Saffron

History of Saffron

Saffron has been in use since very ancient times, and has been cultivated since circa 1,000 B.C. [1] Saffron has been used extensively in herbal medicine, in cuisine, as a colouring / dyeing agent and in perfumes. It was also said that the Persians used saffron as an aphrodisiac - and the visitor to their dining tables was warned to be cautious [2] - though perhaps this was a veiled compliment to an exotic, tantalizing and mysterious cuisine. Iran produces over 90% of the world's saffron. [1]

James Augustus St. John, in his 1844 "The Hellenes: The History of the Manners of the Ancient Greeks" states that Saffron was used extensively by the ancient Greeks as a perfume. [3] This may form some basis for further research - as several other scents used in perfumery have been suggested as potentially having some aphrodisiac action.

Is Saffron an Aphrodisiac?

It is often the case that something that is rare, expensive and exotic acquires something of a reputation for being an aphrodisiac. It is almost as if the scarcity and desirability of a commodity conspire to create some kind of mystical aura of special power around it.

In the printed literature of the Western hemisphere, saffron does not seem to be considered aphrodisiac until the 19th century. Then, many references appear - usually in the form of reports on the customs and botany of the Middle East.

Samuel Morewood's 1838 A Philosophical and Statistical History of the Inventions and Customs of Ancient and Modern Nations in the Manufacture and Use of Inebriating Liquors describes a Turkish opium recipe containing saffron, saying:

"The Turkish opium is said to soothe or excite the senses, according to the preparation it undergoes. That, which is mixed with nutmeg or saffron, becomes aphrodisiac, and inspires amorous desires. It is made up in small pills, of which the wealthy Turks know how to take advantage, to administer most to their own sensualities."

Similarly, the 1830 New York Medical and Physical Journal, Volume 9 describes a Turkish recipe for madjoun:

"But great as is the fondness of the women for medicines to make them fruitful, it is exceeded by that of the men for aphrodisiacs, which they denominate madjoun. The author was solicited for them in every province of the empire which he visited. It is lamentable to think that hardly a man arrives at the age of five and thirty whom debauchery has not debilitated and made dependent for his pleasures upon this sort of adventitious excitement. The common madjoun of Constantinople is composed of the pistils of the flower of the hemp plant ground to powder, and mixed up in honey, with cloves, nutmeg, and saffron."

One might venture that if the narcotic ingredients alone were sufficient to produce the desired effect, practitioners might easily have avoided complicating the recipe. Nonetheless it seems unknown whether the alleged aphrodisiac effects of these mixtures were a result of the ingredients acting in combination, or whether it was the saffron, the narcotics, or mere fable - and they involve substances that are now scheduled as narcotics in many countries.

James Copeland's "A Dictionary of Practical Medicine: Comparing General Pathology has an amusing comment on Saffron:

"In ancient times, and recently in some countries, both civilized and savage, the removal of impotence and sterility by the use of heating substances, supposed to possess aphrodisiac properties, was generally attempted. The prematurely aged, worn-out debauchees, and the community generally, in some parts, especially in China, Japan, Africa, &c., often employ substances which are reputed to possess these properties. But the effects they produce, when they produce any, are more commonly injurious than beneficial. Musk, ambergris, cantharides, phosphorus, opium, the hot spices, aromatics, coffee, vanilla, borax, genseng, castor, saffron, &c., are supposed to possess aphrodisiac virtues."

George Waterhouse's 1848 Conjugal Felicities and Infelicities: a Physical view of Man and Woman in a State of Marriage has a detailed entry on saffron:

"Saffron was frequently used by the ancients as an excitement to voluptuousness. It is yet commonly employed in Poland and Courtland ; and the Spaniards and Italians hold saffron as a preservative against many diseases. Bacon positively advances, in the work which we have cited, when speaking on nitre, that the practice of the Irish, in dyeing their shirts and shirts with saffron, contributed not a little to prolongation of their lives, and that the English were indebted for a part of their vivacity to the abundant use which they made of it in their meals. In another work, this author advises the mixing of saffron in those remedies which were proposed to retard the grievous effects of old age ; for saffron, says he, directs its action towards the heart, cures its palpitations, drives away melancholy, fortifies the brain, and fills the spirits with gayety. Finally, the celebrated Boerhave regarded saffron as a powerful and energetic mover of the animal spirits ; " because," says he, " it is aromatic, stimulative, heating, and, of consequence, discutient, resolving, aperitive, and fortifying.

"I therefore regard saffron, with Venette, not as a powerful exciter to love, but as scattering through the whole machine a sort of freedom, that, joined to the gayety which it imparts, disposes to pleasure by conducting thither the tender inclinations, and accelerating the men men is of transport which it procures us, without making too great an impression on the voluptuous organs. Saffron penetrates into our vessels, through the fineness of its parts, and produces those good effects attributed to it, and which experience daily establishes.

"Among many observations which it is in my power to recite, as a demonstration of these penetrating qualities, I shall only mention one, that has most affinity to the object under consideration. A young man of two-and-twenty, after using aliments in which saffron had been mingled, produced a, prolific liquor, that exactly resembled the taint of that substance.

"It results, from what I have so far remarked, that saffron may afford efficacious succor under a variety of circumstances ; but its use must by no means be abused; for taken too often, and in too great quantities, it becomes narcotic, a dangerous poison, against which physicians have sought for antidotes. According to Dioscorides, three drachms suffice to occasion death. I even believe this dose excessive, and that from a smaller quantity the same effect would result. A merchant's domestic, accustoming himself to lie down, and to sleep, near a great quantity of saffron, died in consequence, after having endured several previous accidents. Amatus LuciUmua reports many instances, which expose the dangers attendant on an immoderate use of saffron ; but which I shall not recapitulate. It is sufficient to say, that saffron may be given, from twelve to twenty grains; that this dost must never be exceeded without the advice of a physician ; and that it, though taken even in a small quantity, may commit great ravages on those accustomed to its use, is, on the whole, unserviceable to plethoric persons, and young folks of a bilious temperament, whose humors are with facility disposed to irritation." [4]

Moving on to science - saffron has been the subject of much scientific study into its medicinal qualities - with at being mentioned in at least 500 papers. Some great news: Scientific research has recently been done into Saffron's effects on sexuality. A 2009 study at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, found statistically significant improvements in erectile function in patients with Erectile Dysfunction within ten days. [5] This is encouraging but is acknowledged as a pilot study - with double-blind placebo trials presumably to follow. Also, these studies may well be perfectly accurate, but noting that Iran is the world's leading exporter of saffron, in order to hedge against the possibility of bias, studies should be replicated in other countries which do not have specific reason to praise its virtues.

A 2008 study on rats at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences showed that aqueous extract of saffron and crocin, one of its constituents, improved all six of the sexual parameters measured in the animals (Mounting frequency, intromission frequency, erection frequency, mount latency, intromission latency and ejaculation latency.) [6]

These scientific results are highly encouraging and saffron is worthy of further investigation.

Saffron is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.270. [7]