Exploring Saffron Tea

Exploring Saffron Tea

By Carly Wall

In many of the Edgar Cayce readings (he was often called Sleeping Prophet and Father of Holistic medicine), Saffron tea was prescribed mainly for digestive troubles.  And within the readings, he specified “American Saffron”.  I wondered why that specific plant?

As you can see from a sample of these readings, Cayce meant American Saffron:

It would be well, too, that the water taken (other than that with which the Al-Caroid is taken) contain either a pinch of elm or Saffron. At one time use a pinch of elm - ground elm bark. In the surroundings there may be obtained the elm; the slippery elm bark, not the exterior but that next to the root itself (and it's a good season to gather same). Keep this cold, or very cool. Do not let the quantity made up become stale in any manner, but let it be the drinking water at least two or three times each day. At other times during the day use the Yellow Saffron, that may be made into the form of a tea; to a quart of water put a level teaspoonful of the Saffron . Let this steep as tea. This may be kept in a cool place and drunk as tea at one time, while the pinch of elm would be put in the next glass of water that would be taken.
Be mindful of the diet, that it is in accord with that we have given

#133-5

To allay those disturbances in the digestive forces and to aid in the eliminations, we would take internally at least two ounces each day of Saffron Tea - using the American Saffron. Pour a pint of boiling water over a level teaspoonful of the Saffron and allow to steep as a tea. Strain this and drink two ounces each day. Necessary that it be kept on ice if a quantity is to be kept from one day to the next. But make it fresh at least every other day.
As an aid for the irritation through the rectal area, we would use the Pazo Ointment Suppositories.

#274-16

Especially through this spring period it would be MOST helpful for the body to use Sassafras Tea about three times a week. Make it as ordinary tea, with strength as to taste. Do not use cream, though, in this.
Also, we find that occasionally the Saffron Tea would be well to include say about twice a week. The American Saffron is as well, if brewed properly. Put about a heaping teaspoonful in a pint of water and steep as tea.
These properties as a tonic or stimulant in the assimilating system would produce and keep, with the digestive forces, the proper reactions as to prevent recurrence of disturbing conditions that have been indicated for this body heretofore.
Specific exercises morning and evening, proper precautions as to diet, and we should keep near to normal.
#556-16

As we find, in making corrections, we would first begin taking internally the Yellow Saffron Tea, made from the American Saffron, the same as regular tea would be made. This would be taken twice each day, - about an ounce in the morning and another ounce in the afternoon or evening. This, to be sure, is the tea itself; not the bark from which it is made. Pour a cup of boiling water over a level teaspoonful of the Saffron and allow to steep as tea - or make it in these proportions, see?
#2715-1

In looking up details about Saffron, I found that regular Saffron (Crocus sativus) is used as a cooking spice, made into a yellow powder.  The Saffron crocus looks like other true crocuses, and it is a perennial that blooms in autumn.  It takes over 35,000 flowers to produce 1 pound of spice.  Medicinally, this herb was used in antiquity against colds, tumors, smallpox, insomnia and cancer.  However, over-dosing on this herb could be toxic, but since it is so expensive, and hard to obtain, that is a rarity.

Digging deeper, I found that American Saffron, is really Safflower (Carthamus tinctoius), and belonging to the sunflower family, it really isn’t related to Saffron at all, though the flowers are used similarly.   Safflower is an annual, with orange-yellow flowers and it blooms in the summer.  Originally it grew wild in Europe, Asia and Egypt, where its oil was used in cooking.  It was in the Middle Ages where we find medicinal usage for this plant---and guess what—it was used for constipation and respiratory problems!   It is also useful for skin eruptions, rashes and blisters. The flowers are laxative and induce sweating. They are used as an infusion - 1/2 oz (14 g) to 1 Pt (568 ml) of boiling water - for children's complaints, particularly measles, and scarlet fever. The infusion also stimulates the menstrual flow.

It was fun to explore this herb and find that yes, the readings were exactly right.  To help with digestive problems, you should drink Saffron tea---that’s the American variety.