Essay on Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice in the World

Herbs have been used throughout the ages not just for their culinary benefits. In the use of magick and healing certain herbs and plants are used for their spirits or characteristics.

“Whether it is called raifort in France or wasabi in Japan, it is perhaps best known in Collinsville, "the horseradish capital of the world."” Horseradish has a very hot taste and a hot smell due to the highly volatile oils in it. When horseradish is white that means that it is fresh. When the horseradish is fresh, it is at it’s hottest flavor. As it ages it becomes darker in color. The root of horseradish is ground up to make the condiment style of horseradish, which then can be used for different things. Jewish Passover Ceremonies depend on horseradish for a big part of the ceremony. Horseradish has a large variety of health benefits but it is high in sodium and the sugar in it causes there to be calories. The Brassicaceae family is the home of horseradish. Horseradish was used for a lot of medical reasons to the Ancient Greeks. As well as the Egyptians, Greeks have been using horseradish since 1500 B.C. Greeks used horseradish as a back rub and an aphrodisiac. During the middle ages in Europe horseradish was used to help treat coughs, food poisoning, scurvy, tuberculosis, worms, and colic. To the Hebrew slaves, horseradish symbolized the bitterness of

In her article, “Boys Will Be Boys: The Male Image In Old Spice Advertising,” Katherine Krauss says, “Advertisements directed toward male consumers suggested that the qualities of the products would reflect the qualities of the owner, the qualities of a “real” man. The traditional image of masculinity was, and still is, defined by characteristics such as heterosexual, competitive, individualistic, aggressive, strong, successful, capable, and authoritative. The ideal man is financially responsible, outdoorsy, athletic, and completely undomesticated” (8).

The Autumn Crocus, also known as meadow saffron, is not threatened and is sold as an ornamental plant since it has been cultivated in much of the world (Akram 2012). Although colchicine is typically used for treatment of gout and rheumatic complaints, there has been renewed interest in this medicine by many natural product researchers (Heran 2011). Further research of colchicine derived from the Autumn Crocus as a cancer fighting drug should be conducted due to ability to block cell

Safflower oil may cause gastrointestinal maladies, too. It is made from safflower which is herbaceous annual

For Millennia, people have been using drugs. Some mind altering, some for sensations. In the last 100 years, drugs have gone from primarily plant based chews to potent synthetic drugs. Salvia is on the forefront of this development. It starts as a leaf from a small Mexican bush known as the sage of the diviners. It has been used for hundreds of years for its psychological effect on the mind. Compared to other drug use in the US, it is relatively new, cheap, and powerful.

Cinnamon is known for many things like being a spice with an irresistible smell, with anti-ageing properties, with anti-carcinogens, treat Alzheimer's disease, treat Parkinson's disease, with antifungal and antiviral properties and the list goes on. It is one spice that you need

Tryptophan supplements increase serotonin levels by providing the essential building blocks of serotonin. Tryptophan has been found to be as effective for depression as antidepressant drugs and is also good for treating a wide variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, ADHD, seasonal affective disorder, eating disorders, and memory loss. Saffron is a well-known culinary spice and works for mild to moderate depression by acting on serotonin metabolism. Saffron is believed to work as an antidepressant due to its many healing properties. Saffron not only increases serotonin but also exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. When taken along with SSRIs, saffron can reduce their side effects. Besides depression, saffron is also useful for treating premenstrual syndrome, sexual dysfunction, and

The plant species that I researched was Medicago sativa, or more commonly known as Alfalfa. I found this to be a very intriguing plant to research because we grow alfalfa on the farm as a fodder feed for the animals but I had no idea that it had such a practical use in modern medicine. It is believed that alfalfa was first grown somewhere within the Middle East and then spread to Europe and parts of Asia, the colonists brought it over from Europe to America. And today it can be found in nearly every continent used to feed livestock. The leaves of Alfalfa are what is beneficial in the use of medicine.The leaves are known to have positve affects on the digestive system and can help to lower cholesterol. They also aide with the cleansing the

René-Maurice Gattefossé was a French chemist born in 1881. He is known as the “father of aromatherapy” because of his extensive research of essential oils and is credited with coining the term “aromatherapy.” Gattefossé is most famous for his work and personal experience with lavender oil (Modern Essentials 13) During Medieval times, people were obviously divided on the properties of lavender regarding love. Lavender is a universal oil that has traditionally been known to balance the body and to work wherever there is need. This oil may help many things such as anxiety, arthritis, asthma, body systems balance, bronchitis, bruises, carbuncles, cold sores, earaches, fainting, gallstones, relieves headaches, heart irregularity, reduces high blood pressure, hives and many other things (Modern Essentials

Throughout North America, the sunflower was a common crop to the Indian tribes. Research has suggested that the plant has cultivated in Arizona and New Mexico around 3000 BC (before corn) by the American Indians. The seeds of the sunflower would be grounded into flour for bread, mush or cake; however, some tribes would mix beans, squash, and corn to the meal. One of the methods that is still very common today was to crack the seed and eat it as a snack. The plant itself was used for other purposes such as bodypainting for ceremonies. It could also helped with medical issues. The flower of the plant was made into tea used for lung ailments and malaria. The leaves could also be turned into tea and would be used to reduce high fevers. Leaf poultice may be used to cure certain snakebites and insect bites. People would use the oil if the seeds on their skin and hair to make it soft. Once used they would dry the stalk for building materials.

It has a similarity with valerian; it also treats spasms, fatigue, nervous tension and insomnia. It is used as sedatives and prolongs your sleeping time. This has been used by people for a very long time already since the ancient time. Now, because it is indeed effective and safe, people up to now are still using this herb.

Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis, was originally grown in the Mediterranean. However, there are many recordings of rosemary in Egypt where they buried their dead with rosemary on their graves or in their tombs. Rosemary was also mentioned in Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet wore rosemary throughout the entire story to foreshadow her death. And in Anzac day in Australia citizens are expected to wear rosemary in honor of their dead ancestors (2014 Monterey Bay Spice Company).

It can be used medicinally internally and externally for a wide range of conditions, including applying it as a poultice to relieve pain, as a tea to help with a sore throat, and using fresh or dried stems and leaves in the bath to relieve flu-like symptoms (Kumeyaay Tribe) or to relieve pain in back, neck and head (Chumash Tribe). Landscapers love it for restoration and control of erosion, butterflies and bees flock to it as a food source, and is well paired with winter squashes or for use in flavoring honey. Women who are pregnant or are breast-feeding should not use sage as it non-known if it enters the breast milk.

Being a resourceful lot, the less-wealthy Roman citizens who wanted to the appealing color of saffron without the hefty price tag discovered that dried calendula petals served as an excellent substitute (Barash, 1993).