“Saffron: A Natural Digestive Remedy”
Core keywords: Saffron
Secondary keywords: Spice, Digestive, Health
A Spice Rich in Tradition
Saffron or also known as Crocus Sativos, is known as a medicinal plant native to the Orient and the Middle East. Saffron has antioxidant, inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. In addition to these great virtues, it is known for its medicinal, culinary, and many other benefits that we’ll talk about later.
The Golden Health Elixir
Saffron is known as a species that prevents or treats different diseases, but this time we will focus on its benefits in the digestive field. According to research conducted by the National Library of Medicine, it was found that "Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of saffron components in various inflammatory digestive disorders, as well as in the prevention and treatment of digestive cancer." (Ashktorab H, Soleimani A, Singh G, Amin A, Tabatabaei S, Latella G, Stein U, Akhondzadeh S, Solanki N, Marjorie C, Lewis G, Habtezion A, Brim H., 2019). With this, it is possible to start a wide tour of all the benefits that this great plant brings with the help of its components to our digestive health.
Saffron and Gut Health
As mentioned above, this species helps in many factors to human health, but it is important to highlight the role it plays in the digestive system. Currently, scientists have been responsible for conducting some studies on the effectiveness of drugs in digestive problems, because although it is known its rapid effectiveness in combating the disease, they also seek to know the side effects that these could cause in the long term. That is why a new study on the effectiveness of medicinal plants in this field has emerged and according to an investigation by the National Library of Medicine, it has been discovered that "From ancient times to the present, saffron is one of the medicinal plants that has a miraculous effect in the treatment of many types of disorders in different parts of the body. But the effects of saffron and its main components on the gastrointestinal system have not been taken into account thoroughly and completely." (Rezaee A, Hosseinzadeh H., 2016)
It is important to show how this great plant is so important for our digestive system, as it could not only replace the adverse effects produced by drugs but is also proven to strengthen the stomach, reduce appetite and gastric acidity and improve digestion.
A Digestive Savior
Digestive diseases are very common, some due to acidity, others due to constipation, and some others can become more delicate, such as:
Stomach cancer: it is known that the most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma cancer which occurs in the glandular tissue of the stomach. For this disease have already been created multiple drugs in search of treatments, but although they can be effective their side effects are irreversible and this is where the factor of medicinal plants, specifically saffron, comes in. "In the fight against cancer, saffron ingredients act in different ways, such as antioxidant activity, proliferative activity, and induction of apoptosis" (Rezaee A, Hosseinzadeh H., 2016).
Hepatitis: It is known as a disease that produces inflammation of the liver, considered very serious, to the point of being fatal. As a sample of treatment for this disease, the National Library of Medicine through a study says that: "the hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of saffron could be beneficial in various forms of liver damage" (Ashktorab H, Soleimani A, Singh G, Amin A, Tabatabaei S, Latella G, Stein U, Akhondzadeh S, Solanki N, Marjorie C, Lewis G, Habtezion A, Brim H., 2019).
Stomach ulcers: Another of the most delicate diseases are stomach ulcers, again for the treatment of this disease drugs are used because they immediately relieve these symptoms. The National Library of Medicine presented a study on the comparison of efficacy between drugs and saffron. It says: "They compared the effects of ethanolic extract of saffron (its active components, crocin, and safranal) and omeprazole against an indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in non-diabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. This study showed that the effect of saffron in the treatment of gastric ulcer compared with omeprazole was satisfactory." (Rezaee A, Hosseinzadeh H., 2016).
Many more studies are still needed to prove the full effectiveness of saffron as a natural treatment, but in the studies presented, it can be seen how this species is present in digestive improvement, thus gradually discovering how traditional remedies can be left aside and, on the contrary, we can begin to innovate with healthier treatments.
Saffron: A Digestive Aid
It is important to recognize how thanks to the research conducted by the national university of medicine on the digestive properties offered by this species we can evidence that, "Previous studies show that the prophylactic and therapeutic characteristics of saffron are mainly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and genoprotective properties". (Ashktorab H, Soleimani A, Singh G, Amin A, Tabatabaei S, Latella G, Stein U, Akhondzadeh S, Solanki N, Marjorie C, Lewis G, Habtezion A, Brim H., 2019). Thanks to this study we can conclude that saffron is known as the mechanism responsible for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and in addition to this, it brings multiple benefits to our digestive system, these act on the pancreas, stomach, liver, and colon.
This is why as human beings we must be aware of what will help us to have better vitality and health, this is why little by little we must get into the natural world because this can treat and prevent various diseases or disorders in the future. And based on this, we can gradually leave behind the pharmaceutical industry that, although it has relieved us of discomfort, has also been the cause of problems in our health.
However, as previously mentioned, it is evident that although it is still necessary to go deeper into this field and study its effects, with the advance of science it will be possible to know every day the effects of saffron and how all its components will help both to prevent and treat the different diseases that may occur over the years and with the passage of time.
References
- Rezaee A, Hosseinzadeh H. (2016) Therapeutic effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in digestive disorders: a review
- Ashktorab H, Soleimani A, Singh G, Amin A, Tabatabaei S, Latella G, Stein U, Akhondzadeh S, Solanki N, Marjorie C, Lewis G, Habtezion A, Brim H. (2019) Saffron: The Golden Spice with Therapeutic Properties on Digestive Diseases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567082/