What are the benefits and risks of women drinking saffron?
Sep 05, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Women who consume saffron in appropriate amounts may generally experience benefits such as improved blood circulation, relief from emotional stress, regulation of menstrual cycles, support in soothing the liver and regulating qi, and enhancement of facial complexion. Potential adverse effects may include inducing uterine contractions, causing excessive menstrual bleeding, exacerbating internal heat due to yin deficiency, gastrointestinal discomfort, and increased risk of bleeding. Women should understand their body constitution before consuming saffron.
Women who consume saffron in appropriate amounts can generally experience benefits such as improved blood and qi circulation, relief from emotional stress, assistance in regulating menstruation, promotion of liver qi circulation, and improvement of facial complexion. However, potential adverse effects include inducing uterine contractions, causing excessive menstrual bleeding, exacerbating internal heat due to yin deficiency, triggering gastrointestinal discomfort, and increasing bleeding risks. Detailed explanations are as follows:
Benefits:
1. Improvement of blood and qi stagnation: Saffron promotes blood and qi circulation, helping alleviate symptoms such as cold hands and feet and fatigue caused by blood and qi stagnation, thus clearing internal blockages.
2. Relief from emotional stress: Modern women are often affected by emotional disturbances. Saffron can relieve qi stagnation, reduce anxiety and irritability, and help calm the mind.
3. Assistance in regulating menstruation: For menstrual issues such as abdominal heaviness and dysmenorrhea caused by poor blood and qi circulation, moderate saffron consumption can promote smooth menstrual flow and alleviate discomfort during menstruation.
4. Promotion of liver qi circulation: Emotional fluctuations in women can easily lead to liver qi stagnation. Saffron helps regulate liver qi, improving symptoms such as chest tightness and belching caused by liver depression.
5. Improvement of facial complexion: By enhancing blood circulation and providing sufficient nourishment to facial skin, saffron can assist in improving dull complexion and pigmentation caused by insufficient blood and qi.
Drawbacks:
1. Inducing uterine contractions: Due to its strong blood-activating and stasis-resolving effect, saffron may stimulate uterine contractions, increasing the risk of miscarriage for pregnant women; women planning pregnancy should also avoid it.
2. Excessive menstrual bleeding: Consuming saffron during menstruation or by women with naturally heavy menstrual flow may further increase menstrual volume, potentially leading to anemia.
3. Exacerbating internal heat due to yin deficiency: Some women have a constitution prone to yin deficiency, often presenting symptoms such as dry mouth and hot flashes. Saffron is relatively warm in nature and may intensify internal heat symptoms.
4. Gastrointestinal discomfort: Taking saffron on an empty stomach or in excessive amounts may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
5. Increased bleeding risk: Women with coagulation disorders or currently taking anticoagulant medications may experience reduced blood clotting ability after consuming saffron, increasing the risk of bleeding.
Before consuming saffron, women should determine their body constitution and must consult a TCM practitioner to confirm suitability and appropriate dosage. Blind or long-term consumption should be avoided.
