Saffron
From London's Ghost Acres
Contents
British Pharmacopoeia 1867
Saffron Crocus
“The dried stigma, and part of the style, of Crocus sativus… Imported from Spain, France, and Italy.” 93
Characteristics
“Thread-like styles, each terminated by three long orange-brown stigmas, broadest at the summit. Has a powerful aromatic odour. Rubbed on the wet fingers it leaves an intense orange yellow tint.” 93 Used in the preparations of:
- Decoctum Aloes compositum
- Pilula Aloes et Myrrh
- Pulvis Crete aromaticus
- Tinctura Cinchonae composita
- Tinctura Croci
- Tinctura Opii Ammoniata
- Tinctura Rhei
Preparations of Saffron
Compound Decoction of Aloes / Decoctum Aloes compositum 96-7
- Extract of Socotrine Aloes (120 grains), myrrh (90 grains), saffron (90 grains), carbonate of potash (60 grains), extract of liquorice (1 oz), compound tincture of cardamoms (8 fl oz), distilled water (as needed)
- Dose: ½-2 fl oz
Pill of Aloes and Myrrh / Pilula Aloes et Myrrh 235
- Socotrine aloes (2 oz), myrrh (1 oz), saffron, dried (1/2 oz), confection of roses (2 ½ oz)
- dose: 5-10 grains
Aromatic Powder of Chalk / Pulvis Crete aromaticus 263
- syn: confection aromatica
- cinnamon bar, in powder (4 oz), nutmeg, in powder (3 oz), saffron, in powder (3 oz), cloves, in powder (1 ½ oz), cardamom seeds, in powder (1 oz), prepared chalk (11 oz)
- dose 10-60 grains
Compound Tincture of Cinchona / Tinctura Cinchonae composita 326-27
- Pale cinchona bark, in moderately fine powder (2 oz), bitter-orange peel, cut small and bruised (1 oz), serpentary root, bruised (1/2 oz), saffron (60 grains), cochineal, in powder (30 grains), proof spirit (1 pint)
- dose ½-2 fl drachm
Tincture of Saffron / Tinctura Croci 329
- Saffron (1 oz), proof spirit (1 pint)
Ammoniated Tincture of Opium / Tinctura Opii Ammoniata 338
- Opium, in coarse powder (100 grains), saffron, cut small (180 grains), benzoic acid (180 grains), oil of anise (1 fl drachm), strong solution of ammonia (4 fl oz), rectified spirit (16 fl oz)
- dose ½-1 fl drachm
Tincture of Rhubarb / Tinctura Rhei 339-40
- rhubarb root, in coarse powder (2 oz), cardamom seeds, freed from the pericarps, and bruised (1/4 oz), saffron (1/4 oz), proof spirit (1 pint)
- dose: 1-2 fl drachm (stomachic), 4-8 fl drachm (purgative)
A Compendium of Domestic Medicine, 1865
All page numbers are recorded as (PDF #/SOURCE #)
Saffron is classified by Savory as an Emmenagogue (remedied which promote the flow of the menses)
“Was known to the ancients, and was employed by the Romans, both as a medicine, and for strewing the temples and theatres, to diffuse an agreeable odour through them. It was brought to England in the reign of Edward III., by a pilgrim, who concealed a bulb of it in his staff, made hollow for that purpose. Much evil is sometimes produced by the custom, prevalent among the lower classes, of administering saffron at the commencement of fevers attended with cutaneous eruptions—as, for example, measles and small-pox—with the idea of throwing out the eruption. It is also much used in cookery, confectionery, and by the dyers.” (148-149/127-8)
Remedies Containing or to be used with Saffron
- Bark, Canella (49/28): saffron is used in the recipe for usquebaugh (whisky), used to treat individuals with “gouty habit[s]” or individuals who suffer regularly from cramps or stomach spasms.
- Saffron (148-49/127-8): see def
Diseases Treated with Saffron
General Diseases
- Ague, or Intermittent Fever (225/204): syrup of saffron included in a cordial diaphoretic draught used during the first (cold) stage of the disease
Medical Articles Containing Saffron
- To Prevent Nightmare (324/303): syrup of saffron
Prescriptions Containing Saffron
Carminatives
- Stomach Mixture (Another) (342/323): syrup of saffron
Expectorants
- Diaphoretic Draught (348/327): syrup of saffron
Emmenagogues 349/
Embrocations
Emetics
- An Emetic Draught, in case of Poison being taken into the Stomach (351/330): syrup of saffron
Narcotics and Anodynes
- Narcotic Draught (352/331): syrup of saffron
Imported from