Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Saffron The Safety Factor
Crocetin has been used to induce abortion. Unfortunately, it’s toxic in large amounts. Fatalities have been reported in women attempting to terminate pregnancy.
The medical literature contains no reports of harm from recommended amounts of this herb, however.
Saffron is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, saffron is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.
Saffron should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If saffron causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Save the Stigmas
Saffron grows from a bulb called a corm. It’s a perennial, showy ornamental that rarely grows taller than 18 inches. Saffron has no true stem. What appears to be the stem is actually the tubular portion of the flower envelope (corolla), which is surrounded by leaves resembling blades of grass.
Plant corms in the fall or spring, 3 inches deep with the root side down in light, well-drained soil under full sun. Allow 6 inches between plants. The flowers bloom briefly in late summer or early tall. Carefully collect the three-pronged stigmas and allow them to dry. Store them in a sealed glass vial in a cool, dry place.