Zafran ( Saffron ) Kesar Benefits and Side effects in Unani and Natural medicine.



zafran saffron kesar
Saffron / Zafran / Kesar
Courtesy needpix
Zafran ( saffron ), which is also known as Kesar in Hindi. It is a very expensive spice and mostly used to strengthen the brain and heart in Unani, natural and Ayurveda medicine.


What is Zafran ( saffron )? 


Saffron is the stigma and style of the purple flower of the plant Crocus_sativus. It is the most expensive spice in the world. Its color is bright reddish-yellow. It has a very strong fragrance. The taste of saffron is mildly bitter. 93 percent of worldwide saffron production is from Iran. Besides Iran saffron comes from Kashmir Afghanistan,  Spain, Morocco, and Greece.


Benefits  and properties 

Zafran has antioxidants like crocin in it. According to Unani medicine saffron have the following properties:

Astringent 
Anti-inflammatory 
Cleansing 
Strengthen the heart, brain, and liver
General tonic
Aphrodisiac
Diuretic 
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Use for various health problems

Saffron can be used for various health problems. I am sharing saffron based remedies for following health issues: 

Heart and brain weakness 
Alzheimer's 
Sleep Disorder 
Anxiety 
Depression 
Flu and runny nose ( rhinorrhea )
Eyesight weakness 
Dark skin ( glow face mask )
Liver and uterus inflammation
Dysuria ( as a diuretic)
Premenstrual syndrome and menstrual discomfort. 

Alzheimer's, brain and heart weakness



Alzheimer's, brain and heart weakness Remedy


Ingredients:

Saffron one pinch 
Ginseng one pinch
Brahmi ( bacopa ) one pinch 

Mix all ingredients and take it with warm water. It's better to use it twice a day before meal. This will be a tonic for your heart and brain. It also improves Alzheimer's condition.


Sleep disorder, anxiety, and depression 

Sleep disorder, anxiety, and depression Remedy


Ingredients 
Saffron  one pinch
Milk 250ml

Boil milk, and let it be warm. Now add saffron and stir it. Leave it for few minutes, saffron will be dissolved. Now take this medicine before going to bed. It will help you in psychological issues like sleep disorder,  anxiety and depression. 

Eyesight

Strong Eyesight Remedy

Ingredients 
Saffron 3 to 5 threads
Rosewater half cup

Add threads of saffron in rose water and stir. Wait till it dissolves. Now put a few drops of it in eyes before sleep. It will clean your eyes and improve your eyesight.


Flu and Runny nose

Flu and Runny nose  Remedy

Ingredients:
Saffron 2 to 4 threads
Rosewater 2 tablespoon 

Add saffron in rose water and stir. Now let it dissolve for a few minutes. Apply it on the forehead,  before going to bed. It will control Running nose and flu in winter.

Face  glowing and whitening mask

Face  glowing and whitening mask


Ingredients:

Saffron  one pinch
Milk 2 tablespoon
Honey half teaspoon

Mix saffron in milk and leave for 30 min. Now add honey in it and make a paste. Apply it on the face and neck. Wash it after 20 minutes. This will make your skin glow and refreshing.

Liver and Uterus inflammation

Liver and Uterus inflammation Remedy

Ingredients:
Olive oil 1 cup 
Saffron  0.5 grams

Heat up the olive oil. When it turns warm, add saffron in it. Stop heating and let saffron dissolve.  Massage lightly at the abdominal area for liver inflammation or pelvic area for uterus inflammation. It's better to massage it for at least 5 minutes thrice a week. It is a very helpful remedy for liver and uterus inflammation. 

Dysuria ( as Diuretic)  and premenstrual syndrome and menstrual discomfort

 Ingredients:

Zafran 5 gm
Musabar / aloe solid and dried  6 grams
Hera Kaises / green vitriol or ferrous sulfate  6 grams
Murmaki  / Commiphora myrrha 6gm
Honey as required

Blend all the ingredients except honey. Now add honey and make pills. Have two pills with warm water before going to bed. These pills are good for problems like dysuria,  PMS and menstrual discomfort.


Side effects and contradictions 

Before using saffron keep the following points in mind.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding 


It is safe to take saffron in low quantity added in food for pregnant and breastfeeding women but the high dosage of saffron can be dangerous.

Allergic effects

Saffron can be allergic to some people with Bipolar disorder. Because it affects the brain and mood of a person, so it can trigger an allergic reaction.

Heart and blood pressure  

Saffron can increase the heartbeat rate and lower the blood pressure if taken in high dosage. It is recommended for the blood pressure and heart patients to use it in a low dosage. 

Antidote  /Corrective / Musleh 

Aniseed ( Anisoon )
Aniseed ( Anisoon )
Courtesy Wikimedia

Barberries ( Zarishk Shirin)
Barberries ( Zarishk Shirin)
Courtesy Wikimedia


To minimize the side effects of saffron use it with:

Aniseed ( Anisoon) 
Fresh lemonade ( Sikanjabeen)  or Barberries ( Zarisk Shirin )

Dosage


The recommended dosage of saffron is

0.5 to 2 gms


Alternative

Bitter Orange
Bitter Orange
Courtesy Wikimedia
Costus roots ( Qust shirin)
Courtesy Wikimedia

There is no perfect alternative to saffron but if you can't find it, Closest ingredients you can use are

Bitter orange ( Narinj ) especially seeds

Costus root ( Qust shirin)

Temperament/ Mizaaj/ Taseer


According to Unani scholars 

Hot level two
Dry level one

Various names


English: saffron 
Urdu: Zafran
Hindi: Kesar
Farsi or Persian: Zafran
Arabic:   Zafran
Chinese mandarin: Zànghónghuā




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