What are the functions and indications of saffron?

Generally, saffron (Crocus sativus) functions include promoting blood circulation, clearing heat toxins from the body, relieving emotional stagnation, regulating liver qi, and improving blood supply. Its therapeutic indications typically include conditions such as blood stasis obstruction syndrome, heat entering the blood-camp in warm diseases, liver qi stagnation syndrome, disorders caused by poor circulation, and restlessness of the mind. The detailed explanation is as follows:

I. Functions

1. Promoting Blood and Qi Circulation: Saffron can unblock the meridians and facilitate the normal flow of blood and qi throughout the body, improving conditions of blood and qi stagnation and providing sufficient nourishment to various organs.

2. Clearing Internal Heat and Toxins: It possesses the ability to clear heat and cool the blood, effectively addressing conditions of accumulated internal heat toxins and helping to reduce damage caused by heat toxins to the body.

3. Relieving Emotional Stagnation: It helps regulate qi circulation, alleviating qi stagnation caused by emotional suppression or excessive worry, and assisting in calming negative emotions.

4. Regulating Liver Qi: Saffron acts on the liver, promoting the smooth flow of liver qi, maintaining normal liver function, and preventing discomfort caused by liver qi stagnation.

5. Improving Blood Supply: It can dilate blood vessels, enhance blood flow, increase blood perfusion to tissues and organs, and improve local deficiencies in blood supply.

II. Therapeutic Indications

1. Blood Stasis Obstruction Syndrome: Primarily treats conditions such as chest pain due to obstruction of the heart vessels, distension and pain in the chest and ribs, traumatic injuries, and abdominal pain after childbirth caused by blood stasis, promoting the dissipation of stagnant blood.

2. Heat Entering the Blood-Camp in Warm Diseases: Used for symptoms such as dark purple rashes and mental confusion with delirium that occur when warm diseases progress to the stage of affecting the blood-camp, exerting effects of cooling the blood to detoxify and clearing heat from the blood-camp.

3. Liver Qi Stagnation Syndrome: Addresses emotional depression, irritability, chest tightness with frequent sighing, belching, and other symptoms caused by liver qi stagnation, helping to soothe the liver, relieve depression, and regulate qi to relieve chest discomfort.

4. Disorders Caused by Poor Circulation: Treats conditions such as numbness in the hands and feet and skin bruising caused by poor peripheral circulation, alleviating symptoms by improving blood circulation.

5. Restlessness of the Mind Syndrome: Used for conditions such as irritability, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, and unease caused by emotional disturbances, exerting calming effects to stabilize the mind and relieve mental distress.

When using saffron, selection should be based on specific conditions and individual constitution through pattern differentiation. Dosage and administration must be determined under the guidance of a qualified physician. Self-medication without professional supervision is not recommended.