BOTANICAL NAME: Crocus sativus
FAMILY: Iridaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Bhavaprakash: Karpuradi varga
ENGLISH NAME: Saffron, Crocus
COMMON NAME:
Punjabi: Kesar, Keshar
Hindi: Keshar, Keshara
Kannada: Kunkuma, Kesari
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
कुङ्कुमं घुसृणं रक्तं काश्मीरं पीतकं वरम् |
संकोचं पिशुनं धीरं बाह्लीकं शोणिताभिधम् ||६३||
काश्मीरदेशजे क्षेत्रे कुङ्कुमं यद्भवेद्धि तत् |
सूक्ष्मकेशरमारक्तं पद्मगन्धि तदुत्तमम् ||६४||
बाह्लीकदेशसञ्जातं कुङ्कुमं पाण्डुरं स्मृतम् |
केतकीगन्धयुक्तं तन्मध्यमं सूक्ष्मकेशरम् ||६५||
कुङ्कुमं पारसीकं यन्मधुगन्धि तदीरितम् |
ईषत्पाण्डुरवर्णं तदधमं स्थूलकेशरम् ||६६||
कुङ्कुमं कटुकं स्निग्धं शिरोरुग्व्रणजन्तुजित् |
तिक्तं वमिहरं वर्ण्यं व्यङ्गदोषत्रयापहम् ||६७|| (Karpuradi varg)
HABITAT: Cultivated in Kashmir up to 2,000 m and in some parts of
Uttarpradesh.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
Kumkum is a small herb growing to a height of 6-10 inches. The leaves have long lines in them. The plant has a corm, which holds leaves, bracts, and the flowering stalk. The plant generally blooms with purple flowers in the autumn. The flowers have a good fragrance with the stigma having reddish orange color. These are collected and dried properly to be marketed as saffron. The fruits are small and rounded.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Katu, Tikta | Snigdha | Usna | Katu | – | Tridoshhara |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Pungent, Bitter | Slimy | Hot | Pungent | – | Tridosha Pacifying |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Essential oils, Bitter glycoside, picrocrocin and crocin
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Wound healing: Paste of Saffron is applied over the wounds as a part of treatment.
- Fever: Powder of Kesar and Shunthi is taken orally with decoction of Dashmoola.
- Impotency: Kumkum powder is mixed in milk to improve the sexual desire.
- Memory booster: Regular consumption of Kumkum powder along with ghee act as memory booster and improves the immunity.
INDICATIONS
Chardi Vomiting, Kasa Cough, Drishtigata rogas Eye disorders, Kantha roga Throat disorders, Vrana Wound, Daurbalya General debility, Sandhigata rogas Joint disorders, Jwara Fever, Shiroshoola Headache, Napunsakta Sexual disorders
USEFUL PART: kesar (Anthers)
DOSAGE: 20-25 mg
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
- Karpuradyarka
- Kumkumadya Taila
- Mahanarayana Taila
- Pusyanuga Churna