Saffron is herbal & safe

Free Thinker *

Saffron and other spices at a Turkish market :: Pix - Wikipedia/Martin Burns from Bathgate, Scotland

At the outset, I render my apology (profusely) to my notorious and intellectual (type) readers for taking leave without notice. Actually, I was busy in the exams and don't ask me whose exams? Most have failed but somehow procured the degree; again, don't ask me what degree? Once the Chancellor has allotted the degree by verifying the pass mark, what is the fun doing post-facto horse trading?

Saffron is one of the most expensive herbs in the world because of its valuable properties which can be used in multifarious ways like, for coloring, flavoring, spicing, medicating (medication), politicking etc. In fact, saffron is the dried stigma of Crocus-Sativus plant (botanical name).

It is grown in many parts of the world particularly in Iran, Spain, Turkey, Greece, India etc. One fifty flowers are required to make a gram of dried saffron. In the first year of plantation only fifty percent of corms will produce one flower each and in subsequent years each corm produces two flowers.

Saffron is very costly because of the extraneous process of plantation and production. Sometimes it is known as red gold. Raw saffron has no value or taste. All the invaluable properties and amazing taste of saffron comes only when it is properly dried and kept away from light and air for at least a month.

Saffron is purely herbal and safe but its utilities are amazingly manifold. Despite its medicinal and spice values these days it has an intrinsic political value. Politically it is said to be anti-Leftist, anti-Congress, anti-Separatist and anti-Corruptionist.

Medically it is believed to be anti-depressant, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-convulsant, anti-diaphoretic, anti-insomnia, anti-cough, anti-alopecia (baldness), anti-asthmatic, anti- infertility, etc. Spicily it is pro-Biryani, pro-kher, pro-sweets, pro-plao, pro-milk etc. Economically it is more than viable globally.

For the last few months I have been using saffron tea but so far, no positive result is emerging. I am certainly waiting for a positive effect of saffron on me. How long shall I wait? That is a ponderable question. If positive repercussions are not happening I have to change either to Ginseng tea or to our local 'Charot -tea'.

In the ancient world (Greece and Rome) saffron was used as an aphrodisiac or as an anti-aging agent or as anti-ulcer medicine and also as medication for infertility and menstrual malfunctions. The use of saffron actually started some few hundred years ago, before the coronation of our first king Pakhangba in circa 33 AD.

Our kings and people were not aware of saffron utilities. However, in the last few years the northeasterners including our people have started acknowledging the value of saffron. Today our revered Maharaj Sanajaoba discovers the utility of saffron and vice versa.

For the last few years I have been championing the idea of promoting and extensive commercialization of Ganja (as anticipated by the Niti Aayog Member Vibek) and our potent local brew (Yu); nobody took it seriously except some Japanese & Sardarjis who are now ready to invest in a huge way for large scale production and profiteering of our local 'Yu' once the license is made available to them (not for sale in the State as prohibition continues).

The world today recognizes the quality of our Ganja and 'Yu'. I strongly believe that the new Saffron Government will take the matter seriously and do all possible ways to economically exploit these stuffs in a legal and Constitutional way.

Now I am adding saffron in the list because it can be easily grown in the State as done in J&K and Himachal and it is extremely lucrative. Instead of growing bandhs and blockades let us start growing saffron and mint money. Believe me saffron is as valuable as gold. It is our golden opportunity to grow saffron and harvest gold.

Saffron (Crocus Sativus) is already doing well in Jammu and Kashmir with some hiccups and perhaps comfortable in Himachal Pradesh. Now it has grown in UP and Uttarakhand in a big way.

And also, some plantations have taken place in Goa and Manipur. If proper gardening, watering and manuring is done it will flourish everywhere. Saffron is the panacea of most of our malaises as it is completely development oriented.

Am I behaving like a Saffron Thinker? Company matters.