Saffron is used for asthma, cough, sore throat, whooping cough, and to loosen phlegm. It is also used for sleep problems , cancer, “hardening of the arteries” , vomiting, intestinal gas, depression, anxiety, improved memory, Alzheimer’s disease, spitting up blood, pain associated with giving birth, heartburn, exercise performance and recovery, a skin disease called psoriasis, and dry skin.