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Carthamus Semen, Safflower Seed

Bastard, Wild, False or Dyer's Saffron, Cnicus, Crocus Saracenicus, Cartamus
Hong Hua Zi  紅花子 (TCM)
Kafesheh (Persian)
Ortus Sanitatis, Cube, Johann von, 1501

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Botanical name:
Carthamus tinctorius

Parts used:
Seed kernel

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry.

Classifications:
3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
Preparers and Purgers of Phlegm
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy

Uses:
1. Purges Phlegm, Damp and Water:
-Purges Phlegm and cleanses the Chest: Cough, Asthma and difficulty breathing from excess Phlegm
-Edema, Fluid Retention;
-Gravel and Stones
-mildly laxative (especially the cold-pressed oil)
-'purges Phlegm and Bile' (Galen)

2. Clears Wind-Damp, clears Melancholy:
-Rheumatism
-Numbness, Paralysis
-vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis
-purges Melancholy

3. Moves the Blood, Benefits Heart:
-Expressed oil is good for the Heart, Hypertension and high Cholesterol
-used for sclerosis and hardness

4. Benefits Yin:
-oil and seed are said to increase Sperm.
-loss of sexual desire. (Avicenna)


DOSE:
Dioscorides recommended taking it with Hydromel or Chicken broth.
In Powder or Pills: 500mg–2 grams
Added to Soups or Decoction: 2–4 grams

CORRECTIVES:
It is offensive to the Stomach, so most of the correctors benefit the Stomach. 
1. Aniseed (Unani); Aniseed, Fennel seed (Pemell)
2. Galangal, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove
3. Mastic
4. As it works slowly, it is actuated and quickened by being taken with Cardamon, Galangal, or Rock Salt

SUBSTITUTES:
1. Safflower seed has been recommended as a substitute for Cotton seed in Unani
2. Avicenna said Hemp Seed had similar properties to Safflower seed
3. Avicenna also said Oils of Safflower and Nettle seeds are identical in property.

Main Combinations:
1. Constipation:
i. Safflower seed with Fig, Almond, Aniseed, Figs, native Sodium carbonate (Dioscorides)
ii. Safflower seed, Costus, Bitter Almond (Avicenna)
iii. Safflower seed, Almond, Honey (Avicenna)
iv. Safflower seed with Fig, Almond, Senna, Fennel and Ginger (as in Electuary of Safflower seed of Unani)
2. To purge Bile, Phlegm and Damp:
i. Safflower seed is ground and taken with Barley water (Galen)
ii. Safflower seed, Aniseed and/or Bitter Almond (Galen)
iii. Safflower seed with Senna, Rhubarb, Agaric mixed with Syrup of Rose Solutive.
iv. Agaric, Chebulic Myrobalan, Turbith, Safflower seed, Ginger, Aniseed, Mastic, Clove, Cinnamon (Mesue)
3. To purge Burnt Phlegm, Safflower seed with Fig and Honey. (Avicenna)
4. Clear Phlegm from the Lungs, Safflower seed, Almond, Pine nut, Honey, as a Lohoch (licking medicine).
5. Jaundice, Safflower seed with Wormwood, Chicory (Pemell, 1652)
6. Hardness of the Kidneys, Safflower seed with Horehound seed, Linseed, Fenugreek, Safflower seed

Major Formulas:
Infusion to Purge Phlegm more Compound (Mesue)
Syrup of Senna Compound
Syrup to Purge all Humors of Frankfurt
Powder for Hardness of the Kidneys
Electuary Diacarthamus
Species Diacarthamus

1. Syrup of Safflower Seed Solutive.
i. Safflower seed bruised (4 oz.), Water (6 lbs.). Boil to 4 pounds, adding towards the end Senna (4 oz.), Aniseed (half ounce). Dissolve in the strained decoction White Sugar (2 lbs.). Clarify and boil to a syrup. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)

Cautions:
1. Not be used in Pregnancy
2. Avoid use in Liver disease
3. 'Safflower seeds are harmful for the stomach'. (Avicenna)

TOXICITY:
Acute Liver Failure Induced by Carthamus tinctorius Oil: Case Reports and Literature Review.
Toxic effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) extract on mouse spermatogenesis.
Aflatoxins in sunflower and safflower seeds from Iran.

Main Preparations used:

Research
1. GENERAL / REVIEW:
–Therapeutics, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of an Important Unani Drug Qurtum (Catharanthus tinctorius L.) :A Review
–Medical uses of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower): a comprehensive review from Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine

2. ANTI-OXIDANT:
–Phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and anti-adipogenic effect of hot water extract from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed.
–Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed attenuates memory impairment induced by scopolamine in mice via regulation of cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress.
–Protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed on oxidative stress and cognitive impairment induced by chronic alcohol consumption in mice.
–Antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of Mogami-benibana (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne).
–Oil and extract of safflower seed improve fructose induced metabolic syndrome through modulating the homeostasis of trace elements, TNF-α and fatty acids metabolism.

3. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Oil and extract of safflower seed improve fructose induced metabolic syndrome through modulating the homeostasis of trace elements, TNF-α and fatty acids metabolism.

4. ANTI-ADIPOGENIC:
–Phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and anti-adipogenic effect of hot water extract from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed.

5. ARTERIAL STIFFNESS:
–Effects of safflower seed extract on arterial stiffness.

6. FATTY LIVER:
–In vitro Anticancer Activity of Quinoa and Safflower Seeds and Their Preventive Effects on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver.
7. HYPERGLYCEMIA
–Oil and extract of safflower seed improve fructose induced metabolic syndrome through modulating the homeostasis of trace elements, TNF-α and fatty acids metabolism.

8. MEMORY / COGNITION:
–Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed attenuates memory impairment induced by scopolamine in mice via regulation of cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress.
–Protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed on oxidative stress and cognitive impairment induced by chronic alcohol consumption in mice.

9. NEUROPROTECTIVE:
–Antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of Mogami-benibana (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne).

10. SYNERGISTIC WITH CHEMOTHERAPY:
–Safflower seed extract synergizes the therapeutic effect of cisplatin and reduces cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells and RKO-transplanted mice.

11. BONE GROWTH/OSTEOPOROSIS:
–Determination of mineral content in methanolic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extract and its effect on osteoblast markers.
–Bone-protecting effect of safflower seeds in ovariectomized rats.

12. RENOPROTECTIVE:
–Protective Effect of Safflower Seed on Cisplatin-Induced Renal Damage in Mice via Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis-Mediated Pathways.

13. ANTI-ESTROGENIC:
–An anti-estrogenic lignan glycoside, tracheloside, from seeds of Carthamus tinctorius.