Properties: Sweet, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Heart

1. Activates the Blood, resolves Blood stasis and alleviates pain
   Amenorrhoea
   Traumatic injury
   Hematemesis
   Abdominal pain due to blood stasis after delivery
   Typhoid
   Chest distension
2. Relieves melancholy
   Palpitations
   Absent mindedness
   Melancholy

Suggested Daily Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.

Cautions: It is contraindicated to pregnant women.

Quality Tests:
1. Cold Water Test : Put Saffron in water. After 5-10 mins, real saffron filaments will colour the water a yellowish-golden hue, radiating outwards from the strand slowly and steadily. The saffron threads should not lose their own deep reddish colour. Fake Saffron will change the colour of the whole water quickly and the thread may completely or partially discolour. Dyed Corn Silk threads are sometimes sold as fake saffron.

2. Float Test : Another test of real Saffron is the Float Test that real saffron threads do not drown when put in water. They would rather float. Fake Saffron threads would partially or completely submerge in water because of the heaviness of the coloured dye or the floral wastage in them.

3. Baking Soda Test : Add a little baking soda in water and mix it, then add saffron to the mixture. The water/baking soda mix should turn yellow if it is true Saffron and the fake one will turn dim red.