INSPIROMANIA

Saffron’s chemistry expresses otherworldly complexity. It contains over 150 volatile and aroma-yielding compounds – a biochemical symphony that ensures its mystery will never fully be plumbed, at least insofar as it great medicinal power remains refractory to the reductionist gaze of modern pharmacology. What power might that be?

While recent mainstream coverage of saffron weight loss promoting properties (via appetite suppression) on the Dr. Oz show has caused quite a surge of renewed interest in this exotic spice, saffron has far more to offer than that. It may, in fact, hold promise for serious neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease…

A 22-week multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled trial of saffron in the management of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease published in 2010, showed 15 mg twice a day was as effective as donepezil (Aricept) at 5 mg twice a day, with significantly less vomiting as a side effect. Another 16-week, randomized and placebo-controlled trial also published in 2010, showed that 15 mg of saffron twice per day was both safe and effective in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

The petals of the Crocus sativus plant have also been shown nearly equipotent to Prozac (fluoxetine) as a treatment for depression.  According to a study published in the journal Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry in 2007, 15 mg of Crocus sativus petals were as effective as 10 mg of Prozac in treating mild to moderate depression, putting 25% of the participants into full remission. Another depression study published 2004 showed that saffron, at 30 mg a day, was as effective as the drug imipramine, at 100 mg a day, in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

Other experimentally confirmed, potential medicinal properties of Saffron are:

Saffron has been shown to modulate at least 22 biological pathways through the following pharmacological actions:

A note of caution is due with saffron, as any plant with such a great many modes of action and high biological activity at exceedingly low quantities, should be used with caution. In very small amounts, an herb like saffron may nudge a system into balance, or in a direction that the user may experience as a positive shift — for example, as occurs when saffron is used in a dish as a spice, or consumed as a tea.  However, in higher “pharmacological dosages,” especially when mixed with over-the-counter and prescribed drugs, there is a risk of doing serious harm. Therefore please be careful, and consult a medical herbalist and/or physician whenever possible before using more than culinary doses of saffron.

To power through a slump, you need a healthy snack—not a sugar overdose: One 20-ounce bottle of VitaminWater contains more sugar than a Snickers bar. Too much of the sweet stuff suppresses white blood cells, reducing their ability to capture and destroy bacteria, says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That said, don’t sweat the natural sugar in fruit, whole grains and vegetables. These foods contain fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels.

Parabens is used in many cosmetics, mostly in deodrants/anti-perspirants. It is known however that Parabens are able to be absorbed through the skin and bind to the body’s estrogen-receptors, where they can encourage breast cancer cell growth. For example, a study published in 2004 (Darbre, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology) detected parabens in breast tumors.

Related articles below :

1)  Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumours  @ http://www.maxgreenalchemy.com/images/ParabenReportDarbre.pdf

2)  Cancer Cure:Sodium Bicarbonate @  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=00tE6U22sEw#!

3)  Forbidden Cures @  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7k-GlLhpp8&feature=related

4) Cancer Feeds on Fructose @  http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/cancer-feeds-fructose-america%E2%80%99s-1-source-calories

5) Fork over Knives:Review @ http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110511/REVIEWS/110519995/-1/RSS

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[i] Honan, W. H. (2004), “Researchers Rewrite First Chapter for the History of Medicine“, The New York Times, 2 March 2004, retrieved 13 September 2011

[ii] Willard, P. (2002), Secrets of Saffron: The Vagabond Life of the World’s Most Seductive Spice, Beacon Press (published 11 April 2002), ISBN 978-0-8070-5009-5