1. 7 major functions of saffron:

(1) Anti-tumor effect: Modern research has found that saffron preparations have obvious anti-cancer and anti-cancer abilities, especially saffron extract. Dimethylcrocetin has a strong inhibitory effect on leukemia, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon cancer, papillosarcoma, flat cell tumor and soft tissue sarcoma.

(2) The effect of activating blood and nourishing blood: Saffron has the function of activating blood and nourishing blood. In traditional Chinese medicine, no other medicinal material can match it. The effect of saffron is good for blood deficiency, physical weakness, irregular menstruation, and postpartum congestion. It has obvious improvement effect on symptoms such as amenorrhea, facial spots, body pain, depression and knots. It invigorates people's qi and blood, makes them strong, full of energy and rosy complexion.

(3) Effect on the circulatory system. Another function of saffron is to regulate the circulatory system. Under normal pressure and hypoxia conditions, it can increase the production of pyruvate and improve the detachment of lactic acid in myocardial cells. Hydrogenase activity can enhance the oxygen metabolism function in cells, improve the heart's ability to withstand hypoxia, weaken the damage to myocardial cells caused by strenuous exercise to a certain extent, and have a certain protective effect on the heart.

(4) Effect on the liver and gallbladder. Saffron has a choleretic effect. The active ingredients are - crocetin sodium salt and crocetin ester. Crocetin can lower cholesterol and increase fat metabolism. It can be used with traditional Chinese medicines such as hawthorn, cassia, and Alisma to treat fatty liver. Saffron improves microcirculation, promotes bile secretion and excretion, thereby reducing abnormally elevated globulin and total bilirubin, and can be used to treat cirrhosis after chronic viral hepatitis.

(5) Effect on the kidneys. It is currently believed that the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis is closely related to platelets and the inflammatory mediators they release. Anti-platelet aggregation drugs such as saffron have been used to interfere with animal models of nephritis. Obtained obvious curative effect.

(6) Immunomodulatory effect. Clinically, saffron is used to treat a variety of chronic diseases in the human body. Through its effects of activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it enhances the body's endurance and enhances lymphocyte proliferation response. It improves the body's cellular immunity and humoral immunity, adjusts the movement of human qi, and balances yin and yang in the human body.

(7) Other effects, saffron extract, especially crocin, can effectively inhibit the activity of oxygen free radicals and xanthine oxidase, showing antioxidant biological activity. Saffron ethanol extract prevents ethanol-induced suppression of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus.

2. Taboos on eating saffron:

(1) Although saffron is a good medicine, its side effects should not be underestimated. If people without qi and blood stasis take this medicine all day long, it may cause hemorrhage (that is, the skin is prone to ulceration and bleeding).

(2) Saffron also has the effect of increasing the chance of miscarriage, so pregnant women and women who want to have a baby cannot take saffron. Saffron has long been used as a folk abortion pill and has a long history. (Contraception is ineffective and increases the chance of miscarriage) However, it can be used to replenish blood after delivery.

(3) In addition, it is best to take within 10 grams of saffron each time, because there are examples recorded that because saffron has a strong excitatory effect on the nervous system, some people experience symptoms after taking a large amount of saffron. Dizziness and other symptoms caused by excessive excitement, and even allergic urticaria and rashes occurred in those with sensitive constitutions.