75. SAFFRON

                                                   SAFFRON

The Safffron or ‘kunkum’ lower is as important to food as diamond is to ornaments. Those who know its value will not prepare a dish without it. If saffron is put into a dish in the final stages will give the dish a special taste and smell. It is also equally good for health. In India kunkum flower is found in Kashmir. It is very costly.

The stalk of gynaecium of Kunkum flower is made up of three fibers and each fiber has a red coloured stigma called kesar. One flower yields three fibres of kesar and twenty flowers yields 120 mg. kesar. The plant flowers in autumn. This kesar has a dye, volatile oil 8 to 31.4% crocin and picrococin.

Benefits:

1. It gives a beautiful smell and taste to the dish.

2. Kunkum flower has many medicinal values. It is useful in treatment of fever, mental problem, mental pressure and colium. It helps digestion.

3. The paste of the flower is applied on face improve the complexion.

4. The paste of the flower is applied on wounds.

5. Headache: Kunkum flower is good for headache.

6. Eyes: Mixture of rose water and kesar is put in the eyes as a cure for weak eye sight.

7. Hepatitis: The paste is used in hepatitis.

8. The paste is useful in nervous debility, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, loss of appetite, liver disorders, heart diseases, blood disorders, dysuria, impotency, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and small pox.  

9. It has been used as a rejuvenator since ancient times.

10. Pimples: Grind saffron with coconut milk and using a brush rub the pimple area with little force.