Latin Name
Carthamus tinctorius

General Description
The Chinese name of this herb, hóng hua, means "red flower," and herbalists prescribe safflower flower for several conditions related to the flow of blood through the body. It is harvested in several Chinese provinces throughout June and July, when the color of the flowers changes from yellow to red; traditionalists prefer picking safflower flower on the morning of a cloudy day, before the dew has dried. In addition to their fresh red color, the best safflower flowers have long petals and feel soft. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the herb is characterized as acrid and warm.

Target Ailments
Taken internally for:

• Delayed menstruation, poor blood circulation, blood clots and stabbing chest pain.
  

Applied externally for:

• Burns, bruises and other injuries to the skin.

Used both internally and externally for:

• Sores, carbuncles and measles in its early stages.

Preparations
Dried safflower flower is available in bulk at Chinese pharmacies, Asian markets and some Western health food stores. You can also obtain it in tablet form. It is frequently sold in liniments for treating bruises and injuries.
Combinations: Safflower flower mixed with cnidium root (Ligusticum chuanxiong) for chest pain. Combined with dong quai and sappan wood as a preparation for pain and swelling associated with trauma. A mixture with Chinese foxglove root, red peony root and forsythia fruit is prescribed for pain, redness and swelling of the eyes. Safflower flowers and groomwell root combined into a decoction taken internally or used externally to treat boils, carbuncles and childhood measles. For information on dosages and additional preparations, check with a Chinese medicine practitioner.

Special Information

• Do not use safflower flowers if you are pregnant; there is evidence the herb stimulates the uterus.
  
• In a clinical trial, the herb seemed effective in treating the swelling and bruising that results from acute sprains.