Saffron health benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Medicinal properties of saffron herb, aphrodisiac effects of saffron herb

Saffron is an expensive spice known for flavoring Mediterranean cuisine. There are many beneficial herbs used in cooking, including garlic, thyme, fennel, etc.

Medicinal use of saffron herb
Traditionally, saffron spice has been advocated for stomach pain, digestive problems and low mood. Some claim saffron herb is a natural aphrodisiac.

Saffron herb and sexual enhancement
The effect of saffron, Crocus sativus stigma, extract and its constituents, safranal and crocin on sexual behaviors in normal male rats.
Phytomedicine. 2007 October. Hosseinzadeh H, Ziaee T, Sadeghi A. Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 1365-91775, Mashhad, IR Iran.
The aphrodisiac activities of saffron stigma aqueous extract and its constituents, safranal and crocin, were evaluated in male rats. The aqueous extract crocin, safranal, sildenafil as a positive control and saline were administered intraperitoneally to male rats. Mounting frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), erection frequency (EF), mount latency (ML), intromission latency (IL) and ejaculation latency (EL) were the factors evaluated during the sexual behavior study. Crocin, at all doses, and the extract, especially at doses 160 and 320mg/kg body wt., increased MF, IF and EF behaviors and reduced EL, IL and ML parameters. Safranal did not show aphrodisiac effects. The present study reveals an aphrodisiac activity of saffron aqueous extract and its constituent crocin.

How saffron works
Saffron spice might influence mood by influencing serotonin activity in the brain.

Saffron for PMS
Dr. M. Agha-Hosseini and colleagues at Tehran University of Medical Sciences randomly assigned 50 women with symptoms of PMS to take either saffron capsules or a placebo twice a day over two menstrual cycles. The majority of the women on saffron capsules reported fewer PMS symptoms. Those taking saffron capsules had improved mood. BJOG, March 2008.