decrease in blood pressure.
4. Crocetin, safranal, crocin, and protocrocin all have strong anti-cancer activities, especially against leukemia cells, papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcomas.