Saffron, also known as Ji Fu Lan, Sa Fa Lang, and Tibetan Saffron, is documented in the "Essence of Materia Medica". It is the dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus L. of the family Iridaceae. The flowers are harvested in late October to late November on clear mornings at sunrise, and the stigmas are immediately plucked and dried in the sun or at a temperature of 55-60℃.
【Processing Method】Take the original medicinal material and remove impurities.
【Appearance of Medicinal Slice】It is linear, branched into three parts, and about 3cm long. The color is dark red, with the upper part wider and slightly flattened, with irregular toothed edges at the top and a short fissure on the inner side. Sometimes, a small yellow style residue remains at the lower end. It is lightweight, soft in texture, without oily luster, and becomes brittle and easily broken after drying. It has a unique smell, slightly irritating, and a slightly bitter taste.
【Quality Requirements】The total ash content should not exceed 7.5%. Take 2g of the product, precisely weigh it, dry it at 105℃ for 6 hours, and the weight loss should not exceed 12.0%. Determined by spectrophotometry, the absorbance at a wavelength of 432nm should not be lower than 0.50.
【Processing Effects】Saffron has a sweet and neutral taste. It enters the heart and liver meridians. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, resolving stasis, calming the mind, cooling the blood, and detoxification. It is used for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, postpartum lochia not clean, abdominal masses and pain, trauma, depression, palpitations, eruptive diseases, measles, etc. When combined with Salvia miltiorrhiza, Leonurus heterophyllus, and Cyperus rotundus, it can be decocted in water to treat amenorrhea, menstrual pain, and postpartum back pain; Saffron soaked in white wine can be used to treat bruises and injuries (Qingdao Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual). Saffron is commonly used in clinical practice. After processing, it can clean the medicinal materials, making it convenient for dispensing and formulation.
